Home › Church Partnerships › The Sending Church
At Children's Bible Ministries, we believe missionaries are best recognized, commissioned, and sent through the local church. A sending church does more than recommend a person for ministry — it prayerfully confirms a calling, provides spiritual encouragement, and partners in the work of the Christian Gospel. CBM exists to come alongside churches in that process.
Throughout Scripture, God often calls individuals from within the life of the church, and that calling is strengthened through the wisdom, affirmation, and support of spiritual leaders and ministry relationships.
A sending church plays a vital role in helping a missionary move from interest to readiness. When a church knows the individual, observes their faithfulness, and affirms their calling, that partnership creates a strong foundation for long-term ministry.
CBM values the local church not as a formality in the process, but as an essential partner in identifying and sending gospel workers.
A sending church is not simply a financial sponsor, nor is it a requirement of a sending church to financially support their missionary (though it is recommended if possible). It is a church body that stands behind a missionary with prayer, encouragement, and ongoing partnership.
A church may serve as a sending church by:
Sending is not only about launching someone into ministry. It is about continuing to walk with them as they serve.
CBM is eager to partner with churches who identify and intentionally prepare faithful church members who show potential for service in full-time ministry and missions in any or all of the following ways:
Many CBM missionaries come through church recommendation, internship experience, camp ministry, or other ministry relationships that reveal both gifting and calling over time.
Learn More About the Missionary PathwayCBM links arms with the local church to together reach more children and youth with the Christian Gospel. When a church is considering sending a missionary, CBM helps by:
Our desire is to help churches send workers who are spiritually grounded, practically prepared, and equipped for faithful service.
CBM missionaries typically serve through a support-based model, raising a personal team of prayer and financial partners who stand with them in ministry. This creates a network of people personally invested in the missionary's work, allows more ministry resources to be directed toward expanding gospel efforts, and gives missionaries flexibility to follow God's leading without financial delay.
Support-raising is not about asking people for money. It is about inviting others to participate in what God is doing through identifiable and proven gospel work.
Each situation is unique, but many churches walk through a process like this:
At Children's Bible Ministries, we refer to our workers as missionaries because their calling, commitment, and vocation are fully centered on advancing the gospel through full-time ministry.
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When a church sends a missionary, it extends its ministry far beyond its own walls. Through that partnership, the church is helping bring Scripture to children and youth, strengthen ministry efforts, and invest in the next generation of gospel workers.
CBM missionaries serve in many settings, both stateside and internationally, but the mission remains the same: making God's Word known and helping children and youth grow in Christ. This is why the sending church matters so deeply. It is part of the mission from the very beginning.
If your church is interested in sending or recommending someone to serve with Children's Bible Ministries, we would be honored to walk with you through that process. This form is not a commitment, just a starting point for conversation.
⚠️ Webmaster note: Add the church sending inquiry form here. Recommended fields: Church Name, Church Location, Website/Facebook, Contact Name, Role at Church, Email, Phone, Whether a specific candidate is in mind (and their name/connection to the church if so), Church's readiness level, and Additional questions/goals. Route submissions to CBM leadership and trigger the standard auto-reply.
Church leaders who would like a printable overview can also download a guide:
⚠️ Webmaster note: "Sending a Missionary — A Guide for Churches" PDF has not yet been created. Link a download button here once available.
Whether your church already has a specific individual in mind or is simply exploring what it looks like to send a missionary, we are here to walk with you through that process.