HOW TO BE A GREAT MISSIONARY HOST
Thank you for inviting a missionary to share with your congregation or district. We are grateful that you have taken the time to let our Nazarene missionaries share what is happening around the globe through Nazarene Missions.
Your faithfulness in praying, sending, giving, and going is supporting the mission of the Church of the Nazarene. Missionaries will be sharing stories with you how your investment in World Evangelism giving is changing our world. They will also want to hear how God is moving in your church and district.
The following items will help your church or district maximize your time together.
Pray
Nothing prepares the hearts of God’s people for missional encounters like prayer. Prior to the missionary’s visit, encourage your church or district to pray specifically for the missionary, the country where he or she serves, the people with whom he or she serves, and your time together. Ask the missionary if there are any specific prayer needs you can begin to pray for as you await your time together.
Connecting Beyond the Service
Missionaries value having time to know the people in your church, community, and district. Be creative and think beyond the scheduled service. Connect missionaries with small groups, children, youth, and anyone discerning a call to serve as a missionary.
Communicate with the Missionary
As soon as your missionary is scheduled, designate a contact person to communicate important details to him or her. A missionary would find it convenient and easy to communicate with one contact person regarding his or her visit plan.
Logistical Details:
Date, start time, and time zone of the event
Location of the event
Cell phone number of a contact person
Transportation details before and during the event
Type of event: i.e. missions service, Faith Promise, children, youth, small group
How many times they will speak and the duration of each time
Anticipated audience age and number attending
Appropriate dress
Details of any change to the missionary’s contact person for event details should be communicated to the missionary
Missionary Details:
What kind of technology support will the missionary need? Communicate what you are able to accommodate.
Will he or she need interpretation while presenting?
Will he or she need space to set up a display and will he or she need access to an electrical outlet?
Does he or she have any time commitments following your event?
Is it permissible to use his or her name, picture, and field of service in promoting the event?
Is it permissible to post or stream the service or event online?
Missions Involvement:
Your church or district involvement in missions globally
Your church or district involvement with Work & Witness, partnerships, and other projects
Cultural groups in your area with whom your church or district is engaged
Promote the Event
It is important for your church or district to know about an upcoming missionary visit. The missionary’s online profile has information about his or her ministry, as well as materials you can use to promote the event. You can search for the missionary’s profile. Some missionaries may not be listed for security reasons.
Plan for Accommodations
Your missionary wants to connect with people in your congregation. Have a conversation with your missionary regarding how to balance his or her desire to connect with your community and with any personal or work-related expectations the missionary may have.
Missionaries are expected to keep up with field responsibilities while away from the field; set up accommodations where they can relax, prepare for your event and keep up with their other responsibilities. Accommodations — which need to include Wi-Fi access — may be a hotel, Airbnb, or a congregant’s home; please ask your missionary about his or her preference. Confirm which members of the family will be coming. Whether the missionary visiting is single, a family of four, or a couple, ensure that the accommodations that you provide are appropriate for their situation. Also, inquire about pet allergies or dietary restrictions they may have and whether they prefer to eat with you before or after the event or both.
Assist with Deputation Travel Expenses
Missionaries cover travel, housing, and food expenses during home assignment through deputation funds or personal funds. Ask your missionary how you can assist with his or her travel costs to your event, and communicate before he or she arrives that you will be covering the cost of accommodations and food throughout your event.
Support Your Missionary in Their Ministry
There are many ways that you can support missionaries in their ministry. In order to provide space for those in attendance to respond to the Holy Spirit and participate in this movement of God, always receive an offering at the end of the service or gathering after the missionary shares. Discuss in advance how the funds will be used in the missionary’s ministry. There are several ways to support your missionary financially.
World Evangelism giving is the foundation of Nazarene Missions. When you give to World Evangelism, you are helping sustain missions by developing missionaries, providing support structures, and enabling innovative ministries. The work of Nazarene Missions would not be possible without your gifts to World Evangelism.
Deputation funds are funds for a specific missionary. The two ways you can support a specific missionary through the deputation account are:
Ministry Funds: Support the ministry expenses of a missionary, including housing, equipment, training, ministry travel, ministry tools, and small projects.
Personal Support Funds / Family Assistance: Support the personal expenses that a missionary has beyond his or her ministry expenses including education of the missionary’s children, further education for the missionary, retirement, allowances, and benefits.
Global Missions Projects / Approved Specials: Funds given for a particular ministry effort such as ministry centers, scholarships, or discipleship programs.
Submitting funds for your missionary:
United States
Checks. Make checks payable to “Global Treasury Services” with “[Missionary Name(s)] Deputation” in the memo line. Mail it to P.O. Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184-3116. Do not make checks payable to your missionary; such gifts run contrary to IRS guidelines.
Online using Funding the Mission. Use the Funding the Mission site: www.fundingthemission.org Note “[Missionary Name]’s Deputation” in the memo for the gift.
Online using the missionary profile. Use the missionary profile site: www.nazarene.org/missionary-profiles Select the missionary and click on give.
Note: If you give a missionary cash or a personal check offering, it is taxable income for a missionary, and you will need to provide a US 1099 tax form to assist the missionary in completing his or her taxes.
Keep in Touch
Continue to pray for your missionary and his or her work on the field. Follow up after your time together to learn how God is continuing to work because of your investment in prayer and support of his or her ministry. If a missionary is serving in a secure area, verify what details might be shared with your church or district.
For further information or questions, please contact the NMI connections coordinator at connections@nazarene.org.