ABWE - Association of Baptists for World Evangelism

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded excited. “Pastor Brad, I can still hear the sound of people standing during the invitation.”

It had been a wonderful conference. We had focused on Acts 13:1–5 and the concept of the “sending church.” Nearly one-third of the congregation had spent half of their Saturday interacting about the church’s investment and involvement in sending out missionaries. There had been many “aha” moments that day, and the energy was high.

With enthusiasm and expectations carrying into Sunday, I challenged the congregation to trust in God as our Refuge amidst the storms of life. Soon, a young man testified of his surrender in response to God’s call to be a missionary. Then, another person spoke. He believed God had also called him to be a missionary. Needless to say, the people were elated at the Holy Spirit’s work.

But God was not finished. Sunday evening, the closing message was a direct challenge to surrender and follow where God leads—to go where He sends without reserves, retreat, or regret. “Who would be willing to dedicate the rest of their life to serving God by saying, ‘Lord, here I am, send me?’ ” I implored.

What happened next was very unexpected. One after another, young people, moms and dads, and other adults began to stand in response, saying, “Here I am Lord, send me.” It was one of those “holy ground” kind of experiences as young and old alike stood, holding hands and placing arms around each other as they offered up their prayers of surrender and commitment.

Do you want to challenge your church to respond to God’s call on their life?

When God calls a missionary, He calls a church to send them. But how does a church send her missionaries? What does the sending process entail, and how does the church provide care to sustain them once on the field?

As a partner with the church, ABWE has prepared two unique workshops to assist churches in fulfilling the Great Commission.

The Sending Church Workshop:

This workshop is most effective early in the sending process. It covers concerns regarding support, presentation preparations, finding contacts, church involvement, and what it takes for your missionary to succeed.

The Sustaining Church Workshop:

Missionary care is vital to keeping missionaries on the field. The care the church administers is one of the most significant investments and benefits of ensuring the missionaries survive and thrive.

Each workshop is four hours in length and is a great resource for missions committees and church members. These sessions can be incorporated into your annual missions conference or a special missions weekend. The workshops are based on training and ideas from sending pastors and churches with years of experience.

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