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Visit your missionary for less
MTS Travel offers below-market airfares to bring family and friends together with missionaries on the field. MTS Travel partners with Lufthansa to serve the missionary community. If you are planning to visit your missionary, check out the MTS website or call them at 1-800-647-5296.
Send a subscription
The following magazines may be useful to workers on the field. Consider sending one to the worker you support as a gift from your congregation or MST, but check with the person you support before subscribing.
Consider a retreat for your missionary
As you prepare for a missionary to come home on furlough or at the end of his or her service, consider sending him or her on a refreshing getaway or retreat. Many facilities around the United States specialize in providing refreshment for returning missionaries or full-time ministry workers. Many give low or discounted rates for missionaries.
Newsletter tip
Part of your role as an MST is to empower others to encourage and stay in relationship with the missionary. Include a section in the newsletter that gives suggestions for how to bless your missionary. Your suggestion could be personal, like favorite treats or a birthday reminder, or you can include general ways to bless any missionary.
Send a Christmas support team
Many workers serve in parts of the world where the true meaning of Christmas is largely unknown. These nations are exposed to Christmas only through shopping mall decorations or from Hollywood movies. Some people may have seen a Christmas tree or pictures of Santa, but many have never heard the story of God coming to earth as a baby named Jesus. During the holiday season, students and teachers are often open to learn from Westerners among them about the true meaning of Christmas. This is an open door to also share the good news about this baby’s birth.
Following is one EMM worker's account of supporters from the U.S. coming overseas to help her share the true Christmas story with local friends. How might your missionary support team be able to help the missionary you serve during the Christmas season? Consider sending supplies for a Christmas party, or forming a Christmas support team to join the worker.
One of our teachers hosted ten friends from the U.S. who came to visit her over the Christmas season. They all kept very busy with about 25 different Christmas parties, several “English Corners,” basketball games, dinners, and general interaction with students.
One of the visitors shared this highlight of the visit: “One thing this trip has again reminded me of is the blessing of purpose and destiny we as Christians enjoy. We visited a Buddhist temple and I could sense an atmosphere of fear. One student I spoke with shared about their fear of death and about seeing a lack of fear in Christians. It seems that some students here are very interested in the Christian life, but they know what it would cost them. I hope and pray that many will come to Christ.”
Another said, “One of the things that impressed me most was the people. We in America have a lot to learn from other cultures. We may be more efficient in our methods of getting things done, but where does it get us? Are we any happier for it? Many times in the past two weeks I have been challenged by their sacrificial spirit. They have much less and are still eager to give, even when they can’t afford it. We deeply appreciated the warm and gracious hospitality of the local people. Some helped us put on the play of the Christmas story. On at least two occasions we had opportunity to share things about our faith.”
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