A sending church provides ongoing care in partnership with a missions organization by building a relational structure that nurtures the health of sent ones for as long as they are afield. This involves both church leaders and members in advocating holistically for sent ones through prayer, communication, accountability, logistics, visits, and crisis care.
- Upstream Collective Sending Church Element #12
Providing ongoing care is a great area to work in tandem with a sending organization. A quality sending organization will provide supervision that will guide the mission and care for the Sent-One. Even though this is provided by the on-field supervisor, receiving shepherding and wisdom from their familiar roots—their Sending Church—provides courage, confidence, and a personalized touch to shepherding that will take the supervisor time to grow into.
Beyond regular connection with the Sent-One, the church should consider ways that they can provide specialized support. This can be through creating advocacy groups at the Sending Church for prayer and care, sending short-term trips for mission, or more importantly, trips that are simply centered around care and enjoyment with friends. The Sending Church can provide personalized care that keeps the Sent-One energized for the challenging work they endeavor upon.
"Beyond regular connection with the Sent-One, the church should consider ways that they can provide specialized support. The Sending Church can provide personalized care that keeps the Sent-One energized for the challenging work they endeavor upon."
In times of crisis, the Sending Church can work alongside the Sending Organization to provide for physical needs like funding, housing, and transportation, as well as shepherding through the trauma the Sent-One may have faced in their crisis.
Upstream is here to help you Provide Ongoing Care for Your Sent-Ones. Here are a few ways:
A subscription to the resources on our website gives you access to practical ideas for Missionary Care for Sent-Ones. Resources include:
Our book, Sending Church Applied (Fall 2021), will take a deeper dive into how to Provide Ongoing Care with your missions team and church leadership.
The Advanced Cohort will give extensive training and personalized coaching to help you Provide Ongoing Care for your Sent-Ones in ways that are unique to your context.
Upstream also has a regular Specialty Cohort for Missionary Care. Keep an eye out for that opportunity.
Mike Easton is the International Program Manager for Reliant Mission. Prior to that Mike was the Missions Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa, for eight years, where he got to experience the ins and outs of being a sending church. He served on staff with Cornerstone 2006 to 2022 in varying roles–from college ministry to pastoral staff to being an overseas missionary sent from Cornerstone for two years. Mike is the Director of Content for the Upstream Collective. Mike, his wife, Emily, and their four kids continue to live in Ames, IA, and serve at Cornerstone.
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