Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance caring for our missionaries well and how to engage the local church.

Book: Holding the Rope

Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness

• When does missionary care start
• Practical ways the local church can care for their missionaries
• How pastors can help their congregation be aware of the missionaries' needs

Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.

• Website: Lightbearers.com
• Twitter: Ryan Allen Martin
• Email: Ryan Martin

02:02 - Introducing Dr Ryan Martin

02:58 - Motivation for writing a book on missionary care

04:07 - ...addressing needs of missionary families

04:34 - ...giving and not being poured back into and filled up

04:41 - ..almost reaching the point of burnout

05:16 - How do we care for them?

05:59 - ...the local church sensed that more tools were needed to care for missionaries well

09:06 - Book - Holding the Rope : How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones

09:10 - ...Metaphor for the title, "Holding the Rope"

09:21 - ...William Carey sermon

10:28 - Importance of caring for missionaries

11:12 - ...commissioning a missionary is the starting point, not the finish line

11:44 - When does missionary care start?

12:02 - ...getting to know the missionary as he is being trained and developed

12:26 - ...understand where the pressure points might be

12:55 - ...debrief points when the missionary returns

13:16 - ...areas of struggle will be exposed in the field

13:51 - What are practical ways that a church can care for their missionaries?

14:09 - ...evaluate missionaries' readiness

14:16 - ......The Upstream Collective has resources

14:39 - ...pre-field stage

15:07 - ...on the field care

16:04 - ...returning from the field

16:26 - How can pastors help their congregation be aware of their missionaries' needs?

16:32 - ...get to know the missionaries

17:12 - ...look for ways to bring the missionaries before the congregation

17:58 - ...visit missionaries in the field

19:13 - How do we care for missionaries' kids?

20:44 - ...show the children their role and how they can help

21:03 - ...dealing with different ages

21:37 - ...children and teen ministries to pray for missionary kids

21:46 - ...send families with children to visit them in the field

22:24 - ...dealing with abuse and crisis situations

23:33 - ...issues are worldwide, not just isolated