Zambia Hunt

Sending Church and Supporting Church

There is an important distinction between a sending church and a supporting church. Most missionaries receive prayer and financial support from a network of individuals and churches who partner with them in gospel ministry. These supporting churches play a vital role as they pray faithfully and maintain regular communication to encourage a healthy relationship with the missionary on the field.

The sending church, however, carries a deeper level of responsibility. It is the missionary’s home church, the spiritual family from which they are commissioned and to whom they are accountable. While both sending and supporting churches contribute prayer and financial resources, the sending church serves as the missionary’s primary source of encouragement, shepherding, and oversight. This includes taking reasonable steps to ensure that the missionary’s spiritual, personal, and financial needs are cared for. The sending church often manages the receipt and distribution of support funds and provides a home base for the missionary during furlough.

In return, the missionary is responsible to maintain an open and accountable relationship with the sending church’s leadership (Hebrews 13:17). When home on furlough, they should be actively involved in the life and ministry of their church family (Acts 14:26–28), strengthening the partnership and testifying to God’s work among the nations.

Conclusion

Both the sending and the supporting church share in the responsibility of gospel partnership, but the sending church bears a unique, primary role in the life of the missionary. The sending church must not only give and pray, but also shepherd, counsel, and hold the missionary lovingly accountable. The missionary must value the sending church relationship through regular communication and accountability. As the sending church and the missionary embrace their individual responsibilities, there will be a healthy partnership that strengthens the missionary, honors Christ and His church, and advances the gospel to the ends of the earth.