A sending church is the local congregation that prepares, commissions and keeps caring for the missionaries it sends, rather than only giving money to an outside organization. It partners with a mission agency, but it stays responsible for prayer, pastoral care and support, like the church at Antioch sending Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13.
Raises up
Goers from its own people
Sends
With prayer, support and commissioning
Cares
For its missionaries on the field
Works with
A mission agency and the church on the field
A supporting church gives to missionaries other churches send. A sending church raises up its own people, sends them and keeps caring for them.
Supporting church
Sending church
Missionaries
Supporting church
Gives to missionaries others send
Sending church
Raises up and commissions its own people
Prayer
Supporting church
Prays occasionally
Sending church
Prays by name
Care
Supporting church
The agency carries care
Sending church
Shares care with the agency and stays in touch
A sending church treats missions as part of its own discipleship, not a program it funds.
It knows its goers
Members know the people the church has sent, by name.
It has a pathway
There is a clear path from “I might be called” to the field.
It trains
People study missions before they go: Explore, Perspectives, pre-field training.
It cares
Sent missionaries are cared for by their church, not just funded.
A church becomes a sending church by building the culture first, then the pathway, then the care.
1
Teach God's heart for the nations
Preaching, small groups and studies such as Explore.
2
Name a missions leader
Someone inside the church who carries the work.
3
Build a pathway
From first interest to training, field exposure and a sending agency.
4
Partner overseas
Long-term relationships with vetted local churches.
5
Send and care
Commission, support and care for the people you send.
What does it mean to be a sending church?
Being a sending church means your church owns the sending, not just the funding. You raise up people from your own congregation, commission them, partner with an agency for training and placement, and keep praying, caring and staying in touch after they go.
Does a sending church still need a mission agency?
Usually yes. The agency brings field structure, training and member care; the church brings calling, prayer, support and pastoral care. They work together.
Can a small church be a sending church?
Yes. Sending is about ownership and care, not size. A small church can send one family well.
A Vision Meeting is the first step.
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”
Psalm 67:1–2