“The missionaries are here!” I hope those words still excite young hearts as much as they did mine growing up. My family enjoyed hosting visiting missionaries, and though I didn’t know it then, such opportunities played a pivotal role in drawing my own heart to the field many years later.

Building on the previous posts in the series, this article offers some practical suggestions for hosting missionary families—particularly regarding housing and easing their life on the road.

How Should We House a Missionary Family?

There are really four best options for housing missionary families, organized here from least to most expensive.

Option #1: Church Members’ Homes

This most common option is also the cheapest and most intimate, not to mention a huge blessing to visiting missionaries. Benefits are mutual, as hosts and guests can mingle and form friendships and long-term bonds that strengthen (at minimum) prayer partnerships. In-home hosting can have some drawbacks, however, if the host (or missionary!) family is willing yet also impersonal, messy, disagreeable in personality, or inconsiderate of the others’ needs. Find proper ways to vet both your volunteers and their accommodations before arranging an overnight stay.

Option #2: A Prophet’s Chamber

Based on Elisha’s experience in 2 Kings 4, this is a moderate living space (on church property or part of a church member’s home) designed specifically for housing vising speakers in privacy and comfort. Usually fitted with a private kitchen, bathroom, bedroom(s), and living area, these dedicated apartments only require upkeep—and sometimes reservations, if churches are willing to make the property available to missionary networks (sometimes for moderate fees).

Option #3: Hotels

Although seemingly less personal, this option can often be a welcome reprieve for missionaries who’ve been living too long as guests on the road. Sometimes families need a place to relax away from new faces, or perhaps they’ve been missing out on marital intimacy. Whatever their needs, missionaries can get a real boost from an evening or two of total privacy. Note that it’s still good to invite them to homes or other gatherings for some meals during their stay. Hotels can also be an excellent gift for any extra days missionaries may have between meetings.

Option 4: A Missionary House

Although a vastly larger investment than a Prophet’s Chamber, establishing a dedicated missions house can be an awesome ministry for your church, especially for missionaries needing extended stays. When we found ourselves suddenly evacuated from the field in early 2020 and “homeless” in the States, we had no idea where we’d land or how long we’d have to wait for borders to re-open. We still praise God for a church that housed our family those first six months, and for two families who housed us for the next two-and-a-half years! “Showers of blessing” can’t begin to describe how God cared for us through these sacrifices. Perhaps your church can enjoy having a similar impact on others.

How Else Can We Help Traveling Missionaries?

Deputation (and missionary life in general!) is neither normal nor a vacation. This topic could be a whole book, but I’ll limit myself to just 10 reminders and some ideas to go with them.

Reminder #1: Missionary Families Aren’t Perfect

It won’t shock anyone that kids fresh off an 8-hour drive won’t generally behave like angels—and teens who’ve slept in 5 different beds each week for the past 3 months might be a touch cranky. Be understanding and try not to let first impressions of wild behavior or stubbornness around their haggard parents be your gauge of either character or parenting skills. Give them grace—and pray for more!

Reminder #2: Communication is Key

Be in touch early with the missionary about services, event schedules, and housing arrangements. If possible, connect them to their host family early to discuss dietary needs, allergies, illnesses, sleeping arrangements, etc.

Reminder #3: Let Them Be Part of the Family During Their Stay

“Make yourself at home” is easy for hosts to say, but not always easy for guests to do. Show them where the essentials are. Provide snacks, water bottles, a water boiler and teas in their room. Provide them with a private bathroom. Share a schedule of breakfast and departure times. Welcome them to join your nightly routines of football or board games, but always with the option to decline.

Reminder #4: Missionaries Need Their Sleep

Be sensitive to keeping missionaries up too late—especially on Saturday nights! I remember staying up past midnight on too many occasions, shooting the breeze with our hosts about missionary life. Wonderful yet exhausting. Missionaries might be too polite to call it a night, so pay attention to their cues—yawns, stretches, and that thinly-veiled hint, “So when do you usually go to bed?”

Reminder #5: Don’t Forget the In-between Days

Organizing Saturday-night housing for the missionaries visiting church on Sunday is excellent—but be aware that they may need more. They might have 6 days of nothing before their next meeting, while home is still 5 states away. Perhaps they need to come early or stay late. Ask, and try to be accommodating.

Reminder #6: Missionaries Would Love to Get Involved in Church Life, When Feasible

Does you church have any special projects? Work days? Outings? Bible studies? Most missionaries would love the opportunity to join your church life for a few days! After long hours in the car, they probably also want to exercise or practice their handyman skills. This would also provide a more intimate glimpse of what kind of skills they’ll be taking to the field.

Reminder #7: Missionaries often Want to Schedule Their Own Days

Services, Bibles studies, meals, events, etc. that you’ve communicated to them already can be set in stone. Be careful, though, not to schedule out the missionary’s entire day or week. They too need time to rest, study, homeschool, care for the kids, etc., so make sure they’ve got ample personal time to do so.

Reminder #8: Missionaries Might Need Breaks from Each Other Too

Missionary families usually spend 24-7 together, much of that time cooped up in a van or in unfamiliar surroundings. Tensions can rise. Consider offering the parents a free babysitter for an evening (or overnight!), so they can finally go out on that date they’ve been putting off. Perhaps donate a gift card to a local restaurant or arrange a hotel for them.

Reminder #9: Missionary Families Can’t Always Travel Together

Due to school, ministry, or other engagements, some missionary wives or kids can’t always join Dad on the road. Be understanding of their circumstances. If your church is truly interested in partnering with them, try to schedule another meeting when everyone can visit. Note, though, that if their home-base is thousands of miles away, this might not be a feasible request.

Reminder #10: Missionaries Want to Meet Pastors

Pastor, we know your time is limited and important, but your intentional attention to the visiting missionaries can communicate so much, both to them and to your congregation. Whether it’s coffee on Saturday or breakfast on Monday, try to schedule some personal time with these fellow-laborers for mutual encouragement.

Conclusion

 I hope these reminders and practical tips can bolster your church’s hospitality ministry, especially when it comes to hosting a missionary family. Stay tuned for one final article in this series, “Missionary Compensation and Communication.”