The Ministry of Encouragement

One of the great joys of this season of my life is having been asked by Vince McCarty, director of Global Missions, to serve as a “pastor” to our Open Bible missionaries. My role is to give them spiritual and emotional support as well as simply remind them of how proud we are to partner with them.

When we speak over the phone, I often ask the missionaries things like “Who’s watching out for you? What are you doing to take care of yourself? How can I be praying for you?” I ask these questions because missionaries dedicate their lives to sharing the gospel, often in challenging and isolated environments. While they pour into others, they often don’t adequately take care of themselves. As someone who has spent most of my life in the trenches of ministry, I understand how easily that can happen. But that’s where my role comes in: to encourage, support, and provide a listening ear.  

Here are three things I encourage our missionaries to do (but they can serve as helpful reminders for all of us):  

1. Take your physical health seriously.

Our effectiveness and longevity in ministry are just as directly related to our physical health as our spiritual health. Whatever your age or medical history, chances are you could be healthier than you are right now, and there are choices that you can make (to eat better, sleep better, get your body moving, etc.) to reduce your stress. The challenge is to do them intentionally and consistently! The main culprits behind much of our depression and fatigue are a poor diet, lack of exercise, and inadequate rest. The good news is these are things that we can change.   

• Start with just a few changes. 
• Have a plan and stick with it.
• Do it “as unto the Lord” – integrated with your other spiritual disciplines. 

“You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed your laws” (Psalm 119:73 TLB).

2. Cultivate meaningful relationships.

One of the biggest challenges for many in ministry is that we put all our effort into ministry, leaving too little time or energy to cultivate the relationships that breathe life back into us:  our marriage, our family, our mentors, and healthy friendships. For missionaries, cultural and linguistic barriers can sometimes complicate cultivating healthy relationships. Once again, our longevity in ministry is directly related to the health of our relationships. No more excuses – just do it! 

• Plan social time on your calendar and keep it a priority. 
• Never stop making new friends or trying new things. 
• Recognize the people and activities that bring joy to your life. 

 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov 27:17 NIV).

3. Be careful what you choose to think about. 

We can’t choose what other people say about us or what they say to us, but we CAN choose what we allow ourselves to dwell on.  Don’t waste time or energy beating yourself up or constantly worrying about what other people think about you. Ultimately, we are ALL inadequate unless we learn to cooperate with God’s purpose – and He will give us everything we need to fulfill that purpose. So much of the battle we face in ministry is won or lost in our thinking. But bringing God into the equation changes everything! 

• Feed your brain with truth.   
• Recognize the lies of the enemy. 
• Choose to think about what GOD SAYS! 

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world… but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT).   

Let me encourage you today to take a moment and check in with a missionary or minister. A simple text, call, or email could be just the encouragement they need today. We’re all in this together, and we were never meant to do it alone. I am so proud and grateful to be a part of our Open Bible family.  

About the Author

By Monte LeLaCheur

Monte LeLaCheur pastored Turning Point Church in Spokane, WA, for twenty-nine years after working there as his dad’s assistant for the previous fifteen years. Today he serves as Open Bible’s pastor to missionaries and as a Pacific Region Shepherd. He and his wife, Amy Jo, also have a Christian Counseling practice. Connect with them at www.insightscoaching.org