Great Expectations

Years ago, a church sent a missionary family through Pioneers to start a church within an unreached people group. A few months later, they called the Pioneers office and asked,

“Where’s the church? Our missionaries have been there for three months. Why haven’t they started a church yet?”

Most churches realize that cross-cultural church planting operates on a different timeline, especially when there’s a new language to learn.

And, as many church mission leaders discover, their missionaries may also have ambitious goals and unrealistic timelines.

So, misunderstandings still happen regularly. How can churches and missionaries align their expectations for everyone’s good?

Two ways many do this are by making a written, pre-field agreement and requesting regular (usually annual) reports from each missionary.

Making a pre-field agreement

“Let’s just see how it goes” may sound good, but after a few painful misunderstandings, many churches realize that clarity on some key questions will help everyone get on the same page.

Agreements or covenants drawn up before departure for the field, and ideally built on the foundation of a good relationship developed over time, can clarify what churches expect from missionaries, as well as what missionaries can expect from the church.

A covenant may cover things like this:

• How long is the church committed to supporting the missionary?
• What happens if the missionary’s job description, doctrinal beliefs or field of service changes?
• Under what circumstances would support end?
• How frequently will the missionary communicate? How? With whom?
• How will the church shepherd, care for and pray for the missionary?
• Will people from the church regularly visit the field?
• Will short-term teams assist in the ministry?
• What will the church do in a field emergency?

Asking for regular reports from the field

Does your church have a plan for asking your missionaries about their ministry and lives? Many do so via an annual report. What should an annual report from a missionary look like? Consider your relationship with the missionary.

“Sending” churches and churches that support at substantial rates (perhaps 25% or more of total support) have the right to ask for more information. But some missionaries have multiple supporting churches. If the missionary already fills out a report similar to yours for their supervisor or for another church, might you accept that report instead of asking for another one?

Ask about specific ministry goals and results.

It’s usually helpful to make these asks open-ended rather than prescriptive, as ministry fruitfulness may look quite different from one ministry to the next. One church asks annually, “What were your last year’s top three ministry goals, and to what extent were they realized?” and then, “What are your top three goals for next year?” Answers to these questions show the missionary’s clarity about his/her primary purposes.

Ask about needs and opportunities.

Missionaries may have practical needs that your church could help meet. For example, they may need funds for a new vehicle.

There may be ways your church could partner directly with missionaries on the field. If your missionary teaches English as a second language, could your church send a team to help put on an English camp? Could medical specialists (such as a radiologist) add significant benefit to a medical clinic run by your medical missionary?

Ask how they’re doing spiritually. To avoid a vague response, ask about specific issues, such as closeness to God through Bible reading and prayer, and firm identity in the grace of the gospel. Encourage honesty about struggles.

Ask for prayer points and ministry impact stories that can be shared with the church.

Other considerations

Intimate personal questions usually don’t belong on an annual missionary report. If you wouldn’t ask it of your elders, don’t ask it of your missionaries.

Always tell the missionary how widely what they write will be shared with the church—the entire congregation, the missions committee, the pastoral staff, etc.

You’re probably on the right track if your annual report request sends the message, “We are here for you. How can we help?”

Conclusion

Pioneers sees partnership with your local church as our role as you send missionaries to the unreached. The church, missionary and mission agency each bring a unique, God-given design, perspective and strengths to global outreach. We maximize such resources when we intentionally work together. Can we help send well? Let’s talk.