As Hope Community Church small group leaders we see our group members experience many major life events and changes. This document contains helpful tips for leading someone called to overseas missions.
Please note a few things before reading this document.
- First, these lists aren’t meant to be mandates. As always, leaders should use their own judgment when it comes to how to best care for those in their groups.
- Secondly, it’s important for leaders to remember to encourage the entire group to be a part of this transitional period. As leaders we encourage you to facilitate an environment where your group can serve as the church to one another. Don’t bear the load alone!
- Finally, it’s important to include your coaches in the process. When you need help, support, a listening ear, or encouragement, please contact your small group coaches. They want to help you during these times!
Short-Term Missions Trip and Extended Time Overseas
Here is a list of things to consider as a small group leader when someone in your group is serving as a short-term missionary or is spending extended time overseas. Longterm missions is also included in this list, but as it may look slightly different things that relate solely to long-term missions are bold.
Before Leaving
- Consider grabbing coffee with them to hear their ministry goals or even help them brainstorm.
- Allow them an opportunity to share about their upcoming trip with the group.
- Inquire about support raising and consider how you & the entire group can help financially.
- In the financial realm, continue to encourage and challenge them to keep raising support, even when it gets tough. Recognize the difficulty in support raising and hearing people say no.
- Consider creating an encouragement package to send with them: cards, photos, or notes the person can read as they go.
- Ask them for ways your group can help build them up in the journey ahead.
- Help them connect to the Hope missions team (missions@hopecc.com).
- Ask them if there are any specific ways the group can being praying for their time away.
While Gone:
- Stay in contact with them.
- Keep them in email chains, City events, and text groups.
- Consider a monthly time of prayer for them within your Small Group.
- Ask them if there are any specific ways the group can love them well while they are gone.
- Organize care packages & mail them if possible. Remember to ask the person if a package, communication, or particular items are acceptable to receive in their location.
- If possible, arrange small group video calls.
Upon Return:
- Allow them time to share about their trip with the group.
- Take them out for coffee and let them share with you about life as a whole.
- Ask them if they are in contact with the Hope missions team. This will give the team information about who is returning and who may need added help.
- Inform your coaches so that they can be praying for this transitional period.
- Continue to ask how the transition back into American culture is going. Reverse culture shock is common among people who travel overseas for missions.
- Remember that this can take quite a while.
Long-Term Missions:
In many ways the list for long-term missions is similar to short-term missions, however, there are more ways you can lend a hand to those returning from a long-term missions
Additional Suggestions for Upon Return
- Prior to their return ask about their housing, support, and/or job situations.
- Prior to their return, spend time within the Small Group answering any questions and help the Small Group to work through how they should love the returnee well.
- On return, consider helping them get back from the airport or moving into their living situation.
- On return, provide them with community as they have not been a physical part of the Small Group for a while.
- Consider taking them out for coffee and gaining an understanding of where they see God leading them. Are they home for the foreseeable future? Are they headed back out?
- Be in contact with your coaches throughout this time. Their ability to love you while you pour into others is based on how well you communicate with them.
