by By Rose Oluoch
Missionaries and other servants of God often find themselves in a state where they are tired because of the many activities that demand their attention. The nature of their work and the urgency of the gospel often makes stopping to find a space to rest a challenge or it can feel like laziness or slacking.
But the impact of not being able to rest has been enormous in the field. I remember a time I was so tired while ministering as a missionary in the field. I felt empty; like I had nothing more to offer. I felt stuck and unhappy, just moving for the sake of it. My health started giving me challenges. My mornings felt heavy and I lacked motivation to keep going. I remember deciding to go on a sabbatical in 2019. I closed down and went on a one-year rest. That’s when I started to hear God giving me new ideas for ministry. Some things I had been ignoring became clear; I could hear God’s voice more. During this period of rest, I gained strength to continue with new ministry dimensions. I got into youth mentorship and member care for missionaries.
Rest for the missionary/ servants of God is when they are able to freely stop from their daily work activities and relax without being stressed about anything. It is the art of being able to find a space where they can breath and find peace of mind.
Member care is new in our African mission context but we thank God for those who are creating awareness among missionaries on its need. This article is part of my awareness creation for the body of Christ to get more involved in member care for the work force through promoting rest for missionaries.
I know how it feels like to be tired but you have to continue work in the mission field. I know that feeling of laziness when you stop and rest — the way you think you have wasted time . But I also know that feeling resting is not wasting valuable time. Actually when you rest, you gain more strength to continue.
I have witnessed and heard of servants of God who sacrificed their marriages on the altar of the mission field because they couldn’t stop and rest. They didn’t create time for family and as a result their marriages broke or they ended up with rebellious children who are tormenting them in their old age. When they finally feel they can slow down and have more time with the family, the marriage is broken or the children are not there any more and are seeking attention through rebellion.
It’s my appeal to servants of God to have time off their normal church or mission duties and be with family. We don’t want to be sad and full of regrets when it’s too late to make amends. Take time and go on a vacation with friends or famil. Socialize with your networks. I, for example, lead the Women in Missions network and one of our activities is organising an annual retreat for missionaries in Kenya. This is a time to retreat from the fields where we serve to some quite nice places where we can debrief, network, enjoy the goodness of life and recharge to go back and continue serving God. We hear each others stories, their journey into mission work, challenges and successes… then we celebrate and pray together.
Another way of helping missioners stop and rest is visiting them in the field where they serve to encourage and help them rest. In Women in Missions network, we visit fellow missioners in the mission field. Something unique about our visits is that when we arrive, the whole household has to stop and rest. We carry food, cook for the family and serve them for three days. Then we also leave a one-time gift envelope. This has been an encouraging encounter for the missionaries we visit in the remote parts of Kenya. When the time comes to wash their feet, most of them cry out of surprise; everytime they say no one has ever done that for them. They want us to remain and continue caring for them but oh! we have to come back and continue serving in our different fields.
A unique way of caring for the labourers
Rest for missionaries doesn’t have to be expensive; you just need to be intentional about it and it becomes easy and enjoyable. You can take one-day off weekly for personal breaks just to stop and reflect or you can take a day off with family or your spouse. Also, taking a group retreat trip with fellow missioners, clergy or pastors is very healthy. Just go somewhere nice as a team, not to do seminars or conferences but to rest, share your stories, encourage each other, laugh together, cry together, eat food prepared by a chef not yourselves, swim and have fun. This is very refreshing. You go back home with more energy to continue.
I usually tell missioners this: “You don’t need to die for the church while Christ already died for it.” Many have died of sicknesses related to fatigue and stress from the work, some have died of high blood pressure due to pressure from work and cancer-related deaths are rising due to unhealthy lifestyles such as a missioner not creating time to eat healthy food.
We hear of servants of God dying because they couldn’t stop and rest. Even God rested on the seventh day. Why would we think we should work Monday to Monday without rest? Waiting for our leave days alone is not enough. Our body and mind usually need consistent practice of rest for a healthy life. Let’s keep cultivating a spirit of rest for better results in the mission field where God has placed us.
Churches and individuals can play a role in providing care for missionaries. For member care to be successful, finances are needed. In every field we visit, there are always more needs to be met than we have funds to respond. However, I thank God for the little we have been doing for the missioners we have visited so far. They say, giving comes from the heart and no one is actually poor to give. Thee little you have can make a big difference in the life of a missioner and in your own life. Nothing is too small.
A story is told in 1 Kings 17:8-16 of a widow from Zarephath who obeyed God and fed the servant of God Elijah with her last meal. As a result she and her son survived the drought for three years. They didn’t go hungry because God kept providing by refilling the jar of floor and the jug of oil. God expects the church to respond to missions by giving out of what they have no matter the quantity. He promises to replenish our sources if we support his work.
Another way the church can promote member care is having spaces where missionaries can rest off the field. We call these care centers or member care houses. This is is a place where a missionary who’s tired in the field or in need of a vacation can come and rest, preferably for free.
Churches also need to intentionally take care of missionaries they send to the field to serve. They should go visit these missionaries where they serve. That alone encourages them to continue. check on them regularly and support them fully, in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Prayer is the backbone of missions. The church should pray for missionaries regularly. We should find out how ministry is going and what the needs for the communities they are serving are so we can pray along with them.
As I conclude, let me take this opportunity to welcome any Christian woman with a heart for missions to consider being part of Women in Missions network. You can pray with us, go with us to field visits or partner with us financially. You’re welcome to be part of the team that cares for the workforce. Let’s keep cultivating the spirit of rest for better results in the mission field.
Rose Oluoch serves with Women in Missions, a network dedicated to empowering , supporting and uniting women missionaries across Africa through providing mentorship, prayer and practical assistance to help women fulfill the Great Commission. She can be reached on 0710921075.
