The Pandemic’s Impact on International Missions (and What We All Can Learn from It)

By David Empson

The church in America could learn much from how foreign missionaries persevered during the coronavirus while continuing to advance the cause of Christ.

In early April, I received an email update from sisters Megan and Michelle Moss, missionaries serving in Tanzania. At the time, most Americans were still homebound and wrestling with internet issues, virtual meetings, and restaurant withdrawal. Mostly, we were wondering how long this pandemic would last. The Mosses wrote:

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Many times, as missionaries, we really need you to be there for us. But right now, we’re seeing how God has equipped us in many ways to be there for you. Living overseas we’ve experienced . . .

• feelings of isolation
• staying home because it was not safe to leave
• needing to connect virtually with family and friends
• stress fromitems not being available at the store and the difficulty of having to get creative in meals
• constantly staying aware of [our] surroundings (. . . Is this a dangerous situation? Is this wise to do right now?)
• holidays separated from those [we] love
• feeling like decisions are being made for [us] and struggling with a loss of independence and freedoms (whether [we] like it or not!)
• living under constant stress and uncertainty, which has a cumulative effect on [our] health—emotionally, physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually

Here is what we know:

1. Your frustrations and challenges are real, and it is hard!
2. Your emotions as a result of stress and grief are valid!
3. You are not alone!

We don’t know your specific struggles or situation, but overall, we can relate to tough times, and we are willing to enter into [them] alongside you!

With love and understanding,

Megan and Michelle Moss

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Wow, what compassion and class from these two young missionaries! 

The Effect on Missionaries Serving Abroad

For additional perspective on the world impact of COVID-19 upon our missionaries, I contacted Greg Pruett, president of Pioneer Bible Translators, and Doug Lucas, president of Team Expansion. Combined, these two organizations have more than 700 missionaries serving. These leaders shared about how their worldwide teams are doing, and their words spoke volumes about the commitment of our missionaries serving abroad:

• In the United States and around the world, the use of technology in dealing with various restrictions relative to COVID-19 was more effective than they ever imagined. They, too, had to learn new methods for overcoming adversity. With many people suffering from the virus worldwide, there was an even higher sense of collaboration and productivity than was ever thought possible. Pruett said Pioneer experienced greater productivity than it ever had before!
• The pandemic was tough on morale. Lucas said the virus impacted Team Expansion workers in every way imaginable.
• Both men said people serving in their agencies were flexible and willing to adapt to every situation. The support staffs of both organizations learned to work at home while the “shelter-in-place” phase dominated our country for weeks.
• The teams of both missions have shown a growing dependence on God in prayer throughout the pandemic.
• Team Expansion reported their supporters have remained faithful in giving, with no economic fall off.

The Effect on Short-Term Missions and Coronavirus

The coronavirus has impacted the life and activity of short-term mission agencies, which are a large part of many church missions budgets, and which sponsor trips popular among students in high school and college, as well as adults. 

Some such agencies were forced to cancel all of their spring and summer mission trips, causing them to suffer big hits to their operating budgets, and meaning that those missions and the people who rely on them weren’t served. I know of a couple of ministries that lost more than 40 youth group trips each, comprising their entire summer schedules! Another group canceled 180 mission trips, causing the furlough of almost their entire staff, and leaving only administrative staff to keep the doors open while they tried to figure out how to stay afloat.

Several mission agencies came up with interesting ideas to try to overcome the loss. Once again, technology was integral. One group held a virtual family camp in a neighboring country to try to help local nationals in need. Another group held a fundraiser to try to help foreign localities meet their needs.

We repeatedly heard news of how the church rose to help missionaries and mission agencies during this time of need. Interestingly, ICOM surveyed hundreds of missionaries and learned 62 percent said they did not suffer a negative financial effect from COVID-19! 

The Effect on Us and the Lessons We Must Learn

Many of us have been on mission trips where the original plan needed to be scrapped and we ended up doing something totally unforeseen . . . at least by us. Likewise, as we have dealt with the fallout from the coronavirus, many have rightly commented that “God is still in control.” It is good to be reminded of this. God is our provider. “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand” (Psalm 121:4-5).

With this in mind, here are five final points to ponder:

1. The church needs to prepare national workers. There are certain times—such as times of civil unrest, health crises, and pandemics—when our missionaries might need to come home. National leaders in those countries must be nurtured and trained to carry on the work when a missionary must leave or return home on furlough. Missionaries already know this, but it’s important for the American church to know it.
2. Life in the U.S. had become comfortable—even extravagant. It is humbling—even embarrassing—to know how good we have it in the United States. The coronavirus made many of us stay home and eat with our family, around the table, together, in the same room.
3. Missionaries in the field truly are “at risk”; their commitment and faithfulness are to be commended. Most of us in the States had everything we needed during the pandemic, so life wasn’t really that difficult. However, we know of one missionary family that became separated during the outbreak—the wife was in the U.S. and the husband was in Central America. Each parent had one or two of their children. Can you imagine living through that? 
4. Short-term mission trip providers suffered. My heart was broken that so many of our mission agencies lost so much money when trips were canceled. One idea I’ve heard is for mission agencies to require nonrefundable deposits up-front, perhaps 40 percent down, so that the mission can survive should a catastrophe such as this occur again.
5. We need to become more “missionary minded” in our everyday life. In a time when there seem to be fewer Christians and reduced Christian influence in our culture, it’s great to read and hear of more collaboration, prayer for one another, patience and flexibility, and more endurance and perseverance during tough times. Our missionaries continue to set an example for the rest of the church.

David Empson serves as the executive director of The International Conference On Missions.

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–SIDEBAR–

Missionary Stories

Several missionaries shared stories of how God has provided and continued working throughout this pandemic.

“We had to cancel trips for over 300 people; this has had a huge financial impact on us. We pivoted and moved to online reading sessions, which has over 150 workers and around 250 readers. So, people are meeting for one-on-one sessions all over the world from their living rooms. That has been a positive.”

“Even though we work in a third world country, the Dominican Republic, all of our passionate pastors immediately learned how to continue preaching the Word using the internet. All of our church plants swiftly learned how to broadcast their Sunday services, weekly Bible studies, youth group activities, and even small group activities using the internet. I am so proud of our team for being proactive and finding a way to continue preaching the Word of God, no matter the obstacles.”

“I’m doing a missionary apprenticeship and have the ability to extend my time by six months because of COVID; I’m really excited to put this language I’m learning to use! Also, during quarantine, missionaries from across our country came together during prayer via Zoom almost daily. We’ve never had that much communication and connection before, and it was great! Now that quarantine is over, we are staying connected and working together, and we’re seeing many positive things happen in our ministries because of this.”

“We have had several villages requesting prayer that [were] not open to us before COVID-19.”

“During this pandemic, God not only enabled us to reach non-Christians, but [he] helped us mingle with anti-Christians who were inspired by our serving in times of desperate needs when many poor people needed food and medical supplies. Christians helped the community [immensely] during this time especially.”

—D.E.