In December, while many gather with loved ones and enjoy houses and towns wrapped in twinkling lights, missionaries serving overseas experience a season often highlighted by both deep longing and, at the same time, profound hope. For those who have left their hometowns to share the Gospel in distant corners of the globe, walking grey urban corridors or dust-filled roads, Christmas can be bittersweet — a season marked by the ache of separation from children in college, parents, or the churches that have sent them. As supporters and sending churches, understanding these experiences is one of the greatest gifts we can offer to missionaries this Christmas.
A Home for the Holidays
The grief of being far from family is keenly felt during the holidays. Though there is FaceTime and Facebook, Christmas is often a time when missionaries and their families feel the globe’s circumference more sharply. They know, as Paul did, the yearning of being far away from the churches and families they love. No matter the modern technological conveniences, distance remains inextricable. As he expressed to the believers in Philippi and Thessalonica, Paul himself also knew the pain of distance (1 Thess. 2:17). The Apostle John even expressed it with those he served, that though he could communicate with them through the technological marvels of his day (letters sent along Roman roads) he longed to see them “face to face,” that their “joy may be complete” (2 John 12). God made us in such a way that Facetime is substitute time, face-to-face time is the real thing.
As missionaries often recall treasured moments and warm holiday meals that are now out of reach, this longing can be overwhelming. Yet, in the midst of this heartache, missionaries often discover unexpected joys within their overseas homes. New traditions emerge as they share simpler meals, frequently with local foods substituted for those from grandma’s table. Eventually, these different meals become traditions in their own right, and this development comes with the joy of adding new ways to commemorate the season, but also with some recognition that the change is more permanent than they might wish. Yet, the new is often filled with the comfort of worship with national believers and leaning into the hospitality of local friends.
Perseverance through Challenges
Life overseas brings many challenges, especially in places where the Gospel has very rarely been heard. Some missionaries serve in regions where the winter (or summer) is harsh, and homes can be uncomfortable. They live with limited heating or cooling, security concerns, or infrastructure constraints. The local differences and stresses can be heightened as the missionary misses even more the sights, sounds, and people back “home.” Yet, it is precisely in these difficult conditions that reliance on Christ becomes more evident. Missionaries spend no small amount of time on their knees praying for—and being shaped by—perseverance during these seasons.
The desire for perseverance often makes the joy of Christmas deeper, and reflection on the incarnation of Christ richer. Gathering in small local fellowships and simply reading the Gospel account together leads to celebrating Christ in the midst of everything. Gratitude for the hope found in Jesus is magnified during times of longing and frustration.
To Proclaim the Gospel
One of the unexpected blessings of serving overseas during Christmas is the opportunity to share the story of Christ so abundantly with locals who may not be familiar with its meaning at all. As neighbors and friends observe missionaries’ foreign customs or ask questions about holiday traditions, doors open for Gospel conversations. The curiosity of those who have never heard the story of Jesus’ birth becomes an invitation (often in lands where sharing the Gospel is difficult). Missionaries who have longed to share with their neighbors, teachers, or friends now find open doors to listen wholeheartedly to explanations of Immanuel, God with us, and how He changes lives. For many missionaries, these moments are among the most cherished gifts of the season.
During this season on the field, missionaries’ deepest prayer is for Christ to be known: in His incarnation, service, sacrifice, and resurrection. Missionaries, through the griefs and difficulties, rely on the continued support of their churches and families in their home countries. This Christmas, as you pray for and encourage missionaries, remember that your understanding and support are invaluable gifts. The journey for a missionary over the season is one of both perseverance and celebration, both grief and grace. Let us continue to celebrate with them, giving glory to our King for His coming and the joy of making Him known in every corner of the world.
