Ways to Encourage Missionaries

Have a Birthday Party

  • Set aside an evening time of fellowship and have an ”everybody” birthday party for your missionary guests.

  • Ask each of the missionaries for suggestions of gift ideas they would like to have.

  • Post the list so church members are able to select items to purchase. 

  • Celebrate with cake and ice cream and perhaps even a couple of games. 

  • Present the gifts to the missionaries so that church members are able to see them opened.

Christmas in March (or whichever month your Missions Conference is held)

  • Several weeks before the conference ask missionary guests to submit a list of 3 or 4 items they would like (ask parents to ask their children, not list for them).

  • Post the list so that church members can select items to purchase and wrap.

  • Put up a Christmas tree so that the gifts can be placed under the tree.

  • Each day of the conference give out several of the gifts. By the end of the conference everyone is going to want to participate!

Wonderful Welcome Bags

When a missionary comes to visit your church, whether for a conference or for one service, a “welcome bag” helps the missionary know that you care.  I’ve asked several missionaries to suggest some of the most useful items they have received. Below are some of their favorites.

Toothbrushes, toothpaste, travel size shampoo and conditioner, travel size shaving cream, disposable razors, thank you note cards and stamps, dryer sheets, Kleenex, hand lotion, mints, hand sanitizer, map of city/state, Shout-it-out travel packets, puzzle books, snacks for travel (i.e. pretzels, chips, crackers and cheese, bottled water).

Small hostess gifts for missionaries to leave in the homes where they stay would also be appreciated. Suggested items include candles, hand towels, serving trays, or candy dishes. You could add to this list according to the area where you live.

Try to include some items specifically for children if applicable (i.e. travel games, snacks, tablets, colored pencils, music CDs such as “Patch the Pirate,” books, disposable cameras).

Gift Card Gallery in the Missions Closet

Have a special area in the Missions Closet where you can hang some brackets or shelving to display Gift Cards.

Have designated services where people would bring in a gift card to donate to the “Mission Closet.” Suggestions include Walmart, Target, Kohls, Amazon, Sears, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Oil Changers, Gas Cards, Restaurant Cards, Grocery Stores, etc.

This could be done a couple times a month to get a good supply on hand and as missionaries select cards that would be useful to them. A list of “needed” cards could be posted in the bulletin or on a bulletin board in order to re-stock the Mission Closet.  By doing this a missionary is able to select sizes, colors, and designs that they would like to have.