Take a Missionary to Lunch Day

Take a Missionary to Lunch Day was first observed on January 14, 2003, as a grassroots effort to bridge the gap between local communities and missionaries serving abroad. The day was conceived by a group of former missionaries and church leaders who recognized the need for sustained, personal support for those engaged in cross-cultural ministry.

The Foundational Catalyst

In the late 1990s, missionary organizations reported high rates of burnout and isolation among field workers. A survey by the Global Mission Network in 2000 found that 78% of missionaries felt disconnected from their home communities. This sparked a movement to create intentional moments of connection. The first informal "lunch with a missionary" events were organized by small congregations in the Midwest United States. The positive feedback led to the formation of the Missionary Lunch Initiative (MLI) in 2002, which officially declared January 14th as the annual day of observance.

The Legislative/Official Adoption

While not a government-recognized holiday, MLI registered the day with national calendar registries and gained endorsements from major denominations including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Catholic Mission Council. By 2005, over 5,000 churches in 20 countries were participating. The date January 14th was chosen to fall after the Christmas holiday season, when missionaries often return to their home countries for rest and reconnection.

Modern Global Legacy

Today, the observance has expanded beyond church settings. Missionary organizations, non-profits, and even secular humanitarian aid groups use the day to host lunches, webinars, and community events. The focus has broadened from merely eating together to include storytelling, fundraising for specific projects, and mental health support. In 2020, the event went virtual due to the pandemic, with “Lunch and Learn” sessions connecting missionaries via video calls. The day now serves as a reminder of the diverse roles missionaries play—from education and healthcare to disaster relief and cultural preservation.

Celebrating this day is about intentional connection and tangible support. Below are actionable strategies for individuals, schools, and organizations.

For Individuals

• Identify a missionary: Contact your church, a mission agency like Wycliffe or YWAM, or search online directories to find a missionary in your area or one who is home on furlough.
• Plan a lunch: Invite them to a casual meal at a local restaurant or your home. The key is to listen and ask about their work, challenges, and joys. Avoid making the conversation solely about fundraising.
• Extend practical help: Offer to run errands, provide a temporary place to stay, or help with communication tasks like translating or editing newsletters.

For Schools and Youth Groups

1. Host a mission fair: Set up booths where missionaries can display artifacts, photos, and share stories of their host countries.
2. Organize a potluck lunch: Invite multiple missionaries and have students bring dishes from different cultures represented by the missionaries.
3. Create care packages: Assemble items like snacks, handwritten notes, and small gifts to send to missionaries in the field.

For Organizations and Churches

• Feature a missionary speaker: During the lunch, allow the missionary to present their work for 10–15 minutes, followed by Q&A.
• Launch a micro-donation campaign: Use the day to start a specific project fund, such as building a well or purchasing medical supplies.
• Establish ongoing partnership: Pair a team from your organization to provide monthly prayer, communication, and financial support to a missionary family.

In different regions, celebrations vary. In the United States, the focus is often on home-based missionaries. In South Korea, large churches host city-wide lunches with hundreds of missionaries. In Brazil, the day is linked to local mission trips, with volunteers sharing experiences over traditional feijoada. In Kenya, it's common for missionaries and local pastors to share a meal of ugali and sukuma wiki while discussing community development.

Missionaries contribute significantly to global development, often working in areas underserved by governments. Their impact spans education, healthcare, and community building.

Education

Missionary-founded schools have been instrumental in increasing literacy rates in remote regions. For instance, the Missionary Education Network reports that over 1.2 million children attend schools established by missionaries in sub-Saharan Africa. These schools often provide meals and basic healthcare, addressing both hunger and learning.

Healthcare

From rural clinics to mobile health units, missionaries deliver critical care. In Nepal, missionary doctors have reduced maternal mortality by 40% in the districts they serve since 2010. Many missionaries are also at the forefront of fighting neglected tropical diseases like river blindness and leprosy.

Disaster Relief

When natural disasters strike, missionary networks often provide the fastest response. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, missionary relief teams from various organizations were among the first to distribute food and medical aid, reaching areas that government agencies could not for days.

Despite their long history, missionaries are often misunderstood. Here we address a few myths.

Myth 1: All Missionaries Are Proselytizers

While sharing faith is a motivator for many, a large number of missionaries work through secular humanitarian organizations like World Vision or Doctors Without Borders, focusing solely on relief and development without religious conversion.

Myth 2: Missionaries Are Outdated

In an age of globalization, missionaries have adapted. They now use technology, social media, and data analysis to tailor their efforts. Many are experts in public health, agriculture, and education.

Myth 3: Missionaries Have an Easy Life

Missionaries face significant challenges: language barriers, cultural isolation, health risks, and often limited resources. A study by the Global Mission Institute indicates that 40% of missionaries leave the field within five years due to burnout or lack of support.

Community support is vital for missionary longevity. Research shows that missionaries who feel connected to a supportive home community are 60% more likely to remain in service beyond their initial term.

Practical Support

Beyond financial contributions, practical support includes care packages, regular communication, and visits. Many missionaries report that knowing someone is praying for them provides immense emotional strength.

Emotional Support

Missionaries often struggle with loneliness and culture shock. Having a designated prayer partner or support group that meets regularly (even virtually) can mitigate these feelings.

Why Lunch Matters

Sharing a meal is a universal act of fellowship. It breaks down barriers and allows for informal sharing. Take a Missionary to Lunch Day institutionalizes this simple yet powerful gesture, reminding both missionaries and communities that they are not alone.

Missionary work is evolving rapidly in the 21st century, facing both opportunities and obstacles.

Security Concerns

Rising religious extremism and political instability in many regions have made missionary work dangerous. Organizations now invest heavily in security training, risk assessment, and crisis response protocols.

Digital Revolution

Digital tools enable missionaries to reach wider audiences, provide online education, and coordinate relief efforts. However, they also raise issues of data privacy and the digital divide.

Shift in Demographics

The traditional model of Western missionaries going to the Global South is changing. Now, a significant number of missionaries come from countries like Nigeria, South Korea, and Brazil, serving in other developing nations or even in Europe and North America.

Sustainability

There is a growing emphasis on sustainable development rather than long-term dependency. Missionaries now partner with local communities to create self-sufficient projects, such as agriculture cooperatives and microfinance initiatives.