In my mission career there is one thing that I think we do a bad job of when we send single missionaries to serve abroad. We send young people out alone, by themselves. Yes they might go and join an existing team, but single missionaries that join a team can still be very alone on the field. Unfortunately the Mormons figured out long ago that if you send out singles you should always send them out with a partner so they are never alone.

Missionaries that live and minister by themselves have one of the hardest times adjusting and growing on the field. There are a couple (two or three) that I have seen that can make it work. But most young missionaries that leave the West right after college and travel abroad alone to minister, crave being with people. They need someone constantly investing in them. They also need accountability. Someone walking with them on a regular basis in order to be the most effective missionaries for God's Kingdom.

This past week I was able to spend some time with some single missionaries who served overseas for two or more years. As we were encouraging college students to go and spread the gospel among the nations I mentioned the importance of not going to the mission field alone. I encouraged one college freshman to start praying right now for a partner to go and serve with her in another culture. I went as far as to recommend that she not go to the field alone. I told her that I know it sounds harsh, but I am trying to set her up to thrive and not just survive. She walked away truly feeling as though I had her best interest at heart and I wanted to see her have a great experience on the field.

When she left I looked up and could see the Journeyman who served for two years had spent some time alone on the field. She quickly said, I have never heard anyone go as far as recommending that a single not go to the field alone but you are 100% right. It was just too hard. No one should have to go through that. This is one way we can help single missionaries thrive on the field by requiring them to serve with partners. Please join me this week as we pray for churches and mission sending agencies to send out single missionaries two by two.

Tags: Sending, Singles, Missionary