Ideas to Connect with Your Missionary Online

How do you stay connected with your missionary while they're serving on the field?

Missionaries periodically leave the field to spend a few months in North America to connect with churches, families, and individuals who are partnering with them in their work. This time of connection, known as Re-Connect, is an important time to strengthen relationships, join in prayer together, and share how God is working in the world.

But missionaries are busy. They can't always leave the field, and they don't always have time to visit every church while they're on Re-Connect—even though they wish they could!

The good news? Technology provides opportunities for your church to connect with your missionary while they're serving on the field. Connecting with your missionary online is a great way for you to hear updates, learn from one another, and pray together in between in-person visits.

Ideas for Connecting with Your Missionaries Virtually

Invite your missionary to participate in your online worship gathering
Even across an ocean, your missionary can join your church for worship online. Give them an opportunity to share about your ministry together—or even preach! Many missionaries have been to seminary and are ordained. Invite them to use their preaching skills!

Host an online Q&A
Invite your church to join your missionary for a Q&A through video call. It’s a great opportunity to ask specific questions about your ministry partnership. Have a list of questions ready to go beforehand—but also give your church members an opportunity to respond and ask their own questions during the Q&A session.

Have tea time online
Invite missionaries to gather with small groups from your church through video call. It’s a great opportunity for people to grab a cup of tea or coffee and get to know one another—and your ministry together—better.

Host a virtual workshop
Missionaries have a lot of experience in mission! Gather your mission committee or a group of people from your church who are interested in mission and invite your missionary to host a virtual workshop. They can share what they’ve learned through their ministry and give you advice or guidance about joining God on mission in your own neighborhood.

Invite your missionary to prayer gatherings
Hosting a prayer gathering online with your church? Invite missionaries to join. Ask them for any prayer requests they have, both personally and for your ministry together in the field.

Tips for Connecting with Missionaries Online

Be conscious of timezones
Where does your missionary live? Make sure you’re not inviting them to a gathering in the middle of the night or super early in the morning. Find a time that works for both of you.

Make sure the technology is working
Set up a trial run to make sure that your technology is working. Also know that the internet can be unstable in some parts of the world.

Test videos
Many Resonate missionaries have engaging videos about their ministry. Ask if your missionary wants to share a video during a presentation or online gathering. Test-run it ahead of time to make sure the sound and visuals are both working.

Be conscious of security concerns
Some missionaries serve in countries where they can't be open about their work sharing the gospel. Check with your missionary to make sure it’s okay to share about their ministry online. Some missionaries aren’t going to be able to share about their ministry on a service that is being livestreamed—but they might be able to share about their ministry in more secure, small group discussions through video call. Here’s a guideline to help you.

Take a special offering online
Many churches take a special offering for missionaries when they’re visiting in person, and sometimes missionaries raise funds for special projects or meet pressing needs that come up. It's easy and secure for your church to give online. Most Resonate missionaries have a dedicated page on Resonate’s website where people can donate. Some missionaries, however, live in countries where there are security concerns and can’t be listed publicly online. Ask them for the best way to give.

While a virtual meeting doesn’t replace a face-to-face meeting, it can help keep you connected until your missionary is able to visit your church again in person.