The thriving sustainability of missionaries sounds like a great thing, right? It lines up with the heart of Christ to go to all the nations sharing the Gospel and making disciples. But as the body of Christ what does that actually mean for us? How do we take a nice sentiment and put it into action?
Our team at AJM has been thinking and praying on this for years and we know that the list is still growing as God reveals the answers in His time and kindness. We have found that the following areas are a good place to start –
Prayer
Our prayers are petitions in the throne room of the God Most High. Prayers of gratitude, lament, adoration, and requests are graciously heard by our good Father. We fight against the spiritual forces of evil when we pray, we are warriors in God’s Kingdom when we pray. We know that those who are doing the will of the Father will be targeted. The prayers of the saints call upon the Almighty God to intervene by His goodness and grace. If you would like some ideas on what to pray for on behalf of missionaries, check out Colossians 1:9-14.
Presence
Whether you find yourself as a dear friend to a missionary, practical stranger who prays for one, or an acquaintance that offers financial support, do not underestimate the power of your presence in a missionary’s life. Here are three ways to do that:
Be curious. Ask questions. Give them a call or send them a message checking in. Ask the general “how are you” and “how can I pray for you”. But also ask about the group they are serving, the friendships they are making, their favorite things or not so favorite things about their environment, and what God is teaching them along the way.
Encourage them. Sit and listen with intentionality. Be attentive to the Spirit and then speak life over them. We all know that the human experience can be tremendously defeating at times. That the cares of this world and the lack of fruit yielded from hard work can be heart wrenching. We can listen with empathy and cry with those who cry and laugh with those who laugh and ultimately acknowledge that God is near to us in every high and low.
Visit. Sitting and listening whether through calls or messages is beautiful and what is possible most of the time. But when we can use our vacation time to go and be with a missionary and come with flexible hearts of service to see their world, that can instill a great deal of encouragement and support helping to sustain them for the years to come.
Resources
There is always a need for financial resources. These resources require faith that God provides to others through us and that our willingness to be generous is seen by the Father. The Father cares deeply for all of His children and longs to see them care for one another as He cares for us. We hold our hands open to all that the Lord wants to do, trusting that He will use it for our good and His glory. As you feel led by the Spirit, give monetarily to what the Lord is doing.
God hasn’t only given us money to be generous with but skills, abilities, professions, hobbies, knowledge, and possessions. Any of these things could be used to bring the Kingdom of God to earth and to care for our brothers and sisters. We ask ourselves “who has God made us to be in order to bless other people?”.
Connection
Maybe you don’t have the capacity to reach out, travel, or give in this season. But maybe you know someone who does! A simple introduction with excitement and explanation of what God is doing in and through the life of a missionary to someone else is a huge blessing. Missionaries don’t always have the means to advocate for themselves, so we can help bridge connections and support them, building up new relationships to be a part of the Kingdom work.
If you need help getting started please feel free to reach out to our team. Their heart and prayer is for the sustainability of missionaries everywhere. Our team would love to help get you involved in being a part of that. You can email us here.
