As the cooler autumn air settles in, many churches across the country are preparing for one of the most exciting times of the ministry year: fall missions conference season. For many of you missionaries on deputation or furlough, these next few months bring packed schedules, thousands of highway miles, witnessing opportunities and incredible opportunities to partner with churches.

Support raising during conference season isn’t just about presenting a need—it’s about inviting pastors and members into the work God has called you to do. To help your family maximize your time on the road and finish the year strong, here are three practical tips to keep in mind:

SHIFT MINDSET FROM SUPPORT RAISING TO PARTNERSHIP

It is easy to view a full schedule of fall meetings as a tiring and busy cycle of travel and presentations of your ministry. However, pastors, churches, and mission committees are looking for genuine partners in the Gospel, not just a financial partnership.

Approach every meeting as a whole-family opportunity to minister to the host church:

• Ministry Wives: Look for ways to connect with the pastor’s wife, hostesses, and ladies of the church. A wife’s genuine fellowship, positive attitude, and testimony can open doors and build lasting personal connections that a formal presentation alone cannot.
• Missionary Kids (MKs): Involve your children at the display table or during children’s church! Kids can help hand out prayer cards, wear cultural attire during a mission’s banquet, or sing a simple song in the language of the field. When host churches see MKs excited about the mission field, it demonstrates enthusiasm across all age groups in the congregation.

STREAMLINE YOUR PRESENTATION AND MEDIA

Fall conferences are often fast-paced, sometimes featuring multiple missionary guests in a single service. Having a polished, adaptable presentation ensures you respect the pastor’s time while clearly sharing your vision and burden for your field.

• Keep your presentation tight: Prepare a crisp 8-to-10-minute presentation as well as a shorter 3-to-5-minute one for shorter or additional time slots.
• Test your media early: Double-check your video and audio presentations prior to service, and setup your table display before the main service begins so you aren’t scrambling last minute.
• Make giving seamless: Keep your display table organized with plenty of prayer cards and be present at the table to greet the church people before and after the service to answer those with questions.

MASTER THE POST-CONFERENCE FOLLOW-UP

Lastly, the real fruit of a mission conference often grows in the weeks after the meeting ends. Pastors manage heavy schedules during these events, and deacons and/or the missions committees typically meet in the days, weeks, and sometimes even months afterwards following the conference to make final decisions regarding monthly support.

Follow up promptly within 3 to 5 days with a personalized thank-you letter to the pastor and church. Express your gratitude for their hospitality, mention specific church members who encouraged your family, and/or specific blessings, gifts, needs you were thankful to have received.

If the church does take you on for support before you leave for the conference in addition to a thank you card.  Write and personal thank you letter or card within 2-3 weeks to the church to thank them for their partnership with your family in taking the Gospel to your field.

Philippians 1:3-5 “³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”