To both the people with whom missionaries serve on the field and family and friends in the US, the idea of “going on furlough” can sound like a several week vacation. But missionaries will tell you that furlough (while wonderful in many ways) is far from a relaxing vacation. Between travel, living out of a suitcase, support raising, organizational training, and squeezing in once-a-year visits with family and friends, furlough often leaves missionaries more tired than when they left the field.
So how can you and your church support missionaries during this busy, tiring season?
- Invite a missionary to your church and make arrangements for their visit.
- If you have a missionary who regularly visits, reach out to them prior to their furlough and help schedule a date that works for them and for your congregation.
- Consider setting up various ways for them to connect with the church – an announcement in worship, a Bible study hour, a children’s message, a table in the narthex, a visit to a youth group or LWML group, etc.
- Provide a meal when the missionary visits your church.
- Arrange for them to eat with a few church leaders or supporters after services on Sunday, invite them to your home for a meal, host a meal at church, or give a gift card to a local restaurant.
- Provide a place to stay while visiting your church.
- Offer a vehicle to use while on furlough or offer rides as needed.
- Ask about items a missionary may need to borrow during furlough. Winter clothes? A pack-n-play? Car seats? An old phone that can take a temporary SIM card to give them a US phone number while they are here?
- Offer babysitting. Can you help with children while parents are doing a presentation or meeting with donors? Can you help sit with a family in church? Or maybe you can even offer babysitting to give parents a date night in the midst of furlough busyness!
- Ask about items to send back with them onto the field.
- Postage costs are often prohibitive and some locations don’t have reliable mail service; however, many mission partners have specific needs on the field that they plan luggage space for carrying back with them.
- Ask if you can donate books, Christian craft materials, comfort foods, or another ministry related item for them to take back to the field.
- Host an event. Help missionaries share their story and connect with supporters through a gathering like a tea time, dessert night, potluck, or some other event outside of Sunday morning.
- Help them connect to new supporters. Do you know others with a heart for missions and the desire and means to support intentional Gospel proclamation? Do you know groups that give offerings to support ministries? Making the connection between a missionary and a new supporter, group, or church is a wonderful way to bless them during furlough.
- Ask good questions. Asking questions and listening is perhaps one of the most encouraging ways to support a missionary on furlough. You don’t have to know a lot about their country or context. They don’t mind if you ask “silly questions.” 🙂 It just matters that you ask and want to know the answers. Ask about their ministry. Ask about cultural differences. Ask about the greatest joys and struggles of the last year. Ask about how you can support and encourage them. Ask how you can pray for them – and stop and pray right then and there!