Support Women on the Mission Field with More Than Money

When we think of missions, our minds often go to the brave and bold men and women crossing oceans and cultures to proclaim the gospel where Christ is not yet known. But far from the spotlight are women missionaries wives, mothers, singles serving faithfully in difficult places, often in silence and isolation.

Behind the beauty of the calling are real struggles. Loneliness. Cultural fatigue. Marital tension. Childrearing challenges. Emotional weariness. These women, sent by churches and loved ones, often feel forgotten by those who once cheered them on.

The stories are real: Jane, who left the mission field for love and found herself unequally yoked. Donna, heartbroken by betrayal, seeking refuge in her parents’ home. Rachel, overwhelmed and spiritually spent, returning from the field with her marriage and faith barely intact. These women aren’t anomalies they’re just the ones who broke.

So how can we as the sending church hold the rope for them?

The apostle Paul gives us a clear model in Romans 15, as he asks for three kinds of support: refreshment, prayer, and help. If we want to be more than spectators in missions, and truly support our sisters overseas, we must do the same.

Refresh Them by Your Presence

“I appeal to you… that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.” Romans 15:30, 32

Mission work can be thrilling, but also incredibly isolating especially for women. A missionary woman might go days or weeks without a deep, honest conversation in her heart language. Her culture fatigue may be mounting, her marriage stretched thin, and her friendships limited or nonexistent.

She needs more than updates and prayer cards. She needs presence.

• What if someone from her church visited her field not just to check on her ministry, but to check on her?

• What if a pastor and his wife came once a year, offering not critique but comfort?

• What if, during furlough, she had a loving family waiting to host her, asking, “How are you really doing?”

One church sets up monthly video calls between a missionary and a few faithful women back home. Another sends care packages that include handwritten notes and favorite snacks. These gestures may seem small, but they whisper to her weary heart: You are not forgotten. We are with you. We still care.

Strive with Them in Prayer

“Strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.” Romans 15:30

Prayer is not filler it is fuel. It is not a courtesy it is a co-labor in the gospel.

Churches that support missionaries financially but rarely lift them in prayer are missing the most vital support of all. Women on the field need prayer warriors just as much as they need funding.

Here’s how you can pray for her specifically and powerfully:

If she’s single:

• Pray for deep contentment in Christ and protection from loneliness or temptation.

• Pray for strong friendships and gospel-centered community.

• If she desires marriage, pray for a godly man who shares her heart for mission.

If she’s married:

• Pray for mutual love and respect in her marriage, and strength to navigate ministry as a team.

• Pray for wise communication, spiritual intimacy, and financial wisdom.

• Pray for joy in submission, encouragement, and support for her husband’s calling.

If she’s a mother:

• Pray for patience and gospel-centered parenting.

• Pray for balance between ministry and family life.

• Pray for her children to grow in faith and godliness, despite cross-cultural challenges.

And don’t just pray in secret tell her you’re praying. Ask for updates. Request specific petitions. Let her know she’s not laboring alone.

A 2022 Lifeway Research study found that 89% of missionaries feel encouraged when they know their home church is actively praying for them, and 62% said prayer was the single most impactful form of support. Never underestimate your intercession.

Help Them on Their Journey

“I hope… to be helped on my journey there by you.” Romans 15:24

Support isn’t one-size-fits-all. It requires knowing her needs and those change with seasons.

Here are some practical ways to help:

• Books and Resources: Gift her commentaries, devotionals, or gospel-centered reads. If she’s homeschooling, ask what materials might help.

• Childcare Support: Consider flying out to help her attend a retreat, conference, or date night with her husband.

• Setups and Intros: For the single sister desiring marriage, introduce her to a godly man who shares her vision.

• Transportation and Housing: When she’s stateside, offer a car, a furnished space, or even a retreat away from it all.

• Listening Ear: Be someone she can email or call during hard seasons not to fix, but to listen and weep and pray.

One missionary recounted how a woman in her church always lets her borrow an SUV during furloughs. Another family hosted her for weeks, welcoming her like one of their own. These aren’t grand gestures they’re gospel love in action.

Be a Fellow Worker in the Gospel

Paul described his partners in mission not as donors, but as fellow workers (Philippians 4:3). He reminded the Philippians that the fruit of his ministry increased to their credit (Philippians 4:17). When you refresh, pray for, and help a woman overseas, you don’t just support her ministry you become a part of it.

And one day, in eternity, you might sing alongside not only your sister in Christ, but also someone who came to faith through her witness and your prayers.

So hold the rope. Ask hard questions. Listen without judgment. Send the note, buy the ticket, make the call. Don't let distance or busyness keep you from being the hands and feet of Christ to her.

And as you do, you may find your own heart drawn deeper into the mission field, discovering that true gospel partnership is not a transaction, but a shared calling a co-laboring for the name of Jesus among the nations.

Share this with someone in your church’s missions ministry, or subscribe to our newsletter for more ways to deepen your global gospel partnerships.