Historical Notes on Worker Care

Historically, mission agencies and sending churches “held high the ideal of sacrifice. Strong faith in God, it was reasoned, was the prescription for a healthy mind and spirit.” It is therefore not surprising that member care was “largely informal and unorganised” wherever it existed. This misunderstanding of the need for care can be traced to our wrong biblical understanding of the model provided by Paul the Apostle. So while we read about the triumph of many modern cross cultural workers, including the early pioneers, their sufferings, and those of their spouses and families often remain obscure and untold. It is only in the last twenty years that member care appeared on the screen of agencies and churches. With growing awareness and openness, more resources and personnel are now being channelled to care for members.