Saturday, March 29, 2014

WELFARE OF MISSIONARIES: PRIORITY OR MISCELLANEOUS

DR.EZEKIEL A. BAMIGBOYE
Introduction
Missionary work often time involves going across cultural boundaries, meaning that the missionary is far from his native land. There will obviously be numerous needs to be met spiritually, emotionally, financially etc. The meeting of these needs and others is summed up to be the missionary’s welfare. This paper focuses on welfare for missionaries. It argues that missionary welfare should be a matter of priority rather than miscellaneous. It is stated that poor missionary welfare possesses a great danger to missionary performance. The paper finally states the benefits of making missionary’s welfare a priority. Few definitions are necessary here in this paper.
Who is a missionary?
A missionary is one sent across geographical and/or cultural boundaries to proclaim he gospel, do ministry such as education, literacy, social work, health care and economic development. By welfare, we mean well-being, somebody’s state or condition with respect to whether he or she is healthy, safe, happy, or prospering. By priority, we mean something important that needs more attention than anything else. Miscellaneous for this paper by miscellaneous we mean something that is of less important.
Missionaries in the Bible
The Bible is the basis for missionary work. It provides records of how the missionary God of the Bible called and sent people to territories other than their own to spread the message of his love to the straying world.
Abraham was called and sent of God (Genesis 12:1ff), Jonah was also missionary sent to the Ninevites (Jonah 1:1ff) (Fuller, 9). In the New Testament, there are many records of missionary activities. Jesus was sent into the world for a particular mission. His mission was to seek the lost (Luke 19:10) and to save the world (john 17:8; 12). In this missionary activities, he got the first converts among the Jews to confirm God’s plan of blessing the families of the world through Abraham (Genesis 12:2ff). Jesus, before his ascension gave the commission to His disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). This gave rise to apostolic missionary activities (Fuller, 10).
The apostles are regarded as Christian missionaries going forth to evangelize the nations: to the Jews and Gentiles. So vast has been the expansion of the missionary enterprise since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and so voluminous has become its records.
Peter was the acknowledged leader of the opening mission of the infant church to Jerusalem, and afterwards of missionary efforts in behalf of Jews throughout the world. Not only was he the chief actor in the scenes of the Pentecost, but he laid the foundation for missions to the Gentiles by baptizing the centurion Cornelius and other Gentiles at Caesarea. According to Origen and Eusebius, he preached to the Jews scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Many scholars agree that his mission extended to Babylon, on the Euphrates, while the general voice of antiquity ascribes to him a martyr’s death at Rome (McClinktock and Strong Encyclopedia).
Next to that of Peter we recognize the prominence of the apostle John, who, after protracted labors among the Jews in Palestine, took up his abode at Ephesus, form which centre he exercised supervision of the churches of Asia Minor till the period of his exile to Patmos, whence he yet speaks to the churches (McClinktock and Strong Encyclopedia).
Paul, as the apostle to the Gentile, stands forth in deserved prominence as a model missionary. Also, the Christian believers of the apostolic age generally when even scattered by persecution, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). In addition, Priscilla and Aquilla moved from Corinth to start a church there (Acts 18:18-19; 26). Paul missionary team also included Silas, timothy, Luke and the representation of other churches (2cor. 8:23) (Fuller, 30).
Missionary Welfare: What it means
Missionary welfare includes provision of basic needs of the missionaries in a way to make the mission work becomes easier and ultimately to help them accomplish their God-given task with less difficulty. It is the ongoing preparation, equipping and empowering of missionaries for effective and sustainable life, ministry and work. The goal of missionary welfare includes effective transition into a new culture, healthy co-worker relationships, and competency in assigned tasks. The needs may cover the areas of spiritual, emotional, relational, physical and economic aspect. A further analysis of these basic needs reveals that missionary needs may include feeding, housing, clothing, transportation, security, caring for the children and parents among others. An internet author comments:
“Missionary care is about coming alongside harvest workers to minister to the whole person for the whole of their career. It touches on their families, their health, their walk with God and their work for God. It has its goal not simply that missionary may survive, but that they would thrive. The desire is that they become all that God intends for them to be and to accomplish all that eh designed them to accomplish” http://paracletos.org/blog/article/the-most-negelcted-are

