EMQ, Extras (EMQ), Volume 61 - Issue 2

Five Practical Ways Churches can Care for Missionaries

EMQ » April – July 2025 » Volume 61 Issue 2

Envelope with postage — Photo by Anne Nygard on Unsplash

Summary: This article provides pastors and missions teams with practical steps to support their missionaries. It outlines five things that churches can do: start the care process early, be proactive in relating to missionaries, allow missionaries to share their burdens, establish care teams, and be ready for critical moments.

By Patrick Hasty

In 2018, my wife and I, along with our 5-month-old son, embarked on a journey to a small Himalayan nation in South Asia. It was one of the most rewarding yet challenging experiences of our lives. One lesson I quickly learned was that this lifestyle came with unique rewards and struggles. For instance, the daily challenge of learning a new language was often hilarious and, at times, deeply humbling. Early in my language-learning journey, I once told an auntie that I was going to eat my dog for dinner – a simple mistake as the words for dog and chicken were quite similar in our host culture’s language. The horror on her face was exacerbated by the fact that I was holding my dog in my arms at the time. While this story is humorous, it reflects the daily challenges missionaries face, which can also be isolating and frustrating.

Experiences like these illustrate the unique pressures of cross-cultural work. Unfortunately, many missionaries struggle to communicate these challenges to their sending churches. In my early years on the field, I underestimated how much cultural stress was impacting me. From my conversations with pastors, I’ve learned that while many desire to care for their missionaries, they often feel unsure how to do so effectively. This article aims to provide pastors and missions teams with practical steps to support their missionaries throughout their journey. It outlines five practical things that churches can do: starting the care process early, being proactive in relating to missionaries, allowing missionaries to share their burdens, establishing care teams, and being ready for critical moments.

1. Start the Care Process Early

Caring for missionaries begins long before they leave for the field. Establishing good care habits early in the relationship fosters trust and open communication. When my wife, Tressa, and I started dating, she lived in India while I was in the U.S. We developed strong communication habits and built trust over that time – a foundation that proved invaluable after we married and went to the mission field.

Similarly, churches can intentionally disciple and care for members who are on a track toward missionary service well before they are sent. Jesus modeled this with his disciples. He spent years teaching and preparing them before commissioning them to go out.

One key step is developing strategies to identify and disciple those who may be called to missionary service. Another is providing resources to help equip potential workers for the field. A great example of this is happening in Columbia, South Carolina, where a group of churches have come together to form an organization called Send Cola. These churches collaborate to equip, support, and send workers into the harvest. A distinctive aspect of their approach is their commitment to working together to help aspiring missionaries take practical steps toward the field.[1] By establishing a strong foundation early in the process, missionaries will feel confident leaning on their sending church when challenges arise.

2. Be Proactive

I know of a missionary who expressed frustration because, despite his efforts to stay in touch with his sending church, he rarely received responses from his pastors. This out of sight, out of mind phenomenon is, unfortunately, all too common. While mission organizations play an essential role in supporting field workers, they cannot replace the sending church’s unique relationship with and responsibility for its own members.

The New Testament highlights the central role of the local church in sending and supporting missionaries (cf. Acts 13:1–3). For example, the church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas out with prayer and fasting and warmly welcomed them upon their return (Acts 14:26–28). These examples show the importance of staying connected and emotionally invested in missionaries.

Churches can actively maintain relationships with their sent ones by checking in regularly, praying for, and finding creative ways to encourage them. Sometimes, churches unintentionally adopt a send and spend model – placing heavy emphasis on commissioning missionaries and providing financial support. This may result in neglecting the ongoing relational, spiritual, emotional, and personal needs of their missionaries. In a presentation for Missio Nexus, Andrea Sears reported that she surveyed 738 former missionaries. She discovered that 47 percent left the field within their first five years of service. A significant contributing factor among those workers was the feeling “that their sending church had forgotten about them.”[2] While many other variables were cited in the study as contributing to missionary attrition, the findings emphasize the critical role of the sending church in providing care.

