Local churches and pastors have a crucial role in exploring missionary service with members of their congregation and sponsoring potential extended term (career) missionaries for approval. A pastor’s heart runs deep for the people who are in their care and when one of the members goes through the missionary candidacy process, we depend on their pastor to serve as the guide, facilitator and shepherd. 

General information about the FMWM missionary candidacy process can be found on this website, and we ask potential candidates and their pastors to read it through carefully. Pastors who are ready to begin the process with a missionary should make contact with FMWM and discuss the next steps with one of our advisors (call 800.342.5531 or e-mail ExploreMissions@gmail.com). 

But focusing less on the process and more on the shepherding role, how does a minister sensitively and effectively pastor those special people who are sensing a call to missionary service? First and foremost, we ask that the pastor make it their goal to help each person find God’s best place for them to serve. 

Here are some important points for pastors who are helping to raise up a cross-cultural missionary: 

Cheer them on and provide encouragement, but don’t push … 

Your support and enthusiasm are vital for the potential missionary candidate, but be sure that you don’t overwhelm them with too much help.  Avoid becoming so focused on the novelty of a missionary going out from your church that you lose sight of the person. Their action and initiative is often a key test of whether they are serious about following through with their intention to serve on the mission field. They will appreciate your encouragement and careful attention to their development as they seek God's direction for their life – and as God’s Spirit unfolds His plan at His pace, the candidate will probably need time and a listening ear to respond and process God’s leading. 

Qualms should not be squelched … 

If you have reservations about the potential candidate’s ability to serve, it's important that any possible yellow or red flags be addressed early on with care and confidentiality.  On the foundation of deliberate prayer, ask the difficult questions.  FMWM is committed to working with pastors to redirect people into other forms of service as appropriate. If it should turn out this way for one of your church members, your wisdom and guidance is important in helping them understand that just because missionary service may not be right for them, or may be not right at this time, they can still make significant contributions to the Kingdom of God and the spread of the Gospel. 

Guide and support them through the long transition … 

At the same time you are working with FMWM to help them progress through the missionary candidate process and eventually transition to life abroad, oversee the candidate’s mentoring and provide encouragement – they will need to be supported spiritually and emotionally. It takes a lot of resolve and preparation to successfully move into ministry in another culture and setting. 

Connect the dots … 

As the candidate’s sponsoring pastor, you will serve as a facilitator in connecting the missionary candidate with the necessary resources. The missionary candidate will need church and conference sponsorship to be approved and appointed, and will also need your involvement to develop their funding and prayer support. 

Tighten up the nuts and bolts … 

Help the missionary candidate consider what kind of work they might do on the mission field and suggest ways they might be better prepared. Dig deep when looking at their strengths and weaknesses and help them fill in the gaps. For example, if their training does not include a formal Bible education or computer literacy, use your pastoral role to encourage further study and suggest resources. If they lack strong interpersonal skills, their ability to communicate their vision and inspire others will be hindered. Helping them become more confident with public speaking and setting them up for success will be a tremendous blessing to their ministry. 

The process is deliberate, it may seem slow … 

Understand and help the missionary candidate realize that becoming a missionary is a significant step and getting to the field may take longer than they initially thought. The approval process is thorough and deliberate, designed to bring a sense of confirmation and affirmation to all involved. Together, we will seek the Lord’s direction for placing the missionary, and strive to discern God’s will for a position that will compliment their gifts and abilities and will further advance the Kingdom.  Also keep in mind that enthusiasm and passion are not an excuse to skip or skimp on the necessary preparation.  There will be required education and training, and the candidate may need your help to patiently engage with the attitude of a learner. 

Good stewardship is a priority … 

The FMC must be a good steward of our resources, which are given sacrificially, and exercise great care when it comes to making an eternal investment. If we were to send an unqualified and/or ill-prepared person to the field, it would be financially irresponsible and could prove devastating to the missionary, to the mission field and to the church.  As one who is closely connected to the missionary candidate, you serve as a key advisor in helping to determine the best use of resources in the missionary’s placement and preparation. 

Capitalize on the momentum … 

Build on the excitement a new missionary creates in your church and channel that energy to raise missions awareness. If the missionary candidate goes to the field, your church will serve an important role as their home base. Encourage the personalization of missions by fostering a spirit of supporting one of your own. Promote a deeper relationship between your church family and the missionary while they are preparing to go, while they are on the field, and when they return home. E-mails, phone calls and letters of encouragement are lifelines to the missionary. 

Utilize the expertise of VISA Ministries … 

Extended term missionary candidates must have overseas cross-cultural experience to be approved.  You and your church can help facilitate this by encouraging them toward qualifying service and helping to fund their ventures. Working with VISA Ministries ensures that the highest standards for short-term missions are upheld in the areas of appropriate placement, supervision and the fulfillment of a well-thought-out ministry strategy.  Exploring short-term missions can be the impetus for further involvement in missions – many of our career missionaries have served through VISA.  VISA also offers special educational opportunities such as Global Studies Intensive, Impact Teams and Team Leader Training that can greatly further the development of future career missionaries. 

Anticipate the many transitions … 

A missionary candidate goes through numerous mental, spiritual and emotional transitions as they prepare and move into ministry overseas. Your prayers and encouragement will be vital to them as they must … 

  • be conscientious about their emotional and physical health.
  • live on a very limited budget and carry no debt.
  • learn a new language and culture.
  • communicate their prayer concerns and financial needs with their supporters.
  • minister in new ways that will stretch them.
  • keep spiritually fit and keep their relationship with God vital and fresh – once they move abroad, they will likely have little or no means for corporate worship in a language and culture they understand for some time until they are able to adjust.
  • deal with a great amount of stress and adjustment that may strain marital and family relationships.
  • handle living far from extended family and friends and be somewhat cut off from their emotional support base during the time when they will likely miss it the most.
  • weather a period of spiritual and emotional stress as they undergo culture shock and adjustment to a new setting and way of life.

As the pastor of a missionary candidate, it's important that you have a good knowledge of the process they are going through.  To begin stepping through our informational pages, click here. 

Get a PDF of this page