Missions Moment: Caring for Missionaries When They Come “Home”
By Kellye Carmack
In a previous post, we shared what we called “Missions Moments” on how to care for the missionaries in your church. We talked about how to help a missionary prepare for service and how to care for them when they are overseas. Today, I want to share some ways you can serve missionaries when they come home from the mission field. As the summer gets closer and travel restrictions continue to loosen, you may have missionaries from your church coming home for vacation, fundraising, or stateside assignments.
When a missionary returns home after an extended period of time overseas, they can have a mixture of conflicting emotions. They’re excited to see their family and friends but sad to leave other relationships behind. They are excited to come “home,” but when they arrive it doesn’t feel like home anymore. “Reverse culture shock” is very real and, in many cases, can be harder than moving to a new culture. It’s confusing when what once felt normal now feels foreign. Living in another country can reshape you to a degree that you no longer fit in the place you’re from.
Is a missionary from your church coming home this summer? Perhaps they are retiring or taking a much-needed break. The church should be a place where missionaries receive refreshment, encouragement, and discipleship. Here are a few suggestions for how to help them transition and recharge before returning to the field.
Listen
When I came home after serving in Europe, I had so much to process. Stories about people I met, places I visited, and difficult cultural situations were swarming my thoughts. I felt as if I had lived a different life for two years and few people understood. Even with sending email updates and talking to people online, I still had so much to share. Carve out a large block of time to sit and listen to your missionaries. Don’t rush them. Let them show you their pictures. Ask them questions. Invite them over to share with your whole family. This is a great way to expose your children to missions and get them excited about what God is doing around the world.
Give
Money was tight when I came off the field. My missionary salary was about to end, and I had not saved much while I was overseas. One way that several people blessed me when I came back was by giving me gift cards to various restaurants. It was helpful financially and fun to go to all the places I had not been to in two years. Financial gifts also helped me to pay bills until I found steady work. Perhaps your missionary could use your spare bedroom for a while or borrow a vehicle. Find out what they need and let your church body know so others can help.
Counseling
Missionaries may be encouraged by their mission agency to seek counseling when they return home from the field. They have experienced conflict and many difficulties overseas that they need to process. When I returned home, I had about twelve sessions with a local counselor. I needed to talk about the brokenness I saw among the people in my city and how it affected me. My counselor helped me to understand my mission experiences and how to be a good steward of the lessons I learned. Consider helping your missionary by paying for a few counseling sessions. It will be a huge blessing to them!
When the church cares for missionaries, we have a chance to bless and to be blessed.
What are some ways you or your church has cared for missionaries when they returned from their work?
Kellye is the Women’s Ministry Director for Practical Shepherding Women’s Ministry. She has an undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies and a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. She served as a missionary in Western Europe for two years helping to share the hope of Christ with women in difficult situations. While in seminary, she met her husband Craig who is an associate pastor at their church in Louisville, KY. She loves helping women discover the unique ways God has gifted them to serve the church.