Missionaries
Faith Promise is the name of our missions budget, funded by pledges given over and above the weekly tithe amounts. We currently support over 25 missionaries through our Faith Promise giving.
Missionary Care Teams
Missionary life is demanding, and although missionaries are well-prepared people of high dedication and spiritual maturity, they need friendship, encouragement, and sometimes, specialized care throughout their entire career.
What is a Care Team?
It is a vital link between the missionary and the sending church community. A care team is a small group (six to twelve) of committed people who come together to care for a specific missionary in a variety of ways, meeting personal, emotional, and spiritual needs. It is a group of people with whom the missionary can be open and honest, allowing them to see his/her needs and share in his/her successes and defeats.
Why Have a Care Team?
Care teams help to make missionaries feel understood, and provide them with a committed group of people who show them practical love, keep them visible before the church community, and strengthen them on the mission field.
What Does a Care Team Do?
In a nutshell, a care team works together to provide care for the missionary, striving to meet his/her spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. To a large extent, this will happen only to the degree that the missionary is willing and able to make his/her needs known to the team.
The specific ways in which a care team goes about meeting its missionary’s needs will vary depending on the specific personality and needs of the missionary, as well as the personality (creativity) of the care team. The missionary should be asked how the team can best assist him/her. The care team takes personal responsibility to serve as the missionary’s advocate before the church community.
What is Expected?
1) A one year commitment. At the end of the year, the care team will get another opportunity to sign up with the same missionary.
2) Meet together on a regular basis to pray corporately for the missionary, his/her ministry, and the people to whom he/she is ministering.
- The care team is to establish a prayer chain, which will enable team members to pray for the missionary, the ministry, and the people as urgent requests become known.
- Team members should individually pray for the missionary daily.
3) Correspond regularly with your missionary, including sending birthday, anniversary, holiday cards, and general notes of encouragement.
4) Work to create an atmosphere where your missionary feels safe and comfortable to share himself/herself very personally with the team – keeping confidential concerns confidential.
5) The care team is to be the first line of hospitality for the missionaries when they are in the area. Team members will be called upon to provide housing, meals, transportation, and other needs, as well as being available to help the missionary in his/her reentry to the area and the church.
How do I get Plugged in to a Care Team?
Most care teams are formed by preexisting small groups in the church, or by ABF’s (Adult Bible Fellowships). If you are interested in joining a group or forming your own, please fill out the form below and you will be contacted shortly.
Signup if you are interested.
