Holding the Rope: How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones
By Ryan Martin
William Carey’s well-known words to Andrew Fuller—“I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the rope”—remain a powerful image of the indispensable relationship between missionaries and their sending churches.
Carey’s enduring legacy in India was not his alone. It was made possible through the sacrificial support of faithful rope-holders who committed to pray, give, and remain present throughout his ministry. Despite this precedent, the local church has too often taken a passive role in missionary care, frequently deferring responsibility to sending agencies. This disconnect has contributed to preventable challenges and premature returns from the field.
While mission agencies offer vital support, God has ordained the local church as the primary sender and sustainer of cross-cultural workers. From the early church in Antioch to the faith communities of today, Scripture and mission history affirm the central role of the church in caring for its sent ones.
Holding the Rope: Helping the Local Church Care for Its Sent Ones calls churches to reclaim this role with clarity and conviction. This resource offers a robust biblical foundation for missionary care and practical tools for developing comprehensive care strategies across every stage of missionary service—pre-field, on-field, and post-field. It’s also filled with insights from those serving in the field, in the church, and within agencies.
This book is a timely call to action: the Great Commission will not be fulfilled by goers alone. Faithful senders—churches who commit to hold the rope—are essential to sustaining the laborers God is sending into the harvest.
Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A well-articulated vision for missionary care for the local church
“Martin initiates a much-needed conversation on the role and relationship between the local church and missionary-sending agencies. Having served nine years internationally through a sending agency, I can affirm that what Ryan proposes is what on-the-field missionaries desire (and wish someone would tell their home church). Having worked over ten years domestically in the local church, Martin offers a compelling vision of how the local church can care for their sent-out ones.
Martin does a wonderful job of communicating how the sending agency (if there is one) and the home church can partner to best support their missionaries on the field. After providing biblical and theological foundations to support his vision (3 John 5-8; Philippians 2:25-30; Acts 14:26-28), he offers practical advice on believers can "Hold the Rope" for their sent-out ones.
I highly encourage every church senior pastor and missions pastor to read this book. It would be particularly helpful for church leadership to read and discuss with those about to be sent out from their church.” —lionbait
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Practical & Biblical - A Must Read for the Church!
“Churches are often at a loss of how to support those sent from their church to the field. They support them financially, yet nothing beyond that. In Holding the Rope, Ryan lays out practical and biblical advice for the Church and how the Church can support those in the field. A short, yet convicting read. I would highly recommend this book for the Church!” —Will Dunlap
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A challenge to true missionary care which is a commitment to deep relationship and sacrifice.
“Dr. Martin does an excellent job drawing from his personal experience as a missions pastor and his research of missionaries, agencies, and churches to challenge the church to a deeper role in missionary care. As an MK myself, I especially appreciated the sections related to care of MKs. It was often assumed by the church that I was a mature Christian simply because I was an MK. The reality is I was not a Christian at all while on the field with my parents. What I needed from the church was discipleship, but I more often received the pressure to be a discipler. Ryan encourages the church to not put a "missionary burden" on MKs, but to care for them as kids who are prone to identity crisis and doubts about the faith that their parents have given their lives for. This is a great book for missions pastors and missions minded lay leaders alike who want to be a true supporter of those who have been sent out to make disciples of all nations.” —Amazon Customer
Free Book Resources
These resources are mentioned in the book, Holding the Rope: How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones.
Pre-Field Care Components
On-the-Field Care Components
Post-Field Care Components
Receiving Returned Missionaries Well (document from The Summit Church)