Not everyone goes. That isn't a failure. That's how God designed it.

Every missionary who ever crossed an ocean with the gospel left behind a church full of people who stayed. A few of those people forgot. Others never stopped praying, giving, writing, and caring. The difference shows up on the field in ways the folks back home rarely see.

We call those faithful ones senders. If you love Jesus and you aren't the one boarding the plane, God has a place for you in His plan for the nations.

God Has Always Been a Sender

Before we talk about what we do, look at who God is.

The Father sent the Son. Jesus didn't wait for us to come find Him. He came to us. After the resurrection, standing among His disciples, He said,

"as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21).

Sending starts in God's heart. It isn't a church program. It's the family business.

That matters, because you aren't trying to earn a place in missions. You already belong. A God who crossed the greatest distance there is came looking for you and loved you first. When you help carry the gospel to someone else, you're simply sharing what He first gave you.

"We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

A Picture From Ezra

Ezra 1 paints a beautiful picture of goers and senders.

God stirred the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to build Him a house in Jerusalem. Cyrus called for volunteers. Anyone willing could go up and build.

But he didn't stop there. He turned to those who would stay behind and gave them a job too.

"And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."  Ezra 1:4

Some went. Others stayed. Both had a part.

Then comes this line:

"And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered."  Ezra 1:6

Strengthened their hands. I love that phrase. The people who stayed home didn't just wave goodbye. They made the goers stronger.

That story was about building a temple. Ours is about preaching the gospel to every nation. Still, the pattern carries over. Those who stay behind can strengthen the hands of those who go.

Staying Is Not a Pass

Here's where I want to be honest and gentle at the same time.

Some believers quietly think, "I'm not called to go, so missions isn't really my thing." I understand that. But staying home was never a pass from God's heart for the world. It's simply a different assignment.

Long before Ezra, David settled this question with his own men. Some fought. Others guarded the supplies. When a few wanted to cut out the ones who stayed, David answered,

"as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike" (1 Samuel 30:24).

They share alike. Heaven doesn't keep two ledgers, one for the important people overseas and one for everyone else. Paul asked,

"how shall they preach, except they be sent?" (Romans 10:15).

Somebody has to send. That somebody might be you.

Five Ways to Strengthen Their Hands

So what does a sender actually do? After more than fifty years of ministry, including time on the field in Peru, I can tell you the things that encourage missionaries most are rarely big. They're personal. They say, "We haven't forgotten you."

Here are five ideas to get you started.

1. Send Cards and Notes, Especially to the Kids

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."  Proverbs 25:25

A card from home can carry a missionary through a hard week. Write one. Get your Sunday school class to write them. Tell them what God is doing in your church and that you prayed for them by name.

And don't forget the children. Missionary kids give up plenty they never chose to give up. A card with their own name on the envelope, maybe with a few dollars or a gift card tucked inside, can light up their whole day. It tells them they matter too.

2. Tell Your Church Their Story

Write a short report on your missionary and share it. Put it in the bulletin. Read it at prayer meeting. Bring it to your missions committee or sender group.

When missionaries know their home church is talking about them and praying for them, it means the world. It reminds them they aren't out there alone.

3. Bring Their Field Into Your Building

Set up a simple display from their country. Add photos, a map, a flag, maybe a few items from the culture. Lay out their prayer cards and invite people to take one.

People pray for what they see. A display gets folks talking, asking questions, and lifting that family up by name.

4. Get Ready for Their Homecoming

When Paul and Barnabas came home from their first missionary trip, the whole church gathered to hear the report:

"they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27).

Plan for that moment. Prepare a welcome gift for the missionary and something special for each child. Fill the room with people who are glad they're home. Furlough can wear a family out. A church that knows how to receive its missionaries makes home a place of rest.

5. Keep Them Before Your Church

This one ties the rest together. Keep their names, needs, and prayer requests before your people. Mention them from the pulpit. Pray for them in small groups. Share updates as soon as they arrive.

Paul told the Philippians,

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" (Philippians 1:3).

He remembered them because they remembered him. They had sent "once and again" to meet his needs (Philippians 4:16). That's what senders do. They keep remembering.

Fellowhelpers in the Work

None of this is about guilt. You don't have to do all five this week. Start with one. Write one card. Pray for one family by name.

Your part isn't small. When John wrote about caring for traveling gospel workers, he said that by helping them

"we might be fellowhelpers to the truth" (3 John 1:8).

Fellowhelpers. That's you. Every note, every prayer, every gift for a missionary's child puts your hands right alongside theirs in the work.

And here's the best part. The God who sends is the same God who first came looking for you. He isn't asking you to prove anything. He's inviting you to share His joy as the gospel reaches the ends of the earth.

I'm sure you have ideas I haven't mentioned, and I'd love to hear them. Write back and tell me how your church encourages its missionaries. If these practical helps for pastors, missionaries, and church leaders bless you, subscribe to Ministry by Mercy so the next one comes straight to your inbox. We're in this together, goers and senders alike.

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