Tending the Flock: Why Missionary Care Matters

Caring for and supporting missionaries is not the responsibility of a select few. It is the privilege of the whole church. Learn why supporting missionaries matters.

Churches often send missionaries into the world with great celebration, but what happens after the commissioning service?

Missionaries are still valuable members of their sending church, even when they are away. They need care, connection, and community that reflect the heart of Christ. That’s why caring for and supporting missionaries (often called Member Care) is not optional; it’s a reflection of the Gospel.

In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He’s not a distant overseer but a tender, attentive guide. He calls His sheep by name, knows them intimately, and lays down His life for them. This image helps us understand how deeply God values His people, especially those He sends out.

If missionaries are sent on behalf of the Church and in obedience to the Shepherd, then caring for and supporting missionaries isn’t optional; it’s imitating Jesus. Missionaries need a sending church that won’t run when things get hard but will walk with them through every season.

Missionaries face many challenges that can go unnoticed unless someone is intentionally asking and listening. Understanding these challenges can help churches care more wisely for their missionaries.

Challenges Missionaries Face

Loneliness

Missionaries are often far from family and Christian community and can face incredible loneliness and discouragement.

Finances

On top of that, financial struggles like irregular giving, emergency expenses, and high costs overseas can all be a regular part of a missionary’s story.

Relationships

Marriage and family strain are also a common part of a missionary’s struggles, as cross-cultural pressure can intensify relational dynamics. Team tension, organizational differences, or interpersonal breakdowns can be intensified when they happen in a cross-cultural context.

Environmental change

Besides that, missionaries often face constant change in areas like language, homes, schools, and teams, not to mention the fact that coming “home” can feel disorienting and lonely. This can lead to them feeling out of place, misunderstood, or inadequate in the place where they serve.

The church’s role in missionary care

The church should be a soft landing place where missionaries open up about these realities, not a place of judgment or quick fixes. Be a safe space for missionaries who are processing these themes. Ask good questions and listen well.

Every missionary is in a different place in their journey. This means that the kind of care that they need also differs. There are multiple kinds of member care, each tailored to meet missionaries where they are at.

Types of missionary care

First, there is pre-field care. Think of this as premarital counseling, but for missions. It involves evaluating readiness, spiritual maturity, and relational health before someone goes overseas.  Churches should partner with mission organizations to walk with missionaries even before they launch in order to send them well.

Next, there is preventative care. Regular rhythms of spiritual direction, mentorship, and emotional check-ins can prevent crisis down the road. Churches should be proactive. Don’t wait for missionaries to hit burnout before offering care.

Then, there is restorative care. This is care in crisis. It involves things like counseling, debriefing after traumatic events, and even temporary withdrawal from the field for recovery. Churches should make space for missionaries to come home temporarily for healing, without shame or pressure to perform.

Finally, there is ongoing care. The most sustainable care is consistent, low-key, and relational. It’s the friendly email, the prayer text, the financial gift “just because.” Churches should make missionary care a regular rhythm, not just a special event.

So, what does it look like for a church to walk alongside their missionaries for the long haul?

How your church can help

First, treat them generously. Support missionaries financially and relationally without guilt or pressure. They are worthy of investment. Then, read and respond to their updates. Don’t just skim their newsletters. Respond. Ask follow-up questions. Let them know that you’re listening. If possible, visit them. Visits from home can be life-giving, but only if done well. Make it about their needs, not your experience. Encourage them through texts, calls, and gifts and remind them that they are not forgotten.Finally, love them well. Stand by them during hardship and success, even when they step off the field, change direction, or face failure.

Remember, caring for and supporting missionaries is not the responsibility of a select few. It is the privilege of the whole Church. When we care for those we send, we reflect the very heart of Jesus. May we be known not just for our sending power, but for our shepherding presence.

To learn more about how TEAM can help you shepherd the missionaries in your church well, sign up for free resources from TEAM to equip your staff and congregation.

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