Partners in the harvest

Frequently asked questions

• What will partnership actually require from our senior leadership?

  Most churches find the key lift is clarity and consistency, not lots of admin. Senior leadership typically sets direction, confirms oversight for sending, and ensures there is a simple support structure (pastoral care, prayer, communication, and financial accountability). SIM NZ then comes alongside with training, placement support, and ongoing member care so the load is shared and sustainable.

  Book a partnership call to map what this could look like for your church.

• How formal is a Church and SIM partnership, and what do we sign up to?

  When someone joins SIM, a clear agreement helps everyone know their responsibilities and protects the worker through good accountability. Many mission contexts use a written understanding between the sending church and mission agency to cover things like role clarity, support expectations, reporting, and financial arrangements.

  View roles and responsibilities to see what’s typically included.

• Who holds pastoral responsibility and duty of care when things get hard on the field?

  Healthy missions care is shared. Your church remains the primary spiritual home and pastoral relationship, while SIM provides trained cross-cultural support, supervision, administration, and practical care systems, especially around transitions like home assignment, debriefing, and evaluation. This layered care model is commonly recommended across mission practice because it avoids isolation and strengthens resilience.

  Talk with a church relations person about care pathways and escalation points.

• How do prayer, communication, and accountability work without overwhelming our team?

  Partnership works best when the rhythm is simple: agreed communication touchpoints, clear prayer updates, and a named support contact so the worker knows who to call. The goal is predictable support, not noise. Many high-performing pages use FAQs to reduce uncertainty and friction by answering the “how will this work in practice?” questions directly.

  Download the Stronger Together Partnership Pack for a ready-made framework.

• What about finances, support raising, and governance, who manages what?

  Churches usually want two things: confidence that funds are handled properly and clarity on expectations for ongoing support. SIM can guide support raising, help with financial and medical support systems where needed, and keep admin clean so workers can focus on ministry, while your church remains a meaningful partner in sustaining them relationally and spiritually.

  Request the partnership pack for a clear breakdown of typical financial responsibilities.

• What if we don’t have a mission worker right now, is this still for us?

  Yes. Many churches start by forming a healthier missions culture first: building awareness, creating a sending pathway, and training people to discern calling well. SIM can help with speakers, resources, and MomentumYes so you are ready when God raises someone up, and you can respond with confidence rather than scrambling.

  Request MomentumYes info to start forming a sending culture.