Missionary newsletters: vulnerability and accountability
“What an exciting day! This morning I picked up 210 copies of the Gospel of Luke!!!!” That is the first sentence of a recent newsletter that we received from Paul Thiessen after more than 30 years of translation work in West Africa.
As the director of the EMC’s mission program, I have the incredible privilege of receiving numerous newsletters every week. I love reading about the stories, the joys, the challenges and the insights that our workers have as they serve around the world. Attached pictures are always an added blessing.
This EMC missions website screenshot shows the profile page with newletter sign-up button for newest missionaries Chris and Katie Koop.
I remember clearly, as a young fellow, when missionaries came to report at Pleasant Valley, my home church. I felt anticipation as I sat in the pew watching them set up their slide projector, some even with the double stack. And then the excitement of the presentation itself—the pictures from faraway lands, of course, always ending with a beautiful sunset picture. These reports were part of the seeds that the Lord was sowing in my heart. While the call to go into full-time missions and ministry only came years later, thankfully, the Spirit of God was working in me along the way.
Today, newsletters, missionary reports, and social media posts allow our workers to be in constant communication with their sending base. They give us a powerful and engaging window into their lives. Calls for prayer regarding specific things can happen at the exact time they are engaged in ministry, prompting God’s people to intercede immediately. What a privilege that we can partner with workers across the world.
I don’t know how many newsletters you are signed up to receive, but I encourage you to go to our website, emcmissions.ca, and sign up for as many as you can. The effort the workers put into preparing them can weigh heavily on them—being vulnerable to stakeholders who desire to support, pray, and give, but also who often have questions about sustainability, stewardship, and strategy. Workers strive to be honest, but at the same time are tempted to sell their vision that it is worth your and my support to keep them on the field.
My recommendation is to receive and prayerfully digest the stories, praise items, and prayer requests that are shared and to respond with a vision to strengthen your partnership so that their work can continue fruitfully.
