Engaging in a Missionary Partnership Network
When churches or individuals join a Missionary Partnership Network (MPN), they areintentionally establishing a relationship with a missionary. Like all good relationships, the missionary partnership is a “two-way street.” This relationship enables churches and individuals to becomeclosely and personally involved in the missionary’s’ work. Interaction with missionaries and engagement in their work can contribute to the vitality of your local church’s disciple-making ministry.
Churches and individuals canlive outthe relationship with your partner missionaries by . . .
Relatingpersonally. . .
- Invite the missionary to visit your church. Remember that the purpose of the visit is not just to report but to relate! In addition to speaking, create opportunities for the missionary to build relationships in home gatherings and informal small-group settings that allow for personal interaction.
- Arrange askype-a-mission, a live conversation between the missionary and your congregation or a small group.This is an old idea that is getting new life using voice-over-internet capability with a computer. Phone-a-missions are also possible, as new technology and low long-distance rates make it more do-able than ever!
- Designate a member of the congregation to be your “Network Liaison” to receive and share with your church communications from your partner missionaries and their MPT. This person might be a member of the church Mission Board or other designated person. Assigning a “Network Liaison” for each missionary might be helpful for churches that join more than one Missionary Partnership Network.
- Send cards or small gifts to the missionary family for birthdays, Christmas, etc.
- Add the missionary family to your church mail/email list.
- Add a link to the missionary’s web site or their IM web page to your church’s web site.
- Hang the flag of the country where the missionary is serving in your church sanctuary or fellowship hall.
- Have a home fellowship group/adult Sunday school class “adopt” the missionary family and nurture a relationship by communication and regular prayer for needs.
- Have church members or a small group work with the MPT Relocation Manager to equip and supply a home for the missionary’s use during the year of US/Puerto Rico assignment.
- If your church has an audio recordingministry, send recordings of the sermons to the missionary.
- Visit your missionaryon the field. Nothing can seal the relationship and give you or your congregation a better understanding of the missionary’s life and work than joining them where they serve!
Relating educationally . . .
- Highlight the missionary family quarterly in the worship service with a bulletin insert to share ministry news, prayer requests, praise reports and special needs.
- Feature information and news about the missionary in your church newsletter and/or bulletin inserts to share ministry, praise reports and needs with the congregation.
- Present a children's message several times a year highlighting what the missionary is doing. Contact the missionaries a few months in advance and request that they send some small gift items to pass out to the children. (The church could reimburse the missionaries through IM.)
- Assign a person to do research on the missionaries’ country of service to educate the congregation on the culture, geography and current situations there that impact the missionaries and their work. Create a display with photos and information about the missionaries, flags and items from their country of service.
- Ask your missionaries to send recipes from their country of service and host a “taste of the field” dinner at your church (this could also be used as a fundraiser).
Relatingprayerfully . . .
- Distribute the missionary’s prayer card to your congregation and encourage them to read the online Journals and newsletters and pray for the opportunities and concerns described.
- Receive urgent prayer needs by email from the missionary and MPT Prayer Coordinator to share with small groups, Sunday school classes, and prayer gatherings.
- Create prayer groups who meet regularly to pray for the missionary’s concerns and needs.
- Ask your missionary to pray for the needs of your congregation
Relatingfinancially . . .
- Make a personal financial commitment or earmark a portion of your church’s mission budget for the missionary’s support. American Baptist churches can do this through regular mission support channels by labeling the contribution a “Targeted” gift, a “World Mission Offering Directed”gift,or a “United Mission Designated” giftfor the ongoing support of the missionary. Other churches may send contributions directly to International Ministries at P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge PA, 19482-0851. Individuals can also make an online donation at
- Organize fund-raisers to generate contributions for special needs and projects in the missionary’s ministry. American Baptist churches should label these contributions as “Specifics” on regular mission-giving forms, or the gifts can be sent directly to International Ministries.
- Contact the missionary or the MPT to select a special project related to their work for your VBS or children’s ministry mission offering.
Relating missionally . . .
- Offer to print and mail the missionary’snewsletters to individuals and churches on their distribution list.
- Plan a mission trip to work on a project that will assist the missionary and the partner organization. Work well in advance to raise funds needed for materials and equipment for the project. Contact International Ministries for information and assistance in organizing the team. Afterwards, arrange for the team to share pictures and stories with your congregation.
- Join an IM-sponsored trip to your missionary’s country.
- Develop a project to raise funds for a special need in the missionary’s ministry. Connect the need with the solution. Example: the missionary requests funds for shoes for children in the village. Ask the congregation to donate one dollar for every pair of shoes they own.
- Develop a special relationship with people the missionary works with - pray for one another, exchange letters.If appropriate, buy craft items from the people group and sell them.
Joining a Missionary Partnership Network is easy!
Step 1 – Select Your Missionary. You might already have one or more missionaries in mind, or your church may have a special concern for a particular area of the world or type of ministry. See the International Ministries website ( or refer to International Ministries’Guide to Global Servantsbooklet for information about our missionaries and their ministries. For copies of printed resources, call Judson Press (1-800-4-JUDSON).
Step 2–Contact the Missionary.Email the missionary to indicate your interest in joining their MPN by sending them a message via the International Ministries website. If you do not have internet capability, you may also contact International Ministries’ Mission Partnership office and we will share your interest with the missionary and with the MPT.
Step 3– Build the Relationship. Review the ideas above for relating with your missionary personally, educationally, prayerfully, financially and missionally. Select those you believe will be meaningful and appropriate ways for you or your church to be actively engaged in partnership with your missionaries.
For more information, contact International Ministries
Mission Partnership Officeat 610-768-2210.
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