The Visit: A Missionary Care Story

     At the end of his first Corinthian letter, the Apostle Paul says this about the loving attention of three Corinthian brothers in Christ: “They refreshed my spirit” (I Cor. 16:18). He speaks for all missionaries of all times, who share his gratitude because they share his need.
     For missionaries, the “Great Commission” can be a “great burden” as well as a privilege. Those who send them out must never forget that. For some things you need more than traditional committees. In 2023, College Church established a Missionary Care Ministry, under the supervision of John Reese and now consisting of seven teams of volunteers who minister to the emotional and spiritual welfare of our sponsored missionaries and their families.
      The methods for “refreshing spirits” are simple and familiar, grounded in New Testament doctrine, stated or implied everywhere in Paul’s letters, and practiced by the volunteers of the missionary care teams: communicate (encouragement, concern, support, love), give gifts (when appropriate and if you can), and visit when possible.
     Here is a story of one visit.
     Harding graduates Michael and Sarah Crouch returned to Searcy five years ago, placing membership at College Church. They soon reconnected with former classmate Eric and his wife, Rachel, sponsored missionaries in town preparing for a new work in Asia. The two couples, both with young children and common interests, quickly became friends. And early this year, with Eric and Rachel in Asia and Michael and Sarah leading their missionary care team, the Crouches traveled halfway around the world to spend 12 full days with them. What follows are highlights from their visit:
     “First, Eric and Rachel wanted a strong care team and helped plan it. So our team (mostly members of the Faithful Families Bible Class) is robust with well-defined goals. We’ve sent care packages, set up regular video calls, and helped with medical issues.”
     “It seemed inevitable that we would visit because their circumstances are difficult in many ways. They live very far away in a densely populated urban area. They are raising three children while sharing the gospel in a culture and language not their own, with few English-speaking friends for moral support. But they’ve developed friendships and have found much to love about the place.”
     “We hoped to relieve some of the pressure that comes with the particular demands of their life. We talked a lot, wife-to-wife in coffee shops—about children, school, and everything else—and rested in that way. The husbands went for long walks, with Eric explaining his work, his plans. The two men also took prayer walks. Sometimes Eric engaging with hospitable merchants and working Jesus into the conversation.”
     “We said ‘don’t cook for us’ and took them out to eat a lot. We did projects with them, the kind you save for visiting relatives. We painted their stairwell and the boys’ bedroom—covering little handprints on the walls. We helped organize the playroom. Edwin, Wally, and Enoch weren’t happy that our kids did not come—they were in the U.S. with Sarah’s parents—so to make it up to them, we played lots of board games, and were able to give them more focused attention.”
     “We were there for two Sundays, and Michael preached once. Their congregation of about 20 meets on the third floor of an apartment building, with heavy air traffic sometimes making it hard to hear. But they talk around the noise. We had tea after services, and the members were so hospitable. They make do!”
     “We came home more aware than ever of how ‘pampered’ we are as Christians in the U.S. It’s difficult to be a Christian there. We saw wonderfully dedicated people in that church, who do not have our access to our resources and who know they’re in an extremely small minority, yet have devoted their lives to Jesus. We are part of a global church.”
     “We also saw that Eric and Rachel have built a life there, one with stresses but also rewards. Our brief time with them strengthened our friendship and gave us a clearer understanding of their work. Now, when they email or text us about what’s happening, we can picture the people and places they describe. That new clarity has also made us better advocates for them back here in Searcy. We’re grateful we went.”

     At one point, Paul, our prime example of both missionary and missionary care promoter, “longed” to visit Roman Christians, in part so  “that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Rom. 1:11-12). That’s one way to describe the result of the Crouches’ visit with Eric and Rachel: mutual encouragement.
     But even Paul could not always visit; so he wrote letters; likewise, the bulk of missionary care comes through distant communication. As leader of Ellen Walker’s team, Alice Jewell’s chief role is to act as email liaison between Ellen and other team members. Janice Luna uses WhatsApp (and her own missionary experience) to “encourage and empathize” with Sujin Nelson. James Howard maintains regular correspondence with Billy Strachan in Scotland because human connection is especially important given the latter’s rather isolated situation. Missionary care is a manifold, evolving effort at College Church.
     This brief introduction to the ministry has saved until last the best method for “refreshing the spirit” of missionaries. Paul tells the Colossians that Epaphrus “is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12). He tells the Philippians, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now . . .” (Phil. 1:4-5).
     How encouraged Paul is by their support! His prayer rejoices in and cements the bond he feels. Prayer is the vital ingredient for all enterprises. The best way we can show our missionaries that we are their partners is to include the third, Senior Partner, in the process, to “wrestle” in prayer to God—for their work, yes, but also for their spiritual wellbeing.