The journey of preparing and going overseas is not one we do alone. We know that if we are in Christ, he promises his presence and power through the Holy Spirit. He also gives us his church, his people, to walk with along the path. We wouldn’t be where we are today without relationships around us sharpening us to be more like Christ. The same will be true, even exponentially more, for those going cross-culturally to the mission field. In 1792, pioneer missionary to India, William Carey, stood up before his church to build his support team saying, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the rope.” Andrew Fuller stood up promising that as long as he lived, he would never let go of the rope. Without Andrew Fuller, there would be no William Carey. Both were imperative for the ministry to the unreached in India. Similarly, those who you are going to minister not only need you, but thay need a team of others to faithfully send you.

This is a vital time in your pursuit to taking the good news of the gospel to the nations. Admittedly, we sometimes see it as a necessary evil. Yet God has work to do in you, through you, and for you during this step in the process. There are necessary and tangible needs, like raising a “launch fund”, to move your life halfway around the world, A support team will bear this with you. This season most likely includes raising monthly support,but there are other less tangible needs that your support network provides. You don’t want to wait till you need them to realize you don’t have them. You will need a group of people who know you and will continue to pursue you in care and prayer while you settle in a place new and unfamiliar. You will need people who will encourage you when language learning gets difficult. You will need friends to remind you of the gospel when hardships come. You will need those who love you enough to bear the burden and joys of proclaiming the gospel in dark places, and they will need you, too. They will need you to remind them that they have a strategic role to play. As 3 John 8 says, they, too, are a “fellow worker” with you. Being a missionary is not just you, God, and the unreached. There will be hundreds who come alongside you to give, pray, and mobilize others to see you reach the unreached.

Start prayerfully considering who could join your sending team through prayer, giving, and care. Consider those who have already walked many of these steps with you and others who you can invite into partnering in the ministry of the gospel. Start asking them to join you.