What Is the Role of Christian Missionaries?
The role of Christian missionaries is to share the message of Jesus Christ, but their work goes far beyond just spreading the Good News. They help meet the practical needs of people in struggling communities through education, healthcare, food distribution or simply by providing a safe place to turn for support. Missionaries work to bring hope, healing and transformation in both spiritual and physical ways, showing people they’re not forgotten and offering them a chance for a brighter future.
Take Sahlma’s story,[1] for example. She grew up in a small village surrounded by steep hills and deep valleys where life was challenging. When she was just 9 years old, a devastating earthquake hit her town, leaving it in ruins. Her family’s home was destroyed, and they lost everything. For many families like Sahlma’s, survival became a day-to-day struggle. GFA missionaries provided relief with food and shelter, but the bigger question remained: How could they rebuild their lives?
At a time when most children should be in school, Sahlma now found herself working as a porter. Her parents were away looking for work, and she had to carry heavy loads of groceries, firewood and sand up and down those steep mountainsides to help provide for her siblings. The work was physically demanding, and it wasn’t something a young girl should have to do. Yet Sahlma had no choice—the family needed money to survive.
Unfortunately, working as a porter was taking a toll on her health as well as on her education and well-being. She was constantly exhausted and struggled to focus on anything beyond just getting through the day. Kids who work in this kind of labor face serious risks to their health and future, but for Sahlma, it was the only option.
Then something changed. Staff from GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program heard about Sahlma’s situation. They quickly stepped in to offer her a lifeline: They helped her parents enroll her in the program, which provided school tuition assistance, nutritious meals and the support she needed to thrive. For the first time in a long while, Sahlma didn’t have to carry the world’s weight on her back. “I am eating such tasty food here,” she said, tears of joy filling her eyes.
With her basic needs taken care of, Sahlma could focus on her studies and dreams. She became an eager student, especially enjoying math and reading. No longer burdened by the need to work, Sahlma started to see a future full of possibilities. Her parents, who had been working hard to support their family, were relieved to see their daughter smiling again.
Sahlma dreams of becoming a social worker. She wants to help suffering children, just like the girl she once was. “I want to bring a smile to people in pain and suffering,” she says, showing the heart of someone who understands firsthand the difference love and support can make.
Sahlma’s story powerfully reminds us of the role of Christian missionaries in sharing the Good News and helping people rebuild their lives, overcome obstacles and find hope. Through their efforts, children like Sahlma can have a brighter future. Missionaries are agents of change, offering physical and spiritual care that transforms lives.
Learn more about how to support Christian missionaries through GFA World[1] “A Burden Slides Off Preteen Girl’s Back.” GFA World. January 2022. https://www.gfa.org/news/articles/a-burden-slides-off-preteen-girls-back-wfr22-01.