GHI Spring Newsletter 2026 – How to Encourage a Missionary
GHI Spring Newsletter March 2026
How to Encourage a Missionary
It was a message I almost missed. Our partner Diane had sent some pictures of her work at a children’s school deep in rural Zambia. It was a busy week. I had not replied yet. Diane called about another matter, but before we hung up, she asked if I'd received the photos she'd been sending. I had, and I told her so. What followed surprised me.
She told me how much it meant to her when I sent little notes in reply to her photos. I’m not sending elaborate messages, just a simple, "Wow, the crops look amazing." Or, "What a great photo of your team." That was enough. To someone thousands of miles from home, pouring her life into a community with no electricity, no running water, and no safety net, knowing that someone saw her work and cared made all the difference.
I didn’t know it mattered so much or how it made her feel.
"Listen to our stories. People are so busy."
- Diane, Director Children's Ministry Agape Farm
The Hidden Weight of Missions Work
Missions work can be exhilarating, going out to serve in the unique way God has put your heart. Witnessing life change and serving to expand the kingdom of God, there are times full of joy and so much hope. But in the stretches between, it can feel heavy and lonely. Many missionaries and mission leaders grapple quietly with anxiety, burnout, and chronic stress, serving communities with urgent needs for food, shelter, medical care, and education while working with limited resources. Some are far from the support systems and familiar culture. Others serving in their home country carry their own emotional strain.
At Global Horizons, we care deeply about the mission projects we serve and the people leading them. We know you do too. Encouragement is a powerful gift we can offer, at any age and doesn't require a big budget. It's something anyone can do, often in just a few minutes. It's another way you can be part of something God is doing.
Before we get to the tips, let's hear Diane's story.
Diane, One Missionary's Story
Diane is the director of Children's Ministry Agape Farm (CMAF) in Zambia, located in a rural village far "out in the bush" where there’s no electricity, no plumbing, no clean water. What they do have is a school for 600 children who would otherwise have no access to education at all. The nearest school is much too far away for young children to walk.
In rural Zambia, jobs are scarce. Many families plant gardens and rely on the rainy season to produce food, struggling during droughts. Some sell veggies on the roadside. Many parents have not attended formal education, and don't read or write. Agape Farm School is a doorway to a future of opportunities for the children, which their parents did not have.
"I had hints throughout life. When I was five, I told my parents I would go to Africa. Years later, an evangelist pointed at me during a conference and said, 'You will live in Africa.' As an adult, I was offered a job promotion in my counseling position, but I felt God knocking on my heart, so I answered his call instead. I saved for two years, and in 1991, I bought a one-way ticket to Zambia. I sold everything. I never regretted it. It was like heaven came into my heart. It was that strong."
Diane began by teaching at a Bible College and working with orphans and street children. Then a local chief, who had accepted Christ, offered her prime farmland near a river. "I asked for 10–15 acres. He gave me 1,000."
"Send little notes. Reply back. Listen to our stories. People are so busy. Use your gifts. Every single one of us has something to offer. Be a family of God, sharing in a mission. We only have 24 hours each day. Choose how you spend them."
Diane asked us to share these specific prayer requests:
- Protection for her and her team.
- Courage, wisdom, and sincerity, "that it's all about God."
- Growth to expand school programs for the children.
- Financial support.
6 Ways to Encourage a Missionary (or Missions Leader)
1. Pray for each other - Ask for their prayer requests and send a note: "I prayed for ______. How are things going?" Share about your own struggles, too, and ask them to pray for you. It's more relational and friendly.
2. Send a text or quick email - Write simple words of encouragement.
Share a photo, “Thought of you when I saw this.”
Have children in your life? Let them make art or write joyful notes. Snap a photo and send it.
Send a link to a worship service, a recorded prayer in your voice, or a moving song.
Share a list of uplifting verses or quotes for hard days.
3. Read and Reply - Sign up for their newsletter and write back. Even a short reply or asking a question to learn more would be meaningful.
4. Listen - Meet over a video call or for coffee when in town. Ask: "How is it going?” or “ What drew you to working as a missionary or missions leader?" Take it up a level by being a trusted friend willing to hear the challenges.
5. Join a team — No experience needed. Each mission project has a team to help with mailings, social media, connecting mission leaders to new people, offering prayer and encouragement, and more.
6. Support – Monthly giving is one of the most powerful ways to help a missionary "stay the course."
Sometimes it's as simple as replying to a photo of the crops. Diane reminded me of that.
By Trudy Barsness, Director of Communications for Global Horizons Inc.
Choose a mission project from the list and visit their page.
Use the contact form to sign up for their mailing list or send a note:
Want to be matched with a mission project to encourage?
Email us: info@globalhz.org
Learn more about Diane's work and sign up for CMAF's newsletter:
New Partner Projects
Over the past few months, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with four new projects. We’re excited to introduce you to them.
God's Power Gospel Books - Ghana
Equipping missionaries, young people, and rural communities with Christian resources through printing, translation, and outreach distribution.
Visit: God's Power Gospel Books
Mt. Zion - Tribal Children's Literacy Program (TCLP) - Philippines
Introducing tribal groups to Jesus, advocating for tribal peoples in the community, and providing child scholarships for education.
Visit: Mt. Zion - TCLP
School of Wisdom (SOW) - SE Asia
Sowing seeds of faith - Christ-centered education for children and evangelism in rural villages.
Visit: School of Wisdom
Transformation in North Africa via Cooking & Culture (TNACC) - N. Africa
A bridge for cultural exchange and transformation through a multi-pronged approach - social, spiritual, and economic.
Visit: TNACC
News from the Office
We are excited to welcome Delores Diggs to the Board of Directors for Global Horizons Inc.
Originally from Liberia, West Africa, Delores is a Senior Business Analyst with UnitedHealth Group, specializing in system implementation and process improvement. She is passionate about ministry and gave her life to Christ at age twelve, a foundation that continues to shape her commitment to service and community impact.
Delores was introduced to Global Horizons through Professor Miller, her academic advisor during her undergraduate studies at North Central University. She completed her internship with the organization in 2021, working on the Knowledge Box project and traveling to West Africa with her mother to support device installation within a library system. She is driven by a love for systems, structure, and solutions that help organizations and communities thrive.
We’re delighted to see how her passion and skills will strengthen our board!
Take a look at our 2025 Impact!
Every day, we’re grateful for the opportunity to support a growing network of projects across many countries, reaching thousands upon thousands of lives.
Thank you for your prayer and support of Global Horizons Inc. and our partners!
Questions? We would love to hear from you.
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