“The Care of All the Churches”: The Invisible Weight Missionaries Carry (Part 5)

When we talk about missionary suffering, we often think about what happens to them:

• sickness,

• danger,

• persecution.

But there is another kind of suffering that is quieter, less visible, and sometimes even heavier:

• the emotional and spiritual weight of caring for people and churches.

Paul knew this weight well.

Paul’s list of sufferings—and the surprise at the end

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul catalogs his hardships:

• imprisonments,
• beatings,
• being stoned,
• shipwrecks,

• danger from rivers, robbers, his own countrymen, Gentiles, city, wilderness, sea, and false brethren,

• hunger, thirst, sleepless nights, cold, and lack of proper clothing.

It’s an overwhelming list.

But then he adds something that must have surprised his readers:

“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”

In other words:

“All the outward dangers are real—but the daily burden of concern for the churches is just as heavy.”

Every missionary who has planted or led churches for any length of time understands that sentence.

When people you’ve poured into fall or turn on you

Imagine:

• You spend years training a man to be a pastor.
• You invest hours in counseling, teaching, discipling.
• You hand over the leadership of your most fruitful church to him.

Then:

• He gets close to moral failure.
• Instead of humbly receiving correction and restoration, he rebels.
• He turns against you, spreads false accusations, and damages your reputation.
• That’s not hypothetical—that’s a real story.

Or:

• You return from furlough to find that the “leaders” a fill-in missionary appointed are older, respected men—but spiritually unqualified.
• When you start training younger men who are actually called and growing, those “leaders” become jealous.
• They stir division, undermine you, and eventually leave—but continue to harass and even try to blackmail you years later.

These aren’t abstract “church problems.”

They are personal, emotional gut-punches.

The constant hum of responsibility

As your ministry grows, so does the noise in your head.

• Multiple churches are facing different issues at the same time.
• Pastors you’ve trained are discouraged, under attack, or making unwise decisions.
• Couples are struggling in their marriages.
• Key church members are offended and considering leaving.

Your phone buzzes constantly.

• “Pastor, can you talk?”
• “We have a serious issue at church.”
• “I don’t know what to do with this situation.”

On paper, it’s exciting:

Look how many churches we’ve started! Look how many leaders we’re training!

In reality, it can feel like:

“Lord, I’m happy You’re doing so much—but I am being crushed by the weight of it.”

Why this kind of suffering is easy to miss?

• It rarely shows up in prayer letters.
• It doesn’t make for inspirational videos.
• It doesn’t leave scars on the body—only on the heart.

From a distance, a missionary can look “successful”:

• multiple churches,
• Bible institutes,
• conferences,
• a busy schedule.

Up close, they may be:

• exhausted,
• anxious,
• near burnout,
• carrying stories they can’t even share publicly.

How can we help bear this burden?

If you’re supporting missionaries:

• Pray specifically for their emotional and spiritual health—not just finances and visas.
• Check in: “How are you really doing? How are the churches? What’s weighing on you?”
• Give them safe people to talk to—experienced pastors, counselors, and friends who understand.

If you’re a missionary or preparing to be one:

   1.  Expect this weight.

        Don’t be surprised when people problems hurt more than external persecution.

   2.  Build a support system before you need it.

        Don’t wait until you’re in crisis to find mentors, peers, and counselors.

   3.  Be honest about your limits.

        You’re not the Holy Spirit. You can’t fix every church or every person.

   4.  Remember that Christ carries the church, not you.

        The churches are His bride, not yours. You are a steward, not a savior.

The “care of all the churches” will, at times, feel heavier than beatings and shipwrecks ever could.

But the same Lord who sustained Paul through both kinds of suffering is the One who stands with missionaries today.