How can a Missionary Relationship help us focus on mission?

• Developing a relationship with a missionary gives insight into mission in other parts of the world.
• A Missionary Relationship can provide a focus as you plan your mission awareness and promotion.
• Members of congregations learn how their mission dollars are put to work, through articles and letters sent by the missionary.
• Mission becomes real to church members as they become familiar with the work and witness of the missionary. Maybe some will want to plan a mission trip to visit the missionary and the partners with whom he/she works.
• The lives of our global sisters and brothers take on new meaning as we learn about their faith, hopes, struggles and religious practices.
• When the missionary comes back for home assignment, a block of time will be offered to the Region/Conference for visits to congregations, youth camps, the assembly, annual meeting, ministerial meetings, and men’s, women’s, youth groups.

• The Mission Personnel office has made an initial proposal to each Conference and Region. These proposals are in the process of being finalized. Please contact Julia Brown Karimu, jkarimu@dom.disciples.org, Executive of the Mission Personnel office to see where your Conference or Region is in the process. If you have an interest in a particular geographic area or type of ministry, please tell us that as well.
• The Mission Personnel Office will work to establish a relationship with a missionary, attempting to match your Region’s/Conference’s interests with available missionary personnel. We try not to pair missionaries with more than three Regions/Conferences.

• Designate one primary contact person who will be in regular contact with the missionary.
• Let the missionary know who the primary contact person in the Region/Conference will be.
• Add the missionary to your mailing list to receive the Conference or Regional newspaper.
• Discuss with your missionary partner what type of correspondence will work best: post and/or email, how many letters you will write and how often and how many letters you expect to receive.
• Begin to talk about the missionary’s visit and to plan activities around it.

• Consider creative ways to share the news from your missionaries and ways to include this information. Use monthly ministers’ mailings, Regional/Conference newspaper and website, moments for mission, mission illustrations during sermons. Lift them up any time the church gathers.
• Include your missionaries, and those with whom they work, in your prayers. Invite local churches to pray for your partners.
• Urge individual congregations to create a bulletin board highlighting this relationship.
• Consider including your missionary relationship names on your stationery.
• During an assembly or annual meeting, consider emphasizing your missionary’s ministry using photos, a video (if available), and a map of the host country. Why not try organizing a live phone call.
• Develop youth and children’s mission programs focusing on your missionary and their host country. Ask the missionary for input.