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Missions & Outreach
Missionary Care
Ways that you can encourage your missionary:
- Pray!
Missionaries rate the need for consistent and faithful prayer as one
of the top ways in which we can effectively care for them. Through
emails and their monthly letters, you will know what our missionaries'
needs are. You might want to start a prayer chain, have a prayer board
hung in your church with their requests or have a group that meets
consistently to pray for the missionaries.
- Commissioning Service
It is very important that the missionary feel "sent out" by the church.
It would be a blessing to them to have a special time of prayer for
them as they go to the field. It says to them that you are behind
them and will be praying for them and supporting them as they go.
- Communication
Email is the most common way of communicating in this day and age.
An encouraging email only takes a minute to send - just to let them
know that you are thinking about them and praying for them. Letters
are also a treasure to receive when you are in the field. Phone calls
overseas are expensive but every once in awhile it can be a real
boost for the missionary to hear a friendly, caring voice on the other
end of the line.
- Birthday/Anniversary Cards
It is always nice to be remembered. Being far away from home on special
days can be discouraging Ŕ so you can brighten a missionary's day
by remembering them!
- Care Packages
Care packages can be sent to the missionaries for a special need that
they may have or just for fun. It is important to know the needs of
the missionaries Ŕ which you could find out by taking a small survey
once a year. It is neat to receive a package that brings with it a
touch of home. You can involve the congregation in gathering items
for care packages. If there is someone in your congregation that is
going to the country where the missionary lives, it is nice to send
packages with them to personally deliver. It would be good to ask
what the mailing system is like in that country. Key to care packages:
Know your missionary.
- Birthday in a Box – for children
One of the most effective ways to minister to missionaries is to minister
to their children. One great way to do that is to celebrate their
birthdays. A creative way to do this is to send them -Birthday in
a Box!" For children up to age 12, boxes that consist of paper products,
balloons, candles, cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, party favors and
a small gift can be put together. It can be prepared around a theme
that the child is interested in. For teenagers, you could send a card
with a $20 bill in it.
- Christmas in July
Christmas can be a hard, lonely time for missionaries. A great way
to communicate that you care for them is by sending them Christmas
packages. If you put the packages together in the summer, it doesnęt
compete with the holiday season and leaves plenty of time for shipping.
You can involve the congregation by allowing them to choose items
to purchase for the missionaries
- Furlough Arrangements
When the missionaries return from the field, either on furlough or
for good, they often need help to find transportation and housing.
It can be a great encouragement to them to have someone in the US
helping them with details.
Contact our Missionary Care Task Force Director, Beth
Debel at (bhammeru@yahoo.com)
or 303-783-3838, x7310 for more information.
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