Stronger Together:
The Power of Building Your Support Group
Support groups serve as a vital bridge between the Partner, their sending church, and the mission organization—forming a lifeline of prayer, encouragement, and practical assistance. Reports sent in by supporting groups consistently show how much they are encouraged by their work for God’s kingdom. Support group members aren’t just bystanders; they are active participants in God’s mission, strengthened and blessed as they support those they’ve sent out.
At Interserve, we recognize the profound impact of support groups and strongly encourage every Partner to establish one before being deployed to the mission field. Whether it’s mission teams, church leaders, individuals, or the Partners themselves, everyone involved benefits from this network of support. Open conversations about the practical aspects of a Partner’s assignment are essential—not only to prevent misunderstandings but also in relationship-building and problem-solving.
This resource page is designed to spark meaningful discussions between Partners and their supporting communities. It highlights the different kinds of support a Partner may need—spiritual, emotional, financial, and practical—both before deployment and while in their country of service. More than just a guide, this resource will help you cultivate a strong support system that will help you thrive as you partner with God in His work in the world.
Tap each block below or scroll down to learn more
Sending Entities
Sustained by a NetworkSENDING ENTITIES
Sustained by a NetworkKey Areas of Care for Partners
Essential Areas of SupportKey Areas of Care for Partners
Essential Areas of SupportBuilding a Strong Support Group
How to Lay a Strong FoundationBuilding a Strong Support Group
How to Lay a Strong FoundationConclusions & Resources
Final Thoughts and MaterialsConclusions & Resources
Final Thoughts and Materials
Key Areas of Care for Partners
Below are the essential areas of support that can sustain you as a Partner, allowing you to focus on your calling with confidence and peace.
1. Prayer Support: Your Spiritual Lifeline
"But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:32 NASB 1977) Prayer is essential for all people to work, live, and serve successfully. This is especially apparent when considering the life of a Partner, someone who has intentionally and publicly decided to engage in cross-cultural ministry. Putting someone in charge of maintaining prayer support for you helps to make sure that you are constantly being covered in prayer. A Prayer Coordinator plays a crucial role in: With a strong prayer network, you’ll never have to carry the weight of your mission alone. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7 NASB 1977) Clear and consistent communication is key to maintaining strong relationships with your supporters. Newsletters are a primary way to keep people engaged, but writing and managing them can be overwhelming. A Newsletter Coordinator can help by: By keeping communication flowing, your supporters stay connected to your journey and remain actively engaged in your mission. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6 NASB 1977) Life as a Partner involves frequent travel, transitions, and practical tasks that can be difficult and stressful to manage alone. From airport runs to financial paperwork, a Logistics Coordinator can help ease the burden by: Because these logistics can be time-consuming, consider splitting up these tasks by delegating specific roles to multiple people—one for travel, another for medical needs, and someone to manage mail and administrative concerns. "Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’" (Matthew 6:31 NASB 1977) Raising and maintaining financial support while living cross-culturally can be very stressful. It can be alleviating to have someone designated to assist with this aspect. A Finance Coordinator can provide essential oversight by: Having a trusted individual handle these responsibilities allows you to focus on your ministry with confidence. "Jesus therefore said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’" (John 20:21 NASB 1977) Times of loneliness, discouragement, and even depression are not uncommon experiences while in the field and are often exacerbated when living in an unfamiliar space. Having someone intentionally encourage you can make a world of difference. A Support Coordinator encourages you to stay healthy spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy by: If you are in a mentoring relationship, you might consider discussing with them about continuing their role while you are serving cross-culturally. Whoever you choose, it is highly recommended to create a schedule of communication for regular check-ins in order to have accountability and to encourage you in your ministry. "He who troubles his own house will inherit wind." (Proverbs 11:29 NASB 1977) Whether or not your family is supportive of your decision to serve cross-culturally, they remain an important part of your life. Having someone willing to check in on your family back at home and interact with your family can help reduce the amount of stress (and even guilt) you may carry with you. Every family dynamic is different and it is important to note that your family support coordinator isn’t meant to replace you at gatherings but perhaps their role may be to check in periodically on close family members (e.g. your adult children, your parents) and offer practical help. If you have kids, they can assist with school preparations for your Home Assignments, or help your teenagers find answers to college and university questions, or perhaps it could be help with enrollment in a TCK re-entry camp. Other roles could include helping you plan family vacations or to get gifts to your family members for Christmas and Birthdays (so you don’t have to pay for international shipping fees). Having someone invested in your family will help show your family that you care and are thinking about about them, even from afar. A Family Support Coordinator ensures your loved ones feel cared for by: By showing intentionality in caring for your family with the help of a designated support, you can maintain those connections even while serving cross-culturally. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." (Psalm 32:8 NASB 1977) Just before leaving for the field and returning home are two of the most emotionally and logistically challenging phases of cross-cultural work. A dedicated supporter to help coordinate events and encourage you throughout your journey is invaluable. A Deployment & Re-Entry Coordinator provides practical support by: With the right support in place, and encouraging you in the process will help you stay on track and organized.
