We’re missionaries—but we also support missionaries. Here’s why.
By Jack and Simcha Gilbert, appointees to Spain—
On a recent trip out of state, we stayed with a good friend and supporter. During one of our conversations, this friend mentioned a missionary his family financially supports.
"Oh, we know them,” Jack said. “We support them, too."
This surprised our friend. He responded, "I didn't know missionaries supported other missionaries! You're already in missions, so why do you support other missionaries?"
This is not the first time we have heard this question, so we thought we would share our answer. There are several reasons:
It is part of the Great Commission.
Christians are commanded to make disciples of all nations. This first means sharing the gospel and walking with others in our own community. Yet, we can also take part in seeing God's kingdom spread in places we will never go ourselves when we partner with others who are going. One missionary we support just called us to say that they had finally arrived on the mission field. What a joy it is to have played a part in that!
It is a joy to share in the spiritual bounty.
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul writes, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." When we hear news from the missionaries we support of the gospel being shared, churches being planted, and lives being transformed in Christ, we rejoice. Seeing God's kingdom spread is a great return for our investment in missions.
We invest in what we believe in.
We once heard on the radio of a certain politician who raised over $6 million for his campaign in a little less than 24 hours! How can someone raise so much money, so quickly, for one cause? It's because people believed in that politician's cause, and people invest in what they believe in. We believe in the gospel, and we are investing in that. There are many things we could do with our money, but we take joy in making eternal investments in the lives of others by helping to send faithful messengers of Christ to share the gospel and make disciples. We believe in this so much that we named our youngest daughter Joanna after a woman who helped support Jesus and the disciples (Luke 8:3).
In the end, we support missionaries for the same reasons that many of you do. We love Jesus, and we want others to know and grow in him. For those of you who support a missionary through prayer and finances, we hope these reasons will encourage you and give you joy. While you are at home living out your faith and sharing the gospel with friends and family, you are also going with your missionary, in a sense, to the ends of the earth.
Your generous gifts to SEND missionaries and ministries bring the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard. Click above to give.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
