Should missionaries use an agency or strictly the local church?

I posted this article a few weeks ago on my personal blog and was pleased with the feedback: I added that plus some additional material to this post.

A recent trend in missions is for missionaries to be sent out of their local church without a board. Very biblical, I like it. I wish sometimes we just had one church that is really behind us pushing hard, investing in our lives. But we don't, and I am in some ways glad. We go through ABWE, the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. Yesterday we had our board interview in which the board loved and encouraged us. They made us know that they are behind us. I told them that we loved ABWE cause their structure kept us on the field.

You see, a mission board understands missionaries. Churches probably do to some degree, but it is not their specialty. ABWE specializes in training missionaries, taking care of missionaries, mobilizing missionaries, counseling missionaries and networking in missionary resources. When we had way too many bad boat rides and were ready to give up, our administrators told us we were not bad people for feeling that way. They told us they loved us and we were doing a good job. They told us to take breaks when we needed breaks. They loved us so much. 

ABWE does not take the place of our home church, it aids our home church. The home church is the sender and the board is the facilitator. When one is sent out of a home church with no board, they do not have the networking resources. ABWE has a structure all set up to help with accountability and support on the field. They are also able to get international health insurance at a group rate. They have developed high quality internationally friendly evangelism and discipleship material. They understand how different cultures work and how to prepare for the life of a missionary. 

Before we arrived on the field we were required to attend several training seminars. We were told what to expect. That understanding can save the life of a missionary who will face daunting cultural challenges. 

So yes, be a great home church; and sure, support them for 100%. But make sure that you are connected to the resources you need to make your missionary as successful as he can be.

I received some great feedback after this blog. People seemed to think that it would be cheaper through a church, but a couple people pointed out that the church may not be as prepared as to the training aspects of sending a missionary. Jeff Selph pointed out that it would depend on the church. The larger churches might have the capabilities to do more training and sending, but the smaller churches might not have those resources. Aaron Carpenter pointed out that the mission boards could do a better job informing the churches of their role. Our mission board, ABWE has a conference for Pastors in which they go over how to be a great sending church. I highly recommend the conference for churches with missionaries.

Here is another conference in Nashville http://sendingchurchgathering.com that will go over being a sending church. 

Nathan Sloan, a missions Pastor, says: “My challenge to mission boards is to allow the sending church to really take an active role in training and sending. Most boards talk about supporting and assisting the local church, about the church being the key figure, but most boards don't actually function in this manner.

My challenge to the local church and its leaders is to take your rightful place in missions- be the trainers, senders and sustainers you're called to be. Giving sacrificially is important but it is just one part of the puzzle. Local churches need to be about equipping, coaching, missionary care, on-field engagement, etc.

A new trend in missions is for mission agencies and local churches to work together in all aspects of the mission process. My prayer is that this continues!”

Stan Guthrie, in his book Missions in the Third Millennium  weighs in on this topic in the first chapter. He defends both sides. “Citing what they see as the high costs and ossified thinking of traditional missions agencies, a sizable bloc of churches, sometimes called megachurches for their size and clout, has decided to go it alone...they risk making the same mistakes and relearning the very same lessons the agencies have over the decades.” 

“Some in the church-only movement see the church, either locally or through denominational boards, as the only legitimate sender of missionaries.”

“Agencies,... are being forced to justify everything they do.”

Tom Stellar, missions Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, says “I don’t feel we have the time or expertise to do what a well-run agency can do.” 

Jim Reapsome, editor at World Pulse and Evangelical Missions Quarterly says “churches want regular performance reports, more say in missionary deployment, up-to-date financial support information, pastoral care for missionaries, and current information on agency personnel needs...most agencies come up short in these areas.” “I have listened to both sides and am amazed that they cannot find time to sit down and listen to one another with mutual respect, trust, and appreciation.”