Your Ministry to Missionaries
Your Obedience to God’s great commission hinges upon the men that you support to give the Gospel out. The Bible really is full of messages and facts of the ministry for the church to the missionaries, call these subtle hints from God on how to take care of His choice servants. It should never ‘cost’ a missionary to come to your church! A rookie has not raised his support yet and in most cases is living and funding his ministry solely off of love offerings. A veteran worth his salt has a ministry going on that is constantly needy, a house on the field that must be kept up as well as payments or rent. Then he has an apartment or house while on furlough not to mention a car on both soils. How are these extras paid for? Well unless their home church is supplying these furlough needs while in the US they are met by his love offerings. Can I kindly say that the day of the $50 and $100 love offering is past! Please do not treat these men this way! They need more than a McDonald’s salary to perform their ministry. What are your needs weekly? That is the need of your missionary plus the cost of constant travel. Take care of them when they come to your church.
Take care of the missionaries on the field. It is against the law for most missionaries to work or make money in their country. They are totally dependent upon the funds that come in from month to month. Please let your missionaries be the very last thing that goes unpaid. Take a cut on your own salary, or turn it in before you drop, cut or decrease the support of your missionaries. We must take care of our front line soldiers. We don’t need to get them over there and then not supply them… Think about it!
- The needs of the missionaries you invite to your church should be known by you and communicated to your people.
- Any special projects should be prayed for and about concerning your involvement.
- You should prepare for these needs to be met!
- It should never ‘cost’ a missionary to come to your church!
- A special offering should be received for the missionary after his presentation/message.
- As gas prices rise be sensitive and willing to fill up the tank.
Some Scriptural Sayings Concerning your Ministry to Missionaries
Romans 15:24 “Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.”
Acts 15:3 “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren."
1 Corinthians 16:6 “And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.”
Philippians 4:18 “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”
Acts 13:3 “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”
Don’t forget that the Great Commission was not given to the missionary but to the church. You do not want to stand before God having treated them unfairly!
Regions Beyond Missions
Dr. Roy Harris