Going on to the mission field for the first time is full of new experiences. We’ve been in Mexico for six months now, and the list of things I’ve learned in that time is as long as a Mexican bank queue (but also quite funny in some places!). As well as learning how to eat a shredded tongue taco, one important issue I’ve had to think about is what to say when you write a supporters newsletter.
The difficulty is different people read your newsletter for different reasons. Some go straight to the ‘family news’ section so they can hear of the latest developments. Others want to see pictures so they can get a better view in their mind of what our life is like here. Others are concerned about the work we are doing, and are keen for an update on activity and results. All of these are great reasons, and we are grateful to God that people are interested in us and what we are doing so they can support us through their prayers and giving.
But we recently had to ask the question “Do we communicate that we’re finding it tough, and if so, how?”
2 Corinthians 1:8-11 was a great help for me as I thought through this issue. In the context of speaking about the God of comfort and the sharing of comfort, Paul says,
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Words like “utterly burdened”, “despaired of life”, “sentence of death” and “deadly peril” certainly did not apply to the situation we were in, but we were feeling worn down and caught in a struggle. However, we were encouraged that Paul did not hide his difficulties from his brothers and sisters, but rather was keen that they know the difficulty he faced as he ministered in Asia.
We were also encouraged because of the two reasons Paul gives for passing on the news of difficult times. Firstly, he wants the Corinthians not only to be informed about the difficulties, but also about the reliance on God that the difficulties have produced. This reliance is based on the historical fact of the resurrection and is a reliance that produces a hope that such a deliverance will occur again. Isn’t it wonderful that in the face of difficulty, the resurrection of Jesus is the source of reliance and hope!
Secondly, Paul wants the Corinthians to be informed so that their prayers are encouraged and increase. As we read Paul’s prayers throughout his letters, phrases like “we thank God for you” are common. Here, Paul is encouraging his brothers and sisters to pray similar prayers as they remember his afflictions, his deliverance from those afflictions and the active part their prayers played in his deliverance.
Paul is in no doubt that prayer is active, powerful and answered.
We ended up sharing our difficulties and frustrations in our prayer letter, and I think it was a good thing to do. Not only are our supporters better informed and more aware of the reality of our lives here, but we know they are praying for us—not just for the situation to ease, but for our reliance on God and our hope in his good plans for us.
Thank you so much, Peter – what a helpful post for all of us, missionaries, staffworkers (my husband is in uni ministry!) and anyone else who writes regular letters to supporters. Thanks so much for reminding us of the way and the reasons that Paul speaks about his difficulties in ministry: not to moan, but to encourage and to ask for prayer. I’ll be bookmarking this one!
Seconded: this too was a great letter home!
Agree with everything in the first comment. My prayers would be more focussed on the realities then as well as praying generally for family, language acquisition etc! God bless you all. You are prayed for every Tuesday morning!
Thanks Peter. This was a helpful reflection from the Scriptures on writing to supporters.
I’ve been having to wrestle with some of these things too as I’ve been writing supporter’s letter this year.
Another thing that I’ve had to wrestle with is pride. It can be tempting to include just positive uplifting stories rather than the struggles in life and ministry (so that people think well of me). Recognising this, I’ve sought to reflect more of the reality, which includes both ups and downs. This takes humility, but I think it is helpful to give my supporters specific things to pray for, as well as a more accurate view of the nature of ministry life.
May God be glorified through us in all things as we depend upon and serve Him.