You probably know the name Billy the Kid, an infamous criminal in the Wild West during the late 1800s. You probably don’t know the name Pat Garrett. Garrett was the sheriff who hunted down Billy the Kid after he killed two deputies as he escaped from prison. Garrett could never have caught Billy without his deputies’ help. He deputized men to do work he could not do by himself. This idea of deputizing laborers is the context from which we get the idea of “deputation” in missions.

Churches partner with missionaries in prayer and finances to deputize them to do the work of the Great Commission around the world. Missionaries extending the ministry of churches is biblical. The prototypical New Testament missionary, Paul, told the Philippians that through their financial gifts, he sought fruit that would be credited to the Philippian church (see Philippians 4:16–17). Paul conscientiously ministered on behalf of his supporters.

Unfortunately, deputation has earned a reputation as exhausting and unnecessary since missionaries often visit over 100 churches and spend between one and four years in the process. Some have begun to call it “pre-field ministry” to adjust the deputy’s mentality about this unique ministry opportunity. Our experience was nothing like the reputation that deputation has accrued. Having recently completed deputation, I would like to share some of the profound blessings we experienced.

God showed His faithfulness through His people.
Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”¹ We were privileged to see God’s faithfulness by his work in and through God’s people across the United States. In Delaware, we met a couple who had been baptized the year before and were serving in a ministry for the first time while we were visiting. In North Carolina, a church had lost its pastor weeks before our meeting. The church voted to partner with us financially in faith. Within a year the Lord provided a pastor for that church. In Iowa, we visited a church in a rural town with fewer than 1,000 people. Over 100 people filled the church to listen to the expository preaching of God’s Word. Deputation gave us a front row seat to the faithful work of God in His church.

God cared for our needs.
Quit my job and start traveling to churches for deputation meetings? How does that feel? This reality compelled us to put our trust in God alone for our needs. First Peter 5:7 says, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” Deputation provided a unique opportunity to observe God’s provision and care for us. God provided through people that we did not expect. It humbled us and strengthened our faith to be the recipients of the “widow’s mite.” Many who gave extremely generously were those who had little to offer. This encouraged us to give our resources and ourselves sacrificially to the Lord. God also provided for our family’s health needs. In God’s providence, we began deputation with some health limitations that made us wonder how everything would work out. In one case, God led us to a health professional through a neighbor’s child who came over to play with the kids staying in the missionary home. After treatment, the healthcare professional called ahead to the next city to which we were traveling, scheduled another appointment for us, and covered the costs. I did quit my job, and we were far from our family doctor, but our Great Physician cared for us tenderly.

The Spirit gave gifts to the Church.
At the beginning of deputation, I received counsel to attempt to schedule entire Sundays at an individual church instead of visiting two churches in one day. I loved this idea since we wanted to form genuine connections with our partners. This turned out to be excellent advice! Because we were at one church for all the services on a given Sunday, our whole family often had the privilege of receiving the ministry of the “shepherds and teachers” that the Spirit gave to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (see Ephesians 4:11–12). As our souls were nourished, I often rejoiced at how the faithful pastors rightly handled the Word of Truth. As I watched these pastors leading God’s people, I frequently thought, “It takes a man with these exact gifts to pastor this church.”

Many of God’s faithful people and churches around the country “deputized” us to take the Gospel to a dark place they could not personally reach. We rejoice in the opportunity God gave us to experience his faithfulness and care as we witnessed His work in and through His people.