✅ Gathering and distributing your prayer requests and updates
✅ Mobilizing people to pray for you, your ministry, and the people you serve
✅ Sharing encouragement by letting you know how others are praying for you2. Communication Support: Staying Connected
✅ Encouraging you to write regularly and assisting you in the writing process
✅ Proofreading and ensuring the update is both polished and secure before distribution
✅ Managing supporter databases and ensuring effective delivery
✅ Relaying responses and messages from supporters3. Logistics Support: Managing the Details
✅ Arranging transportation and accommodations
✅ Managing medical insurance and appointments
✅ Handling mail, taxes, and other administrative tasks4. Financial Support: Ensuring Stability
✅ Monitoring your financial support levels
✅ Acting as a power-of-attorney or local banking contact
✅ Assisting in emergency financial situations
✅ Communicating financial needs when support fluctuates5. Moral & Spiritual Support: Strength for the Journey
✅ Offering encouragement, honest and constructive feedback, and spiritual accountability
✅ Providing a listening ear and confidential support6. Family Support: Strengthening Your Loved Ones
✅ Checking in on family members at home
✅ Assisting with school needs or re-entry programs for your children
✅ Helping with practical matters like gifts and family vacations7. Deployment & Re-Entry Support: Navigating Transitions Well
✅ Helping organize farewell and return events
✅ Assisting you with with speaking engagements, presentations and church visits
✅ Keeping track of engagements and scheduling meetings
Building a Strong Support Group
There’s no single formula for building a support group, but certain principles can make the process smoother and more effective. Here’s how to lay a strong foundation:
Pray First
Before making any decisions, cover the process in prayer. Ask God for wisdom, open doors, and clarity on the right people for your team. Pray and trust God’s guidance every step of the way.
Prioritize Relationships
Asking someone for support means that you are asking them to be in a continual and intentional relationship with you. Make sure that you are ready to give to the relationship as well as to receive from it.
Be Prepared to Accept “No”
Even if you feel certain that God has affirmed someone would be a perfect fit, the reality is that some people may just not feel up to it. Respect their decision and don’t press them too hard. Perhaps they may need more time to consider, or perhaps they may just not want to serve in this way.
Create a Clear Plan
When inviting someone to join your team, be specific about expectations.
If you are asking them to be a moral and spiritual supporter, discuss how often you would like to communicate, any worries or concerns you may have, and what has or has not worked for you in the past. If you are asking someone to handle your finances or be your power-of-attorney, outline when you would like them to be legally signed as such, have an open discussion about your finances, and discuss communication preferences and expectations. Discuss any emergency situations as well as your expectations upon your return. If you are asking someone to receive your mail, clarify whether they should open it, how often they should update you, and when you will get the mail from them.
Be specific and invite your supporters to be open and honest with you about their preferences, limitations and boundaries. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and helps everyone work effectively.
By building your support team with intentionality, clarity, and prayer, you create a strong foundation that will sustain you as you serve cross-culturally.
Final Thoughts
By now, you can see how vital a strong support team is—not just for financial support but for practical and emotional well-being. While raising funds is often the primary concern of Partners before leaving for their country of service, having a dedicated team of trusted individuals in place to take care of other support needs will help with other practical difficulties once you’re away and physically separated from friends and family.
In addition to having people help with the practical challenges as you live abroad, having specific people available to talk to, pray with, listen to can be invaluable when you get to your new home and have fewer friends around than you’re likely used to.
As you build your team, keep us at Interserve informed so we can also support and pray for them.
Resource materials:
Friend Raising: Building a Missonary Support Team That Lasts (Betty Barnett)
Serving as Senders (Neal Pirolo)
Blessings as you begin the process of building your own support team!
Here are other links that might be helpful to you: