The initial articles in this series are important parts of the discussion, yet also slightly abstract, answering the philosophical whys and whats of missionary support raising:

Thankfully, the remaining articles are all rubber-meets-the-road practical, answering the whens and hows of missionary support with you, the Church, in mind. This article focuses on two questions you might ask before missionaries visit: (1) When should a missionary visit our church? (2) How can we schedule a missionary visit?

When Should a Missionary Visit Our Church?

Calendars and availability—these are the main roadblocks preventing missionaries from visiting your church. Once the church’s calendar and the missionary’s traveling schedule are aligned, however, you need only to save the date. Simple enough. Beyond this though are the gritty options of service times and events.

Many churches have eliminated Sunday evening and midweek services (ostensibly to allow for “more fellowship outside the church building”), yet sadly this trend makes the already difficult deputation process and even more difficult for missionaries. No matter your church’s service times, hopefully these six options guide you in scheduling well.

Option #1: Sunday AM.

Missionaries enjoy the greatest exposure on Sunday mornings, particularly in the main service. Because Sunday School, Sunday afternoons/evenings, and midweek services often see a 75% drop in attendance, most of the church misses out on hearing missionary presentations when they’re not given this “prime time” slot. If the only time available is Sunday School, then that’s okay. It’s better than nothing, but make every effort also to give the missionary 5-10 minutes in the morning service to share the ministry. People need to hear!

Option #2: Sunday PM.

Though perhaps easier to schedule and potentially more “intimate,” PM services are generally less well attended and shorter, making it difficult for the missionaries to meet the church and vice-versa.

Option #3: All Day Sunday.

Supposing your church has 3 Sunday services, this option exposes your church the most to visiting missionaries. Missionaries enjoy sitting under a pastor’s preaching, but don’t often get the opportunity while traveling. A full day helps them feel your church’s culture and ministry, and it can provide informal downtime for them to interact with the church. A schedule might go like this:

  • Sunday School: The missionaries share their testimonies, the ministry, and a short challenge.
  • AM Service: The missionary (or pastor) preaches but also introduces the ministry for 5-10 minutes to the day’s largest attendance.
  • PM Service: The missionaries share a full presentation and take questions—best done in an afternoon service following (or alongside) a meal.

Option #4: Midweek Service or Small Groups.

Though easier to schedule, midweek services have the lowest attendance. Small groups and in-home Bible studies, however, might provide an intimate atmosphere often unavailable at a normal service. Even if they’re scheduled for Sunday, invite the missionaries to join a small-group study with your most faithful members.

Option #5: Missions Conference.

When well-planned, these events can be great for missionaries. When poorly planned, they become exhausting and stressful, so plan well! Styles and options vary.

  • Keep It Small: Invite 2-4 missionaries for 2-4 days—always try to include missionaries you already support!
  • Go Big: Invite 5+ missionaries for a week or month. Note that larger/longer conferences are sometimes less effective. Promote exposure but avoid the atmosphere of competition for support.
  • Round-Robin: Partner with other local churches where missionaries travel to each for a series of meetings. Open and/or close with at least one combined service/meal so all the missionaries and churches can meet.

Option #6: Youth Activities, Camps, and VBS.

Although youth-oriented programs require a larger time investment from missionaries (and the honorariums are generally smaller), many missionaries love participating in such events where they can tangibly impact lives for Christ and even inspire some youth towards missions. Not all missionaries are great with kids, though, and not every missionary couple equals a 2-for-1 deal on teachers! Be considerate of their time and abilities. While most missionaries are willing to do anything in ministry, don’t think they’re unfit for ministry because they’ve declined to dress up and sing like an octopus for your under-the-sea themed VBS.

Note: be aware of in-between days. Many missionaries have time to burn between meetings. Ask if they’d like to arrive a few days early or stay a few days later. Share your church schedule with them and welcome them as guests to home groups, etc. Select host families that can accommodate extra nights, if needed.

How Can We Schedule a Missionary Visit?

Few churches actively pursue missionaries to support. Instead, missionaries generally must pursue local churches to visit, often through cold-calls or distant connections. This situation isn’t ideal, but it’s reality. It’s also hard on missionaries. Churches can help by following just a few common courtesies.

Courtesy #1: Respond.

First and foremost, acknowledge that you received a missionary request. Sadly, missionaries discover that many pastors fail to return phone calls or reply to e-mails. Granted, this contact is often unsolicited, and pastors might get dozens or more missionary requests per month. Still, a simple “Thanks but not at this time” can help missionaries! Slow or failed responses limit the missionary’s ability to schedule travel and can easily frustrate them. Pastors, if you think “No,” then politely say “No.” It shows you care and lets the missionary move on.

Courtesy #2: Communicate.

Even when you answer “Yes” and schedule a meeting, please don’t wait until the final week to communicate the service details. Missionaries must meticulously schedule their on-the-road time, and such tardy communication adds unnecessary burdens to the family. Promptly communicate any changes as well.

Courtesy #3: Keep to the Original Plan.

Newer missionaries assume that scheduled meetings are always set in stone. Experience teaches us otherwise, and most missionaries eventually learn to remind churches they’re coming. You can help deter this need by initiating contact and re-confirming scheduled meetings and details 2-3 weeks beforehand.

Courtesy #4: Write Things Down.

Despite all the precautions missionaries take, schedules can still be forgotten. This goes for minor details like: “Did I tell them we’d provide supper before the service?” and larger details like: “Which Sunday did I ask them to speak?” My own worst experience was arriving at a triple-booked service 1,000 miles from home and being asked to return the following Sunday! Memories are flawed, and we’re all human. Write things down!

Courtesy #5: Ask the Important Questions.

When communicating with missionaries (by e-mail or phone), ask these questions before scheduling a meeting:

  • “Is it convenient for you to visit our area?” Missionaries are willing to travel, but the furthest limits they should travel for your church alone is 2-4 hours, unless he’s already on an extended trip in your part of the country. If your main goal is pulpit-fill with no intention of support, communicate that fact and make the visit worth the distance traveled. This might include a healthy honorarium, or (even better) connections to other churches in your area that might translate into long-term support.
  • “Who is your sending church?” or similarly “What mission board are you with?” Do your homework early. Does your church agree with the doctrine and mission of their church and agency? Could your church comfortably join their ministry?

Conclusion

I hope these practical ideas spark some thought and discussion. Next up, we’ll tackle two more questions to ask before missionaries visit: How can we prepare for a missionary visit? and How should we stock a missionary cupboard? Subscribe to Rooted Thinking so you don’t miss out!