Paul’s relationship with the church in Philippi offers a powerful example for local churches today. His letter to the Philippians, written during his imprisonment, reflects his deep affection for their partnership in the gospel. Paul acknowledges their vital role in ”giving and receiving” (Philippians 4:15, ESV) and highlights their generosity and support. Even more striking are his preceding words: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, ESV), followed by, “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble” (Philippians 4:14, ESV). These statements underscore the crucial role a church plays in the life of a missionary. When a church actively engages with and shares in a missionary’s struggles, it empowers them to face the challenges of ministry with greater resilience and effectiveness.

3. Ask Thoughtful Questions and Share Their Burdens

Missionaries often feel pressure to maintain a facade of being okay, even when they’re struggling. I recall stepping onto a church stage to give a ministry update, only to have a well-meaning comment about my appearance weigh on me throughout the presentation. Another missionary shared how she returned from the field grappling with the trauma of a friend’s assault yet responded with a polite “I’m doing good!” to every inquiry about how she was doing.

The Bible calls us to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Churches can create a safe environment for missionaries by asking thoughtful, open-ended questions that show genuine care. Instead of “How are you doing?” try asking, “What has been the most challenging part of your ministry lately?” or “How can we pray for you specifically this week?” Thoughtful engagement helps missionaries feel seen and supported, breaking down the isolation they may feel.

4. Establish Care Teams

Churches that excel in missionary care often have dedicated care teams. These teams, composed of church members, focus on praying for, encouraging, and meeting the practical needs of missionaries. A care team’s strength lies in their personal commitment to staying informed and engaged. They might send care packages, letters, or even visit missionaries on the field.

One church I know of formed a care team before their missionaries left for the field. The team sent members from the church’s missions’ team with the workers when they first went to their host country. This care team’s support was instrumental during the missionaries’ hectic first few weeks abroad. They helped with tasks like visa applications, house hunting, childcare, and settling in. Care teams can also provide critical support during home assignments, advocating for missionaries within the church community and addressing needs such as housing, transportation, and financial assistance.

In 2023, my family faced an abrupt return to the U.S. due to a medical emergency. A church in Seattle, connected to us only through mutual friends, welcomed us with open arms. They provided housing, childcare, and a vehicle, demonstrating a culture of care that went beyond their own missionaries. This experience underscores how care teams can exemplify Christ’s love in tangible ways, both on and off the field.

5. Be Ready for Critical Moments

Several years ago, my family experienced a crisis while on the field. Within 48 hours of our return to the U.S., our sending church had dispatched a pastor to support us, and another church provided housing and childcare. This response exemplified the body of Christ in action.

Churches should be well-prepared to handle emergencies involving their missionaries. This includes allocating financial resources, identifying members who can offer practical assistance, and establishing clear communication plans between the church and the sending organization. Key questions to consider are:

Who will address the missionary’s physical and spiritual needs in a crisis?
What support systems are in place if the missionary must return unexpectedly?
Who in the church is responsible for maintaining communication with the organization?

Some churches require their missionaries to complete a Release of Information (ROI) document before they first leave their home country, ensuring that the organization can legally share crucial details in a crisis. Proactive planning like this helps to ensure missionaries receive the care and support they need during critical moments.

Conclusion

The Great Commission calls us to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). While Jesus has entrusted the church with the responsibility of sending workers, he also entrusts their care to us. By starting the care process early, being proactive, asking thoughtful questions, forming care teams, and preparing for critical moments, churches can support their missionaries in meaningful and transformative ways. When missionaries feel equipped and valued, they are better able to fulfill their calling to make disciples among those who have yet to hear the good news.

Patrick Hasty and his wife, Tressa, recently served as missionaries with Pioneers to a small nation in South Asia. They have three young children. Presently, Patrick serves with the Pioneers mobilization base as a church partnership facilitator. He is passionate about coaching and equipping local churches to mobilize workers for the harvest among the unreached.

[1] For more information about this initiative, visit https://sendcola.org/.

[2] Andrea Sears, “Reasons for Missionary Attrition,” People Care & Development Track workshop presentation, Mission Leaders Conference, September 2022, https://missionexus.org/reasons-for-missionary-attrition/.