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From nearby communities to faraway lands, small churches can have an incredible impact on global missions. Whether your church is already deep in supporting missionaries or just exploring the possibility, keep reading to learn a few common mistakes to avoid and how to get started in building stronger partnerships with missionaries.
Why Are Missions So Important
We are currently in the middle of a series going over the opportunity for small churches to be involved in global missions.
… and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Act 1:8
Whether you’re already involved in missions or wondering how to do them differently, better, or even deeper, keep reading!
Missions are a vital part of ministry. Global missions and missions in your nearby communities alike provide us with an incredible opportunity to not only share the Good News with others, but to build partnerships with people all around the globe! It’s an act of community with people you may or may not have even met in person.
In small churches, we get the unique chance to develop partnerships with missionaries in ways that aren’t commonly done. We can partner with people who are doing the work in other countries, and do our part to help the gospel reach so many people. God calls us to share the gospel, and if we aren’t able to fly across the globe to do it, that’s okay! We can still do our part in getting the Good News out to the masses.
Building Partnerships With Missionaries And Their Work
It’s common for churches to support missionaries while being devastatingly disconnected from them and the work they’re doing for God. It’s so easy to support missionaries and send them money without actually investing in these people and the people they’re connecting with too. However, God created us to be relational. He wants us to be in relation with Him and He wants us to be building relationships with each other too. I want to encourage you that it is definitely possible to develop partnerships with missionaries and connect with them on a deeper, more personal level.
Depending on where you are trying to build these relationships, whether it’s in your local community or across the globe, it might look a little different. However, some basic fundamentals are needed no matter what. Keep in mind that this takes commitment, it isn’t something that just happens. You have to be intentional! I encourage you and your church to make the decision and commitment to having missions be the DNA of your church. What I mean by this is that it should be a part of your daily culture and have a place in every service, not just once a year.
Where To Start
I think a great place to start is in prayer. Prayer is something that connects us all in such a beautiful way. Praying for missions and missionaries alike is a great way to keep missionaries at the forefront of our hearts and minds. It also provides us with a unique opportunity to set our hearts on the people they are reaching as well. In a way, it connects us to people we haven’t even met, who are all the way on the other side of the world!
Another great way to stay connected is by realizing that the missionaries going out are ambassadors for Christ and your church. When one person takes a mission trip, they are representing the whole congregation. When you see it like this, you are presented with another opportunity to connect, because when they come back, they get to share everything about their time there! They get to be the thing that connects your church to the people hearing the Gospel for the first time. It truly is such a beautiful opportunity.
Focusing On Just A Few Things
At my church, historically, we’ve committed to too many different projects. We raise money to send kids on short-term mission trips. Then, at Christmas, we raise money for an event or a fun project in town. Then we go on to host other things too. Our focus is getting dispersed into too many different places that it becomes less intentional.
I want to point out that doing these things isn’t wrong. They can be meaningful and can have a large impact on so many people. However, I think it’s important to limit the things you’re devoting attention to so that you can be more focused and intentional with the things you are committing to.
A big struggle for small churches too, is that their volunteers are burnt out. There aren’t enough people to do every task, which requires so many people to be doing too many things. A lot of people think the solution to this is getting more volunteers, but I think a better solution would be to focus on fewer projects, and work together on them! Collaborate!
Start As Soon As You Can
I want to encourage you to develop partnerships with missionaries as soon as you can! Welcome them in to speak at your church. Support them in whatever ways you’re able to. Pray for them and communicate with them even when they aren’t in your country at the moment. Small churches have a great opportunity to build meaningful, long-lasting partnerships with missionaries and the people they’re reaching.
Read More:
8 Best Ways To Be Doing Missionary Work Right Where You Are
