Global Outreach Family Workers Focus Group

by Jill English, College Heights Christian Church, Joplin, Missouri

This group was started in late 2005 with a mission to care for the parents, siblings, and extended families of our global workers left at home. We are working to provide a support network, informational materials, encouragement, and fellowship for these families. We just want to love them!

We are so blessed that our church leadership is committed to global evangelism. A generous budget is provided to minister in our area of care, and we praise the Lord for this blessing.

As a congregation, we are fortunate to have 19 parent units who have children on the field or in the final stages of preparation for the field. In addition, there are brothers/sisters, grandparents, aunts/uncles and cousins under our care—well over 100 people.

A sampling of things we have done:

Parents

Annual Holiday Dinner—special location, menu, program, etc. Evening includes meal, devotions, sharing time, games and special prayer time for the children.
We have sent Valentines, had the kids send 'love notes' from the field for their parents
Sent Easter cards
Sent Mother's Day cards with specialty chocolates
Father's Day cards with specialty chocolates
Dinners just for them to get together and chat
Notes and cards of encouragement during illness, deaths, kids having a tough time on the field, when their kids have just left or a few weeks after their departure
Each parent unit received a copy of the Parents of Missionaries book
Each parent who has grandchildren on the field has a copy of the book Long Distance Grandma, and when new little ones arrive for the first time a book is given to the new grandparents

Siblings

Cards and notes form time to time, especially when a special need arises
Thanksgiving—thank you with Starbuck's gift card—thanks for sharing your brother/sister with God's work
Fall Festival for parents and siblings–—cookout, music, games

Grandparents

Big all-family events
Cards on Grandparents Day

Extended Family

Encouragement notes
"We Love You" Valentine's Day party
Dinners and fellowship times for entire group
General encouragement

Missionary Kids (in U.S. colleges)

Birthday cards with gift cards
Goodie boxes for finals week

Still to Come

Movie nights for entire all family members
Game night for all family
Coffee House for parents—chat and visit time
Special events just for siblings
Expanded note/card ministry
Newsletter
Expanded book, newsletter, resource list
Technology resource list

A GREAT IDEA FOR SENDING CHURCHES

Calvary Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, held a commissioning service for two missionaries. They used the occasion to honor POMs as well. They sent letters to all their missionary parents living within driving distance of the church, inviting them to attend the service and then a reception.About 50 POMs attended! At the reception, the missions pastor spoke, acknowledging the sacrifice these parents have made in giving their children and grandchildren to the Lord for his service. POMs were presented with a copy of “Parents as Partners: Supporting Your Family as They Serve Overseas” (a free publication of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention), as well as a prayer letter prepared by a missionary candidate that included a perspective from her parents. The evening ended with desserts. What a great example for other mission-minded churches to follow!

Here are some pictures of the event: