Understanding ROI in Missionary Support and Service

Several of my more recent posts have addressed concerns from some on the field that relate to how missionaries are perceived by individuals, supporting churches, and sending organizations. These expectations and misconceptions can lead to a demoralization of the mission force, especially among women.

Today, I want to address the issue of the secular concept of “return on investment (ROI).” I call this a secular concept because nowhere in Scripture do we find that the Church gives to support ministry with a specific “return” in mind. I suspect that many of you say, “Oh, but what about the parable of the talents?” Okay, let’s talk about it.

Talents rewarded talents lost

Found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus speaks to the crowd about the kingdom of heaven. Prior to the parable we’ll discuss, he shares one about ten virgins who are living in expectation of the bridegroom’s return. As they wait, those who are rewarded are the ones who remained vigilant in keeping oil in their lamps and the wicks trimmed.

Following this, we have the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where a man entrusts his servants with his property before leaving on a journey. Those rewarded at his return were the ones who rightly used the talents to produce more for their master.

Though this can be viewed as a return on investment by the man in his servants’ work, it was not about the amount of money given to each servant and the comparable return, but about the servant’s attitude toward the master and his view of the talent given. The man rewarded each servant who used what was given to produce more, irrespective of the amount given.

If we want to relate this to the support given those on mission, then we recognize that the person is active in service for the Lord and honor that, not in how much we conceivably “receive” in return.

Support for others in the early church

If we move to the book of Acts and consider how the church supported kingdom work in the first century, we need look no further than the Apostle Paul. He was supported by believers along the way, from his going out from the church in Antioch, to the provision of a home base by Lydia, to the Ephesian believers who reached out to him as he sailed to Rome. If there was any expectation of an ROI, we have no record of it. Instead, they knew God had called Paul to reach the Gentiles, and they supported him in that task. We have reports of Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch to give a report, but not in view of accountability for their support, but that they might rejoice with them in hearing answers to their support in prayer.

If someone wanted to see a return on investment in the ministry of Paul, they need look no further than the gift of the Macedonian and Achaian believers to the church in Jerusalem. Knowing that times were hard for believers in Judea, these new Gentile believers who had come to faith through Paul now sent with him a generous gift. Though the secular world may not see this as a return on investment, I do. Because they blessed and supported Paul in his ministry, they, in turn, were blessed by those who came to faith through his witness.

Avoid the ROI trap

Missionaries often fall into the mindset of unworthiness when asked to share in person or write to supporting churches. How can we make it sound like their giving has been worth the sacrifice? Can we ever do enough to justify their financial support? Is it only the husband’s work that gets recognized by our supporters? What value do they put on my role as wife, mother, and as a woman?

Let’s go back to the parable of the talents. Who commends the servant? His master. For those who used their talents to a profit, the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25: 21, 23). It’s important to note that the master said the exact same thing to both servants—the one entrusted with five talents and the one entrusted with two. It wasn’t the size of the talent that mattered, but the faithfulness of the servant in using it.

While we may receive financial support from local churches and individuals, our ultimate “master” is the Lord. The work we do is to build His kingdom and for His favor. Fellow believers are simply His instruments of support in the global task. That’s why when the harvest comes, as Jesus says, the one who plants and the one who harvests rejoice together. Not all can go, but for those who stay behind, they are part of the work you do through prayer and giving.

If we consider this when we give our reports, then we can better point to how God has used the two-dollar gift as well as the thousand-dollar gift in the task of making Christ known. This year, that gift helped you to get established on the field, to set up a base of operations, to make a home. In coming years, you can share how their gifts have kept you on the field and allowed you to speak into the life of your neighbor, a school teacher, or even a congregation. Years may come when you can share how the local church is praying for their church, the American church, and asking the Lord to move in their midst as he has in your place of service.

You are not looking for a well-done from anyone on this earth, because you are not working for them, but for your Father in heaven. The more you engage your supporters in the mission, the less you’re intimidated to share. Leave it to the Father to judge both their motives in giving and yours in service. In the end, it’s His well-done that will make it all worthwhile.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Mission Monday post, click HERE, or check out these other posts on expectations in ministry: No Clocking Out in Missions, Don’t Forget the Church, Small Groups Big Support, Telling Your Stories, The Sending Celebration, and Trusting God in the Going and Sending.