It is our desire that all our adopted overseas missionaries have a team of individuals who aid in particular ways to help keep our body connected to their ongoing ministry and keep these families connected to the Redeemer body life back home. To facilitate this ministry, Redeemer Church will organize Barnabas Missionary Care Teams.

What are Barnabas Teams?

In Acts 4:36, the apostles saw it fitting to nickname a man named Joseph, “Barnabas,” which means “son of encouragement.” Barnabas stood as an advocate before the church on behalf of Paul shortly after his conversion and served alongside Paul as a partner in ministry to the Gentiles (9:27; 11:25-30; 13:2). He also sought to strengthen the newly converted Christians in Antioch, encouraging them “to remain faithful to the Lord and steadfast in purpose” (11:23). Truly, he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (11:24). Such is the example and character of Barnabas.

Within Redeemer Church, Barnabas Teams are small groups of 4 to 8 people committed to encouragement and advocacy on behalf of Redeemer’s adopted missionaries.

Responsibilities of a Barnabas Team

In general, the responsibilities can be simply stated as encouragement and advocacy for Redeemer’s adopted missionaries. Each Barnabas team will be assigned to a particular missionary family. The specifics of how this care and advocacy is done will be in some cases determined by the needs of a missionary family. Below is a list of responsibilities that will be common to all Barnabas teams:

• Develop close communications with missionaries where open and honest sharing of needs is fostered, as well as sharing in successes and defeats.
• Seek ways to encourage their spiritual, physical and emotional well being.
• Weekly prayer for the missionaries and the people they seek to serve.
• Monthly, in communication with the missionary, prepare a short prayer update to be included in Redeemer’s monthly Praying for the Nations guide (last Sunday of every month).
• Represent the work, needs, successes and struggles (when appropriate) of these missionaries to the Redeemer Church leadership and to the Redeemer body though members’ meetings, Hold the Rope fellowships, etc. (One Barnabas team would speak at every members’ meeting.)
• Seek to pair the resources and giftings of the Redeemer church body to help maximize the spread of the gospel through these missionaries.
• Encourage letter writing to missionaries within the Redeemer body through small groups, Sunday school classes, etc.
• Show hospitality. If the missionary family is coming home for a visit the Barnabas team might host an open house, stock the pantry, etc. If a group from Redeemer will be visiting the missionaries on the field the team might spearhead the creation of care packages.
• Keep them visible. Maintain a stock of missionary prayer cards in the Redeemer church foyer and other materials representing their work or people group.