No one wants a crisis to happen to anyone, especially for our missionaries. Unfortunately, a crisis is more likely to happen than not. It is much more difficult to respond to a crisis unprepared than it is when you are prepared. This resource will give helpful ideas for what to have prepared to be ready for a crisis and how to help missionaries during a crisis.

When we send our members out to the nations we never desire them to experience a crisis. However, the reality is that at some point and on some level they will experience a crisis on the field. How can we prepare for this as a sending church?

Possible Crisis Points (a non-exhaustive list)

• An unexpected sickness or death of a family member requiring them to return to the states

• Losing financial support to the point their agency requires them to come home

• Natural disasters

• Marriage issues

• Terrorism

• Children’s education issues

• Information breach

• Moral failure

• Government unrest 

• Hostage or Kidnapping 

• Other Scenarios?

How do you prepare for this as a local sending church?

In many cases the missions organization (if sent by one) will have a contingency plan but even then, once they are back on their home soil, you have an important role to play, whether it means a quick and unexpected departure for your missionaries or helping them get through the crisis on the field.

In our missionary care model for churches we recommend that each church establishes a Crisis Team. We would recommend that you determine what different roles you need on the team, recruit for those roles and then have at least one meeting to establish some ground rules, communication channels, processes, etc.

There may be some situations where the entire team is needed but the way this typically plays out is that the mission leader would have timely access to the team members they need for that particular crisis.

One good training tip could be to practice various field crisis scenarios with the team in the first meeting in order to help them prepare for possible real life situations.

Here is a list of potential roles or functions you would need for a crisis team in your church.

Communication Person - Will the crisis need to be communicated to the church? If so how? What about the news and television stations if it becomes an international incident? What will be your message? 

Executive Pastor or Finance Team Member - If you do not have budget for emergencies in your mission budget then you need someone who can give financial permission to set things in motion (hotel, travel, etc) in case of a travel need to the field, travel back to the states, stateside housing, transportation, medical, etc.

Medical - Is there a medical person who can give you insight and advice on potential medical issues that need to be addressed?

Evacuation or Displacement - Is there a person who has the experience and background in logistics or security? There are also companies that you can contract with to help you in evacuation, if needed. Many mission organizations require their missionaries to have this type of insurance before they leave for the field.

Counseling - Does your church have a counseling department?  If not, is there a counseling center that you could contract with to help assess the issues at hand and provide help as needed?

Pastor/Elder Representative - Keeping the church leadership informed is helpful and important.

Travel Agent - You may have a travel agent that you use for your short-term trips. Consider talking with them and asking them if they would be willing to help you in a crisis situation.

Home Team - In our proposed missionary care structure you would have a home team that helps with their arrival, housing, transportation, children, etc. Having someone on this team that can serve as your point person at the time of a crisis is important. 

Member of their Advocacy Team - Each Advocacy team should have a designated point person for crisis. In many cases they may be the one that first notifies you as a leader about the crisis. They also may be the one that has the deepest relationship with the missionary. Have a point person from the Advocacy team that can ensure care for them during the crisis and afterwards.

Conclusion

No one wants their missionaries to experience a crisis. Being prepared can help all involved provide care and support. 

Next Steps

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

1. Take a poll of your church’s missionaries. Which of them have a crisis management plan in place? If they do not, connect with their missions organization to get one started.

2. Who could be a part of a crisis care team for your church?

3. Ask other missions leaders you know how they have handled a crisis with their missionaries.