It is important to underscore that missionary care is a team effort involving mission agencies, sending churches, other mission organizations and individuals.
Biblical Basis for Missionary Welfare
The Bible provides basis for missionary welfare. Jesus serves as a model ensuring welfare in that the welfare of those he sent as missionaries was paramount to him. He ministered personally to the needs of the twelve. For instance, he healed Peter’s mother-in-law (mark 1:30-31). He also assured the seventy of their welfare after instructing them not to take anything for their journeys (Luke 10:3ff).
The welfare of Paul; the apostle is another basis for missionary welfare. Many friends ministered to Paul’s needs. In 2cor. 8:3-4, Paul testifies about the churches in Macedonia that “they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will”.
Allien identified that Paul did not seek financial help for himself. “Paul was careful to avoid any appearance of money making. He was also being careful of putting heavy load on people.” The reason according to Allien being that there were teachers going from place to place presenting lectures and collecting money for those who attend their lectures. They simply believed that philosophy and religion was a trade. Similarly there was a group of people in the then church who made their living by their preaching. Paul saw this as a hindrance to Missions. Paul simply wanted to show his fatherly care to his disciples by refusing to burden them with his care. Notwithstanding, he needed the care of brethren to successfully carry out his mission work. Therefore, he occasionally received support from the churches he planted. For instance, he spoke of the Philippians church as having sent once and again unto his necessity. The Philippians give us a good model of the financial implications of a true partnership. Paul commended them, ‘you sent me aid again and again when I was in need” (Phil. 4:16). The Philippians knew Paul’s needs, and they were always ready to give when their help was needed. Thus it could be established that there were churches which supported missionaries in the apostolic age.
Missionary Welfare in the Contemporary Time
In the contemporary time, missionary welfare package include salary and other allowances. Retirement benefit, educational facilities for the children and opportunities to purchase books and periodicals and to take courses for deeper study and for keeping up on the field. Others are group insurance, health plan, social, security among others.
The life of the missionary is sometimes lived out in places where sanitation is poor, if not non-existent, where disease is rampart, and where dust and dirt are most favourable breeding grounds for germs of all varieties. No portable water, health care system among others. Therefore, contemporary missionaries also need a good welfare packaged in all ramifications.
In many instances, the contemporary missionary experience is not different from the biblical approach. Many modern missionaries receive their supplies from the sending agency. Even, those who practice faith Mission seek support outside the field. Coggins maintain that non-denominational missions have generally depended heavily on “designated” or “personalized” giving. In this missionary support plan, the missionary contact people: friends, relatives etc or churches who then promise certain amount towards the mission work of the missionary. However, within a denominational frame work, missionary support and welfare generally comes form the member churches. The missionary salary is paid from this support.
Missionary Welfare: A Priority
It is important to underscore that for an effective mission effort, there is need to ensure a good welfare package for the missionaries. Missionaries and their families are also human beings with the same needs for care and support as other people have.
The welfare package for missionary the writers believe should not be limited to a fat salary. The package should be holistic that is, one that attempts to minister to the whole person. A holistic package ranges from the spiritual welfare, health, financial, social, family welfare among others. None of these aspects could be over-emphasized as a problems in any of the areas can detrimental tot eh missionary work. Missionary welfare in the aforementioned aspects could hereby be ensured by the following activities: prayers, encouragement, financial care and/or visitation.
Prayer
            Most missionaries identify prayer as their most critical need. Rayer strengthens missionaries when temtped and encourages them when sometimes discouraged, and in need of spiritual growth and refreshments. Paul’s emphasizes the need for an unceasing intercession for missionaries (Col. 1:9-12, 4:2-4). Chessman Graham believes that prayer has been the strong force behind missionary advancement. Prayer is action. By it we step out in advance of all other results. Praying is an activity upon which all others depend. By prayer we establish a beachhead for the kingdom among peoples where it has never been before. Prayer strikes the winning blow. All other missionary efforts simply gather up the fruits of our praying.
As partners, our prayers should go out before the missionaries in every struggle they face. We need to be praying for their cultural adjustments – their ability to be understood in the local language, their contentment in the local climate and with the native food, and their sensitivity to culturally proper ways of interacting. We need to pray for their personal walks with God. we need to pray for the friends and family they left behind. We need to pray for the people to whom they are ministering. In short, we need to be praying for everything for which we would be praying if we were the ones overseas.
Finance
            Missionaries need money to do missions. It is needed to provide the daily needs of the missionary and his family ranging from food, clothing etc. a missionary whose needs are met will perform better in the task of preaching the gospel. Smith believes that a missionary going to the field should go under a board that is prepared to accept financial responsibility over him. Often concentrate on the welfare of others to the exclusion of their own needs (Smith).
Encouragement
This involves the partner’s interest in the missionary’s well-being and going well we can to encourage him. In New Testament times such encouragement often took the form of visits to a missionary. Paul’s partners were eager to go out of their way to make certain he was in good spirits. The church at Corinth sent three believers to visit Paul and refresh his spirit (1Cor. 16:17-18), the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to care for Paul’s needs (Phil. 2:25), and Onesiphorus searched for Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome in order to refresh him (2tim. 1:16-17).
Visiting missionaries in the field is still one of the most appreciated means of encouragement. Now, however, we have a variety of other ways ot show them that we are working together with them. The most common is to write letters. A true partner will write letters regularly – at least once a month. Encourage partners in specific situations they are facing and remind them of God’s promises relating to their work. Send letters frequently enough to let the missionaries know you are genuinely concerned about them and their work.
Many of today’s missionaries have phones in their homes and would be overjoyed by an occasional call from partners at home, yet most of us have never even considered calling a missionary. Personal ministry by a loving, caring mission supporter can relieve missionaries of a burden which might hinder their work.
The Consequences of Poor Missionary Welfare
One result of neglecting missionaries is the phenomenon of families living on donations of used or second hand materials. Another implication is that the missionaries are left at the mercy of the target people who sometimes are hostile. Making missionary welfare a miscellaneous could also make the missionary lose his focus of preaching the gospel to earning a living. It may eventually lead to missionaries quitting and coming home.
Conclusion
This paper argues that there is a correlation between a missionary’s welfare and his effectiveness on the field. The writer believe that the welfare of missionaries should not be underplayed. The sending agency, church as well as individual must work together to ensure missionaries well-being. If mission is to be accomplished, an unprecedented number of persons must make themselves available for mission service.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cheeseman, Graham Mission Today. Belfast: OUA IBOE FELLOWHSIP, 2003
Coggins, Wade T., How Missions are financed, Mission Handbook. California: MRC, 1971.
Fuller, L.K. going to the Nations. Bukuru: ACTS, 2001.
John McClintock, and James Strong McClintock and strong Encyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical. Grand Rapids: Baer Book House Company, 1981
.Roland Allen, Missionary Methods Saint Paul or Ours. London: world Dominion Press,1956.
 Soltau, Stanley, T., Facing the Field, the Foreign Missions Board and Its Problems Grand Rapids: Baker House, 1965.
 Verkuyl, J., Contemporary Missiology: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1978.




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