Zambia Hunt

In my years of serving Christ globally, few voices resonate with as much wisdom and experience as that of Pastor Wayne Muri. As the former lead pastor at Lakeshore Baptist Church in Grand Haven, Michigan, Pastor Wayne has worn many hats: pastor, writer, missiologist, and trusted friend to me and many others. During a mission conference at Lakeshore some years ago, he shared a series of expectations with his congregation – insights that I wrote down as fast as I could. In the following article, I present these points with my own reflections. Whether you’re part of a sending church, a congregation supporting missionaries, or an individual preparing for the mission field, these principles offer invaluable guidance for navigating the responsibilities and relationships of missionary work.

What We Expect from Our Missionaries

1. We expect you to be courageous – Your task as a missionary means that you take risks.  We ask nothing more than the American people expect from their military in Iraq or Afghanistan. Remember, you are under orders from the Captian of the Lord’s army, so be a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3-4; Ro. 8:31).

2. We expect you to resist discouragement — There are many things that affect you, such as malaria and lack of results (Noah). You must be like David when Ziklag burned, Joshua and Caleb when faced with giants in the land, Paul and Silas in jail singing praises, and Daniel who prayed in full view of everyone. You must be eternal optimists because you have already won. The score will be posted at the end of the game – press on.

3. We expect you to stay humble – evaluate yourself continually for the insidious signs of self-sufficiency and submit your spirit to God for rebuke.  Don’t assume that your way is the best way.  Don’t cut corners, don’t begin to take it easy, lay back and coast. (Ps. 26:2, 139:23-24)

4. We expect you to take care of your own soul.  Be everlastingly hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Mt 5:6).  Don’t become a religious professional, an elitist who has much knowledge but neglects the practical nourishment of his personal walk with God.

5. We expect you to be wise – to be able to keep the main thing the main thing. Resist the tyranny of the urgent, set God-pleasing goals, lest you give your time to good things instead of the best things.  

6. We expect you to take care of your family.  If your wife is wounded because she is neglected in the ministry, you are not worthy. If your children are not growing in The Lord, you are done. Your ministry of gospel proclamation and disciple-making begins in the home and flows through the home to the world.

7. We expect you to maintain God-honoring relationships with your colleagues and with your national co-laborers. When Christ was facing the cross, he did not pray for separation, success, or doctrinal purity. He prayed for unity. Jesus called his disciples friends. Most of the reasons that people have relationship issues on the field are rarely issues of gospel integrity; rather, they flow from a hard, unbroken spirit, personality differences, and differences of opinion, 

8. We expect you to guard your health. Don’t neglect your health. While some may tend toward laziness, others will be tempted to overwork. God has given us the gift of rest, which refreshes the mind and rejuvenates the body. Take care of your body and trust the Lord with your health

9. We expect you to stay in touch because we view you as extension members of our church staff; remember, co-laborers should stay in touch with one another, sharing wisdom and encouragement.

What Missionaries Can Expect from Us

1. We owe you intense, unfailing prayer support.

2. We owe you our allegiance – loyalty to our friends and colleagues, as you are an extension of the pastoral staff.

3. We owe you adequate funding. We are to take care of our own before taking care of ourselves.

4. We owe you sanctuary. The Widow built a room for Elisha; Paul was refreshed on his journey. Likewise, we, as a sending church, owe you a place to lodge with us to rest and refresh when you pass through.

5. We owe you the confidence that we are doing here the same thing we are expecting you to do there. We are committed to evangelizing, making disciples, and planting churches.

6. We owe you helpers – Called Moses and gave him Aaron, Daniel had 3 Friends, Paul had Timothy, and Jesus had His 12.  We are committed to raising helpers and coworkers as needed.  We will prepare and inspire others to step up and work by your side and launch out to pioneer new works.

This covenant of expectations forms the backbone of a strong, effective missionary partnership. By adhering to these principles, both missionaries and their partners can work together more effectively to fulfill the Great Commission and spread the Gospel to all corners of the world.