Caring for missionaries is one of the greatest privileges churches have — but it’s also one of the most often neglected areas of missions. Not because churches don’t want to care well, but because missionary care has historically been uninformed, unstructured, and unmeasured.
We pray for them.
We send support checks.
We cheer when they return home.
But how do we know whether our missionaries are actually thriving, not just surviving?
Missionary care, like any ministry of the church, needs clarity, intentionality, and measurable indicators. If we can measure children’s ministry engagement, attendance, salvations, giving, and small group participation, we can also measure whether our missionaries — the people we send out — are healthy, supported, and fruitful.
Here are five care metrics every church should track to ensure the missionaries they love are truly being equipped and encouraged.
1. Emotional & Spiritual Health
This is the most important metric, and the one churches most often overlook. Missionaries face intense pressures that most church members never see — loneliness, cultural stress, spiritual warfare, team conflict, and unrealistic expectations.
Questions to help measure:
- Are they expressing discouragement or isolation in communication?
- Are they finding Sabbath rest?
- Are they connected to ongoing counseling, coaching, or mentorship?
- Are they talking about signs of burnout?
A thriving missionary is one who has space to breathe, grow, and be ministered to — not just to minister.
2. Communication Frequency & Depth
Communication is the heartbeat of missionary care. When communication decreases, struggles increase.
When communication is consistent, missionaries feel connected, valued, and seen.
Indicators to measure:
- How often does the church hear from them?
- How often do they hear from you?
- Are interactions surface-level updates, or honest conversations?
- Does someone on the Mission Partnership Team (MPT) check in monthly?
Healthy missionaries feel like they are part of the church — not forgotten by it.
3. Support Team Involvement
Missionaries don’t need fans — they need partners. The MST (Missionary Support Team) or care team is the church’s frontline for emotional, logistical, and spiritual support.
Trackable indicators:
- Is there an active and engaged MST assigned to them?
- Are roles and responsibilities clear (prayer, communication, practical care, logistics)?
- Is the team meeting regularly and tracking needs?
- Is the team advocating for the missionary within the church?
A missionary with a strong support team lasts longer and thrives deeper.
4. Needs Identified & Needs Met
Missionaries rarely volunteer needs unless someone creates a safe place to ask.
Tracking needs — and how quickly they are met — is a powerful indicator of care health.
Measure:
- Are physical needs (equipment, housing, transportation) being met?
- Are emotional/spiritual needs recognized?
- Is the church responding promptly?
- Does the missionary feel comfortable expressing needs?
If a church can meet every need of its youth group, staff, and local teachers — it can meet the needs of its missionaries too.
5. Ministry Progress & Fruitfulness
This is not about numbers. It’s about clarity and partnership.
Thriving missionaries are not left to figure out everything alone — they receive guidance, encouragement, and accountability from their sending church.
Things to measure:
- Are goals and ministry plans clear?
- Is the church celebrating milestones with them?
- Are they seeing progress (disciples, relationships, opportunities, breakthroughs)?
- Do they feel supported when things are slow, difficult, or unclear?
Ministry fruitfulness grows when missionaries and churches work together, not separately.
Healthy missionary care is not reactive.
It’s intentional, consistent, and measurable.
Churches that track these metrics see:
✔ Longer missionary retention
✔ Healthier long-term workers
✔ Stronger partnerships
✔ Higher member engagement
✔ More effective missions outcomes
When missionaries thrive, the church thrives.
And when the church thrives, the mission advances.
If you want to talk about any of these ideas or missionary care in general contact our team to chat more about missionary care.
