Reflection and remembrance are important Christian disciplines that should be done on a regular basis. However, in the urgency of life they are often overlooked. As a missionary puts these disciplines on the back burner they might find themselves drifting from the core of what God intends for them. As a sending church looking to care for our missionaries, it is vital that we ask questions that bring about reflection and remembrance. This resource will provide a list of customizable questions that can be utilized over video calls or in written form with missionaries to intentionally care for and help them stay the course of what God is calling them to.

Personal reflection is so important. The following is a list of questions that missionaries can ask themselves regularly, or for those from the sending church to ask missionaries. Consider asking these questions once a year or at least at the start of each new season of work or life.

Personal

• How am I really doing? Spiritually? Mentally? Physically?

• Is Jesus still real to me? Am I listening for his voice? Can I sit silently in his presence? 

Reflection

• What were milestone moments from the past year, both positive and negative? Have I celebrated the wins? Have I grieved the losses?

• Where do I see fruit not just in my work, but in my character? In what ways has God grown me?

• Where do I see a lack of fruit in my character? Is there a besetting sin or pattern behind this? 

Emotional Health

• What was life-giving (credit)? What was draining (debit)?

• Am I genuinely happy to be here? If not, why? What about my family?

• What am I taking too seriously? Am I able to laugh at myself? If not, why? 

• Were there any situations from the past year in which I did not feel I could be honest about at the time in the way I communicated my feelings, needs, and desires?  Why was that?

Calling

• Is God still calling us to be here? Have we processed this with anyone? Has anyone affirmed us?

• What am I running to for refuge instead of Christ? What am I running from?

• Are there any sins or temptations for which I need to confess in order to receive forgiveness and healing?

Relationships

• Have I expressed gratitude and affirmation to my family, teammates, and national friends?

• How is my spouse really doing? Spiritually? Mentally? Physically?

• How are my children really doing? Spiritually? Mentally? Physically? Educationally?

• How have I lived in community? How have I allowed myself to become isolated? 

• Where do I need accountability? 

• How are my teammates really doing? Are there any conflicts that need to be resolved?

• How are my relationships with nationals? What keeps them from going deeper? 

Looking Forward

• What words would I use to sum up the past year? What words do I hope will sum up the next year?

• How do I want to grow in the coming year? As a person? As a spouse? As a parent? As a teammate? As a friend? 

• What books do I want to read in the coming year?

• How do I need rest? How will I get rest? What about my family?

• Do I need further debriefing? If yes, how will I seek that out? 

Next Steps

The journey toward sending well happens one step at a time. Here are three ways you can continue moving upstream:

1. As a missionary, how could you regularly implement these questions into the rhythm of your life. As a missions leader or advocate, how could you regularly bring these questions to your missionaries?

2. To followup these personal questions, download or print, “Strategic Questions Missionaries Should Ask Regularly,” for a similar resource focused on vision and strategy.

3. As a missionary, share these questions with your sending church or team leader. Get specific about which questions YOU should be asked regularly.