CONNECT-ING WITH YOUR MISSIONARIES

Communicate, communicate, communicate

- this goes both ways, missionaries need to keep people informed and it helps to have one person from a group/ committee/ church to be the official liaison, preferably someone with e-mail (others are also welcome to write)

Organize prayer support

- especially important to keep in mind for couples and families – that the spouses and children are also out there on the 'front line', and they need your prayers as they fulfill their role on the field (even if that is just attending school and growing up as a Christian in a foreign country)

Notify field personnel about all changes (however small) at home

- Sunday bulletin, prayer sheet, newsletter are great ways to send the general church news … sermon tapes, too!

News from the field printed in your bulletin or quarterly paper

- helps keep the church up to date regarding what God is doing on the mission field

E-mail (or snail mail)

- this allows us to keep in close contact with our praying partners, without any time delay

Care packages

- ask missionary for a list to choose from

- provide instructions about any customs/ mailing restrictions

- try and match wish list items to people with like interests

e.g. easier for some folks to gather craft supplies than to remember to video-tape the weekly football game! J

Talk with your missionaries

- about furlough needs – helping to arrange for ministry opportunities, meetings, housing, and transportation in your local area

- about on-field needs for special assistance or care

- about the potential for visiting the field, perhaps with a team

- about the possibility to “twin” with a local church on the field

c-o-n-n-e-c-t

20.6.01