Letters from mission workers in North America or abroad—available by request from mission agencies—can be a basic source for planning a program for your meeting. Take the following steps:

1. Choose the letter or letters.

2. Decide how you are going to present the letter:
-- Tell the story, read it, or provide a copy for each person to read.
-- Find pictures of the missionary and her work to share with your group
-- Using a map or globe, locate where the missionary works.
-- Develop a skit based on stories told in the letter.
-- Take an imaginary trip to the mission field—go on the “trip,” interview the missionary at work, interview some local people, and plan how you will tell the story when you return. You may also want to talk about what you would need to take and prepare a passport for your travel.

3. Prepare questions for discussion, possibly including:
-- What challenges (cultural, religious, economic) does the missionary face?
-- What scripture comes to mind from this letter?
-- What did you learn about mission in the 21st Century?

4. Plan for follow-up action:
-- Choose ways to support the person(s) studied—follow-up letters, e-mail.
-- Plan ways to be a prayer partner—list issues you learned about, note matters of concern or praise that the person named.
-- Ask if you can share a “moment for mission” during Sunday morning worship. Prepare the material and present it—or ask youth to assist you.

—Rev. Margaret Robertson, Program Secretary for the Women’s Missionary Society of The Presbyterian Church in Canada

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