subject: How To Be Supportive Of A Christian Missionary [print this page] Christian missionary work is proceeding throughout the world, which is tremendously exciting for each of us that hope to see the joy of the gospel spread. Becoming a full-time missionary is a huge commitment and a sacrifice that requires humility and an open spirit.
But it isn't always easy. Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints forfeit up to two years of their lives during the prime of their lives. Many leave college, employment, family, and relationships behind.
That is why it is so important for those of us at home to make efforts to support them in their honorable efforts to share the Lord's message--even if you don't always see eye-to-eye with them.
Many people think that Mormons are a little old-fashioned, as our favorite mode of communication to our missionaries is through snail mail.
The rules regarding other forms of communication--e-mail, social networking sites, etc--are dictated through a mission leader known as the mission's "president," so find out through letters what the president's policy before you send e-mails or Facebook messages.
Try to keep your letters as optimistic as possible. Being a missionary is tough work for anyone, and you may not know what tough trials they are experiencing in the field. That is not to say you should avoid reality, but be sensitive about what you share.
Share your testimony with them often. Even if you aren't a Latter-day Saint, you can still witness to them about the things you feel strongly about in your life. If you feel God has been answering your prayers, encourage them to pray and tell them about your experiences. If you feel uplifted every time you return from church, tell them so. Believe me, it helps.
Many missionaries across the globe--not just the Mormons--are compelled to learn a new language in order to be able to teach the people to whom they were assigned. This is a tough task, especially since many of them learn through immersion in the culture, so try to make basic attempts to write in this new language.
Translator software can be a really big help to teach you basic phrases in addition to translating vocabulary. You can really have some fun growing and learning together.
Support your local missionaries, too. Make efforts to put them in contact with potential investigators. Pray for them each by name and encourage friends and family members to do the same.
Being a missionary is a challenging but intensely rewarding experience. Even if you never have the opportunity, you can serve as the behind-the-scenes support system that is just as important in bringing people to the Lord.
