Episode 111
#111. Commissioning Missionaries: Starting Point or Finish Line?
Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance caring for our missionaries well and how to engage the local church.
Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
- When does missionary care start
- Practical ways the local church can care for their missionaries
- How pastors can help their congregation be aware of the missionaries' needs
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.
RELATED LINKS:
- Website: Lightbearers.com
- Twitter: Ryan Allen Martin
- Email: Ryan Martin
TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:
02:02 - Introducing Dr Ryan Martin
02:58 - Motivation for writing a book on missionary care
04:07 - ...addressing needs of missionary families
04:34 - ...giving and not being poured back into and filled up
04:41 - ..almost reaching the point of burnout
05:16 - How do we care for them?
05:59 - ...the local church sensed that more tools were needed to care for missionaries well
09:06 - Book - Holding the Rope : How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones
09:10 - ...Metaphor for the title, "Holding the Rope"
09:21 - ...William Carey sermon
10:28 - Importance of caring for missionaries
11:12 - ...commissioning a missionary is the starting point, not the finish line
11:44 - When does missionary care start?
12:02 - ...getting to know the missionary as he is being trained and developed
12:26 - ...understand where the pressure points might be
12:55 - ...debrief points when the missionary returns
13:16 - ...areas of struggle will be exposed in the field
13:51 - What are practical ways that a church can care for their missionaries?
14:09 - ...evaluate missionaries' readiness
14:16 - ......The Upstream Collective has resources
14:39 - ...pre-field stage
15:07 - ...on the field care
16:04 - ...returning from the field
16:26 - How can pastors help their congregation be aware of their missionaries' needs?
16:32 - ...get to know the missionaries
17:12 - ...look for ways to bring the missionaries before the congregation
17:58 - ...visit missionaries in the field
19:13 - How do we care for missionaries' kids?
20:44 - ...show the children their role and how they can help
21:03 - ...dealing with different ages
21:37 - ...children and teen ministries to pray for missionary kids
21:46 - ...send families with children to visit them in the field
22:24 - ...dealing with abuse and crisis situations
23:33 - ...issues are worldwide, not just isolated to the West
24:50 - ...missionary kids have the added pressure of the local kids
27:58 - Look to strengthen care for missionaries
29:17 - More resources from Dr Ryan Martin...
29:18 - ...book (Amazon) : Holding the Rope
29:21 - ...theupstreamcollective.org
29:34 - ...The Center for Great Commission Studies
29:37 - ...Other podcasts
DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?
Checkout previous episodes, leave a review, drop us a note or support the mission here: oururbanvoices.com
