Lausanne World Pulse – World Pulse Archives – World Pulse Archives

Trevor and Ann are fictitious missionaries to Asia now on home assignment in Anywhere, USA. After three years of challenging culture learning and ministry, they’ve looked forward to returning to Christ Community Church (also fictitious) which sent them abroad as missionaries.

But connecting there hasn’t been easy. The pastor left after they moved to Asia. The new pastor, whom we’ll call John Jones, is very busy. They aren’t sure how to report to the church that has supported them financially.

When they first returned, Pastor Jones gave them a few moments during the worship service to greet the congregation. But now they wonder-what other chances will they have to speak? Like most churches these days, Christ Community has no Sunday evening service where they’d have plenty of time to present their ministry.

Trevor and Ann face major adjustments as they re-enter their home culture. They long for friends to come alongside them. They want to be more than just “line items” in the church’s budget. But given these circumstances, how can they build a strong partnership with their church?

You may identify with Trevor and Ann’s story-either as missionaries or supporters. Our own church has struggled with these issues. Recently it has embraced a model that’s making a difference in how church members relate to their missionaries. The idea is to have a Home Team for each missionary or missionary family.

A Home Team provides missionaries with a committed group of people who will show practical love, keep them visible before the rest of the church body, and strengthen them while they serve.

Home Teams provide missionaries a natural place to connect when on home assignment, and a small group to stay in touch with while overseas. Instead of sending letters and e-mails into “a black hole,” missionaries are relating to people committed to their ministry and well-being. This smaller group then helps missionaries to communicate with the larger church body.

To form Home Teams the missionary couple (or single) prayerfully chooses those they believe will be supportive. Missionaries ask friends from their small group, Sunday school class, the church choir or other contacts. The key is to select people whom they already trust and with whom they can be “real.”

The Home Team’s leader arranges team meetings and makes sure the team stays in touch with the missionaries and with each other about the missionaries’ needs. A prayer coordinator helps share prayer requests and praises, and arranges prayer meetings where the church at large can take part. Other Home Team members might help with practical needs such as banking, packing, child care, newsletter distribution and transportation. Most of all, they give prayerful support and stay in contact with their missionaries.

As you form Home Teams, ask the missionaries how you can best assist them. Be prayerful and creative. It’s important that missionaries be willing and able to make their needs known to the team. Missionaries, tell your team about your challenges and blessings both while you are on the field and on home assignment.

Home Teams relate to the larger church body through the Home Teams coordinator, who is part of the missions committee. This coordinator encourages teams and provides them with resources. One way to do so is a Home Teams Summit, gathering all the teams to broaden the body’s vision and share ideas about giving better care to their missionaries.

A Home Team would help Trevor and Ann connect with their church while they are home from Asia and when they return. The church would also be blessed as true partnership takes place.

Let us know if this idea works in your setting.

 

Carol Plueddemann is the minister of congregational life and outreach at Immanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Warrenville, Illinois. Jim Plueddemann is professor of missions at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.