Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance caring for our missionaries well and how to engage the local church.  Book: Holding the RopeBlog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions AwarenessWHAT YOU'LL LEARN:When does missionary care startPractical ways the local church can care for their missionariesHow pastors can help their congregation be aware of the missionaries' needsABOUT THE GUEST: Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.RELATED LINKS:Website: Lightbearers.comTwitter: Ryan Allen MartinEmail: Ryan MartinTIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:02:02 - Introducing Dr Ryan Martin02:58 - Motivation for writing a book on missionary care04:07 - ...addressing needs of missionary families04:34 - ...giving and not being poured back into and filled up04:41 - ..almost reaching the point of burnout05:16 - How do we care for them?05:59 - ...the local church sensed that more tools were needed to care for missionaries well09:06 - Book - Holding the Rope : How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones09:10 - ...Metaphor for the title, "Holding the Rope"09:21 - ...William Carey sermon10:28 - Importance of caring for missionaries11:12 - ...commissioning a missionary is the starting point, not the finish line11:44 - When does missionary care start?12:02 - ...getting to know the missionary as he is being trained and developed12:26 - ...understand where the pressure points might be12:55 - ...debrief points when the missionary returns13:16 - ...areas of struggle will be exposed in the field13:51 - What are practical ways that a church can care for their missionaries?14:09 - ...evaluate missionaries' readiness14:16 - ......The Upstream Collective has resources14:39 - ...pre-field stage15:07 - ...on the field care16:04 - ...returning from the field16:26 - How can pastors help their congregation be aware of their missionaries' needs?16:32 - ...get to know the missionaries17:12 - ...look for ways to bring the missionaries before the congregation17:58 - ...visit missionaries in the field19:13 - How do we care for missionaries' kids?20:44 - ...show the children their role and how they can help21:03 - ...dealing with different ages21:37 - ...children and teen ministries to pray for missionary kids21:46 - ...send families with children to visit them in the field22:24 - ...dealing with abuse and crisis situations23:33 - ...issues are worldwide, not just isolated to