Creating Home and Refuge: Loving Missionaries Well

Nov 14, 2022

Throw blankets, game nights, pine candles, and off-topic conversations. These are some of my favorite tools to serve God.

When most of us picture missionaries, we think of evangelists striking up conversations, ex-pats running coffee shops, or pastors preaching in a second language. There certainly is a huge need for missionaries matching those descriptions, but to reduce missions exclusively to such a picture is to overlook some of the most meaningful work that happens behind the scenes.

 

I attended Missionary Training School three months after graduating high school. Young and passionate, I was anxious to get through training so I could press on to the “real missions field”. I had lived overseas for months at a time before, so I figured moving to a different city in another state would be easy. I failed to account for the amazing community I had overseas and my complete lack of connection to anyone in this new city. As a result, that first week of training remains the most difficult week of my life.

 

I started that week with no connections. Loneliness hit hard, and in spite of my pride demanding I stay strong and independent, I couldn’t help but turn to those around me. 

Throughout the week, I admitted my weakness and let others into my struggle. The response was overwhelming comfort. I was prayed for every day. People invited me to dinner and welcomed me into conversations. The following months were still difficult, but the burden was made so much lighter once I had others to carry it alongside me.  

I think of the words of Jesus after He washed the feet of his disciples:

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

 

God made us to rely on each other, to flourish in the presence of one another. We can often praise people in ministry for their boldness and dedication but do nothing to enable them to continue doing that with excellence. Missionaries are not superheroes any more than any other follower of Christ. They’re human. We were built to rely on one another. We were created to encourage and lift one another up in our weakness. God calls us into difficult situations, but He does not call us alone.

So how do we encourage those serving in ministry? In the same way we encourage anyone following Christ. We love them like family. Invite them over to dinner. Host a game night. Bring them camping with family or friends. Serving in full-time ministry can be draining. Feeling connected to people that truly care for them can be incredibly life-giving for someone in ministry.

Still living in this city a couple years later, I've learned from my experiences to keep a keen eye on the well-being of the people I serve alongside. Sometimes I offer a listening ear. Other times I crack a joke. When I’m able, I host or attend game nights that provide space for my friends in ministry to relax and refresh outside the stresses of their responsibilities. I consider all these things a critical part of the way I serve God at GFM.

Simply creating a welcoming environment to invite friends into can work wonders for those serving in ministry. All of us are human. All of us need community.  All it takes is a simple invitation. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”

Written by: Darrel

Share by: