The Many Ways NCEM Supporters Keep on Encouraging Their Missionaries
In his letter to the local church, the Apostle Paul referred to his missionary band as their “fellow workers” (2 Cor. 6:1).
Neither do we in NCEM carry on our missionary work on our own. That’s why this article isn’t really about us – it’s about those back home who keep us going. We’re taking space here to simply tell how our supporters encourage us!
Letters, Calls, Emails …
Our missionaries love to hear from their supporters. Here’s what a few of them say about the communication they’ve received:
“I admit I do grow discouraged at times. I’ve learned, at times painfully, that it’s not just about me doing mission work. This journey is also about allowing Jesus to change me. Seemingly, at my lowest moments, an encouraging note from a supporter will arrive!”
“We’re encouraged by the phone calls and letters assuring us of prayer support!”
“I work with the mail here at HQs, and some supporters send a little note of encouragement to their missionary every time they mail in their donation.”
“We have a supporter who always replies to our prayer letters with a hand written letter.”
“We’ve received ‘encouragement notes’ from a church (the kind in the pews and placed in the offering plate). The church secretary sends them to us.”
“Our home church sent us a personal one-minute video of everyone gathered at the front saying, ‘Hi (our names)’ … followed by our elders reading Scripture to us with their blessing.”
Can We Do That For You?
Our supporters certainly don’t give money or contribute in other ways to get recognized. We’ve never published donors’ lists. As far as prayer support, any attempt to total it would obviously be impossible.
Mel & Vi Plett
There are many many others we could easily include as examples here, but we thought this might be an appropriate place to mention one couple.
It’s not just about their gifts to the work, their prayers, or hours of labour volunteered. Our missionaries might say it has more to do with Mel & Vi Plett’s supportive personalities and presence.
For many years the Pletts have been involved in Native ministry themselves at Steeprock Bay Bible Camp, close to their Manitoba home. A little farther away, at The Pas, in many practical ways they have encouraged the folks at Riverside Bible Church and missionaries, Dennis & Amanda Anderson.
When possible, they’ve attended many of our NCEM staff conferences to fellowship and stay informed.
What’s most obvious is that they just love to be around to say, “Can we help?” Their motivation is from the Lord and for His work, so we’re not surprised that they encourage other ministries, too. For example, Mel has also used his carpentry/electrical/plumbing skills in property projects for Native Evangelical Fellowship (NEFC).
Asked why they do it, they talk of it as a calling. Mel says he simply notices what needs to be done, and knows that the missionaries may not have the time nor skills to do it. Vi adds that she very much enjoys the fellowship while assisting our workers.
Mel & Vi Plett are just two among many who encourage and help keep us going!
Welcomed Inquiries
Along with encouraging words from our supporters, we also very much appreciate their desire to stay informed:
“Prayer supporters have encouraged us by knowing what our prayer letters say. When we visit there’s no introductions needed!”
“I have supporters who phone regularly, asking how I’m doing … they encourage me by listening.”
“The most encouraging thing that our supporters have done for us is ask about our goals and prayer requests. We have seen answers to prayer many times when we have shared a specific request with a church or individual who asked how they could pray for us.”
“There are those who email us in reply to our letters to tell us they are praying for us on a regular basis. It’s fun when we enter their homes and even their children know who we are.”
“I’m encouraged when supporters ask about how certain people are doing (i.e., individuals mentioned in conversations with them). That tells me they care enough to pray and remember.”
“If we don’t write about something they have been praying for (mentioned in a previous prayer letter), they ask about it. We appreciate that!”
Gifts & More
Obviously it takes money to live and serve. Our full-time workers could not be on the field without this support. But living as a “faith” missionary is much more than just money and gifts – it’s about partnering with people who become our encouragement and prayer support:
“The greatest encouragement came when our kids were smaller. Christmas parcels from supporters came each year which our kids will never forget. Those acts of kindness went a long way.”
“There are those who support me, but also once in awhile send extra … with a note like this: ‘For personal use.’ It is encouraging that they are thinking of my personal needs.”
“One day I had to buy a part for our vehicle. The store’s computer system was down and I had to pay with cash. I reached into my pocket for the unopened envelope dropped off at our house by a visiting supporter … it was the exact amount to pay for the part!”
“When our children were young, many people gave Christmas gifts … and surprise packages in the mail during the year. It really touched our hearts to be remembered in this way.”
“Some tangible encouragements have been gift cards for food places (for our travels), taking us along on their vacation, filling our tank with gas at the pumps, interest-free loan for a better vehicle.”
“We had supporters who owned a fresh produce store … at Christmas they allowed us to fill a shopping cart with anything in the store! What a blessing!”
“I was encouraged by a supporter. Just before we left on a (ministry/vacation) trip to the States she gave us an envelope that included a note and US cash. This lady had recently returned from a trip with this unspent money … and assured us that she would be praying for us while we were gone.”
“Periodically I visited one of my elderly supporters, a widow who I knew had her own financial needs. I knew she was praying regularly for me and the ministry. On one of these visits, she gave me an offering and told how, every time she had change, she set aside some in a jar. It meant far more to me than the amount, and reminded me of the ‘widow’s mite’ in Scriptures. It showed sacrifice and dedication.”
On Our Behalf
Living as “faith” missionaries may require providing information about financial need. That can be uncomfortable for the missionary, so when someone assists with the “informing,” it’s very encouraging!
“Our support had hit a critically low level. We were discouraged and at the point of resigning. We expressed our concern in a prayer letter, and one of our faithful supporters took it upon himself to raise support on our behalf. Not only did our support come up acceptably, but we were truly blessed by this man’s desire that we continue in ministry.”
Come Over … Stop In
“One of the most significant ways our supporters have encouraged us is by coming to visit us and spend time seeing what we do,” wrote one of our missionaries. Others said:
“My thoughts go immediately to the teams from supporting churches who came to Arctic Quebec to assist in construction projects so that we could have adequate housing for our missionary families. This welcomed effort brought us together with supporters for several weeks of fellowship and hard work.
“It was a special blessing to all of us, and gave our supporting churches an opportunity to meet our northern friends to whom we ministered, and to get a feel for our ministry. Two of these churches sent teams back at least four times for further projects. The spiritual encouragement and interaction was a real special blessing as well.”
“Just showing up unexpected to encourage us with a visit for coffee, kind words … and helping us here at Camp.”
“We are thankful for people from supporting churches who work as Camp staff, and have helped with the physical preparation of equipment before and after camp. We can’t do this alone!”
“We live on a dead-end street and are used to people turning around in our driveway. One day a group of motorcyclists arrived, stopped and got off their bikes, black leather and all. One man came to the door. Whew! … it was a man from a supporting church on a road trip with his friends. He wanted to take the opportunity to give us a gift of money.”
“Many people have gone miles out of their way to visit us in Quebec. One Christmas a man from one of our supporting churches stopped at the door to give us a ham for Christmas!”
“One supporter took a week each summer to come and help us with any house repairs we needed.”
“A supporter came over to our station (we lived closer to home) to pray with us and encourage us. Other supporters traveled further to do the same. They wanted a better understanding of what we do, and to help us around home, too.”
Immeasurable Support
Letters, gifts and visits are much appreciated. More than these tangible encouragements, though, our missionaries speak of prayer support as most significant:
“When [a certain supporter] phones us, or we visit them, he says, ‘We pray for you every day.’ He also shares Tribal Trails (TV ministry) prayer requests with others. I am always overwhelmed by his words ‘every day.’ ”
“The most encouraging things I have received from a supporter are phone calls and cards stating that they pray for us every single day! That is special!”
“At various times we have been encouraged by supporters who phone to get an update, and pray for us on the phone.”
“I know that my own personal prayer time is important, but … there are times when we need someone to go to battle with us and for us. We can’t do it alone … we need these ‘warriors’ behind and beside, helping us … people keeping me, my family, my life situations and what I am involved in – roadblocks or spiritual crossroads – a part of their prayer life.”
Guidance & Love
We believe that our efforts to reach First Peoples for Christ will be most effective when missions/missionaries serve as partners with sending congregations. That includes receiving guidance from our supporters. One missionary put it this way:
“We’re encouraged by … listening and guidance in decision making. Certain people take it very seriously that they are partners in ministry with us.”
… and, finally, when it comes to encouragement, our missionaries say there’s nothing like a warm welcome when it’s time to come home for a visit! A couple of them wrote:
“When we return to visit, the warm and family-like welcome encourages us!”
“Every time I’m at my home church … I receive ‘lots’ of hugs, and assurances that they love me greatly!”
(from Northern Lights issue #529). Note: some of the locations and involvements of our missionaries may have changed since the original publishing of this article.