monthly focus ~ it takes a village for missionary care

IT TAKES A VILLAGE FOR MISSIONARY CARE

EBM missionaries Mike and Laura Budler can’t say enough about their Village – that’s Village Baptist Church in Aurora, Illinois. Village is the church where Mike was saved and where Laura rededicated her life to the Lord. The Budlers are now the first missionaries sent out by their church. Pastor Rich Howard has done a great job in teaching the church what it means to care for missionaries, especially those who call Village Baptist Church “home.”  

Pastor Howard has taught his congregation to ask, “How can we help?”  The church has grown to understand that knowing biblical truth also involves doing.  In addition to the monthly financial support from the church, Village members have found practical ways of meeting practical needs for the Budlers while they are engaged in Pre-Field ministries.  The Budlers are experiencing their care and love now and know that the church will continue to care for them when they are serving in South Africa. Recently Mike and Laura have shared tangible ways their church is providing care for them.

Weekends are always hectic for missionaries.  Often the Budlers return from their weekend ministries on Monday afternoon.  On top of that, Laura has been teaching women how to read at the Illinois Department of Corrections Transition Center every Monday evening for a number of months. One particular woman at their church realized how hectic it is to come in Monday afternoon and teach in the evening, so she cooks a hot meal and delivers it to their home nearly every Monday evening. When Laura comes home from a busy Pre-Field weekend, she can unpack, review, and focus on her evening teaching time without having to fix supper for her family.

The Budlers have four boys.  Since Pre-Field ministry takes the family to a different church every Sunday, the Budlers are sensitive to the fact that their children could “disconnect” from their home church. Village has worked with them on a plan where one of their sons each weekend can stay with a church family.  This allows the boys to stay connected with home and friends, and yet also travel frequently with their family on Pre-Field. 

Not only is Village personally involved in caring for the Budler family, but other ministries in the area are meeting needs.   Laura recently had an opportunity to spend three weeks in South Africa so Mike had additional responsibilities with the boys.   A nearby ladies’ Bible study group planned and delivered 15 nights of hot meals to the Budler home! 

While on Pre-Field, Mike has been involved in teaching a Christ-centered program in downtown Aurora that reaches out to men who have hit bottom because of alcohol and other addictions.  Several men from Village Baptist as well as men from nearby supporting churches have come to visit and participate with Mike in this ministry.  It is a beautiful picture of the Body helping the Body.

What does it take to care for your  missionaries? 

1.    Observe, listen, and discover what your missionaries day to day life schedule is and how Pre-Field makes unique demands on their family.

2.    Be genuine in asking how to help them. 

3.    Establish a plan and people to implement the plan.  Missionary care is not determined by the size of a church, but rather a determination to care.

4.    Realize that sometimes missionaries are hesitant to ask for help, so name some specific actions that you might do that would help lighten their load.  Encourage them to ‘dream’ a bit.

5.    Be practical. Missionaries are away from home a lot, so day to day house chores often slide.  Provide meals, childcare, lawn care or window washing, offer to change the oil or wash the car.  Be creative.

6.    Of course support is necessary, but caring for your missionaries is so much more than writing a check. 

For the Budlers, it takes a Village; but for your missionaries it may take a Harvest or Grace or a First step to caring.