Sending churches are not just important to ABWE’s process of sending missionaries; they are essential. We work in equal partnership with our missionaries and their local sending church.

We believe that the local church is the true sender; not us (Acts 13:1-3). We exist to help connect more than 500 like-minded sending churches, all supporting our doctrinal commitments, send identified and called cross-cultural workers short-term or long-term to serve on evangelistic church planting teams across the 84 countries we serve. The Great Commission is too big to do alone.

Our Commitment to Missionaries

ABWE commits to serving missionaries by:

• Faithfully and knowledgeably praying for their missionaries
• Assisting missionaries throughout the pre-field partnership development process
• Consulting with churches and their missionaries before making any major ministry changes
• Providing an annual review to churches of missionaries’ fulfillment of responsibilities
• Providing training for missionaries prior to field departure in preparation for future ministry
• Providing periodic communications with ideas to aid the ministry of local churches to their missionaries
• Providing resources including Message Magazine, The Missions Podcast, and annual financial statements on request

Our Commitment to Sending Churches

ABWE commits to serving sending churches by:

• Communicating accurately the state of need in the world and keeping the church informed for effective prayer for world missions
• Challenging the church regarding its role in the task of world missions by promoting missions and the work of missionaries and national partners
• Evaluating missionaries and ministries, giving a clear report for accountability and stewardship of all resources
• Coordinating and overseeing the work of missions, leading to effective teamwork and maximum impact of the gospel
• Strategizing and planning for optimum evangelistic coverage of the nations and peoples of the world, resulting in church-planting movements and missions movements
• Caring for missionaries and their families on behalf of the church and facilitating the care provided by their sending and supporting churches
• Training missionaries for optimum cross-cultural influence as they go into all the world

Our Invitation to Churches

ABWE invites churches to join the sending process by:

• Faithfully and knowledgeably pray for their missionary; regularly keep their ministry and needs before the church family
• Work closely with ABWE in assisting, encouraging and advising the missionary
• Provide logistic support for your missionary throughout their pre-field ministry
• Assist the missionary in finding opportunities to present their ministry in like-minded churches
• Financially support their missionary as generously and sacrificially as possible, considering their own sent missionary to be a priority in missionary giving
• Provide opportunities for ministry that coincide with the missionary’s pre-field schedule in other churches
• License or ordain male cross-cultural workers when necessary
• Publicly commission your missionary before departure for language school or the field

Take the Next Step in Sending

For more information on how churches can commit to send through ABWE, check out our long-term missionary Sending Church Partnership Form.

Pastors and church leaders are also encouraged to attend our 24-Hour Demo event, where you can learn practical ways to engage your church family and come alongside those God is calling to reach the nations.