Sending Church Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Why You Need a Missions Agency in a Changing World

Now more than ever, a good sending organization is key to a successful cross-cultural missionary journey.

Oct 25 2022

It’s no secret that a lot has changed in the last few years. Everyone is navigating the new waters of a post-pandemic world, and global missions is no exception. A few years ago, we shared some important reasons to partner with a missions agency, all of which are still valid considerations. Now, maybe more than ever, there are new, additional factors to consider. Here are three things to think about: Believe it or not, retirement is in your future! Wait, I won’t be a missionary forever? Believe it or not, most missionaries return to their host country at the…

Learn the language of missions with this quick reference glossary.

Jul 28 2022

If you’re just beginning to explore what it means to be a missionary, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by words and phrases in the “language” of missions. Some terms are used the same way across various missions agencies and audiences, while others are specific to a given mission organization. So what does it all mean? Here’s a quick and easy guide to “Missions Vocabulary 101” to bring you right up to speed with the latest in missions lingo. Key Terms in the “World” of Missions Of course, we can’t speak for every partner in the international missions community, but…

Having a sending church is vital to thriving on the mission field. But what happens if your church doesn't want to send you?

May 04 2020

One aspect of going as a missionary through TEAM is that every missionary, from a short-termer to a career missionary, has a sending church. A sending church is the local church where you have served, grown and shared your calling to ministry. It is the group of people who stand with you as you prepare to go. They listen and pray as you face challenges in a new culture, and they surround you with care as you return home. As they prepare to go, some missionaries-to-be find their church ecstatic to see what God will do through their cross-cultural ministry….

A group of people sit together over a meal to discuss their missions strategy

Most churches want to send missionaries around the world. The question is, how do you make it actually happen?

Jan 21 2020

Did you know every single TEAM missionary has a sending church? Whether they are going for two weeks or 20 years, staying here in North America or serving in Southern Africa, we believe so strongly that God has called the church to send missionaries that TEAM has made it our mission to help them do so! Most churches would say they want to be a church that sends her people outside her walls, whether that is across the street or across the globe. But how does a church become a church that sends people? With over 500 sending churches in…

A busy pastor checks his phone to keep up with his work.

Sometimes the busyness of pastor life makes it difficult to engage in missions. Keep reading to see ways you can help give your church a global perspective.

Jul 25 2019

Yes, you want your church to engage in missions. But you also want to get home before 9 p.m. at least one day this week, right? As a pastor, you likely have a long to-do list and are an expert at balancing priorities. As one mentor told me when I first became a children’s pastor, “It’s all about spinning plates, and most weeks, you are deciding which plate is OK to fall and break.” While most pastors would agree they want their church to engage in missions, it’s easy for missions to become an afterthought or goal for after things…

Care packages and emails are a great encouragement to long-term missionaries. But what if the best way to support your missionary is giving them yourself? Photo courtesy of Beth Barthelemy

Jul 17 2018

Last fall, my family had our first visitors since arriving on South African soil a year and some months ago. After months of anticipation, our pastor and friends from our Chicago church arrived to spend a week with us. They didn’t come as a short-term team, with a particular ministry focus. We had no projects lined up for them. They didn’t come to “check up” on us, to make sure we were worth their investment. They didn’t have a list of questions with which to assess our effectiveness or success. They came with a simple purpose: to be an encouragement…

Don't journey into missions alone. Check out these 5 questions to ask your sending church and discover ways you can prepare for the mission field! Photo by TEAM

May 08 2018

It’s never too late to include your church in your missions calling — whether you’re just getting started or have been on the field for years. But it can be hard to figure out where to start. That’s the dilemma a reader recently shared on Instagram. So, we decided to share the five questions every missionary (or potential missionary) should ask their sending church. Plus, we have a free resource to help you keep the conversation going. 1. Will you go on this journey with me? William Carey was a British missionary in the 1800s. When he decided to share…

Tag - Sending Church

Why You Need a Missions Agency in a Changing World

Missions Vocabulary 101

What If My Church Doesn’t Want to Send Me?

How to Become a Sending Church

4 Ways Busy Pastors Can Engage in Missions

Why Churches Should Visit Their Missionaries

5 Questions to Ask Your Sending Church