How to Approach Mission Work as a Couple

Carrie Lowrance Crosswalk Contributor
Published Aug 02, 2023

When we think about mission work, we often think of those in third-world countries. We often think of people who have nothing and are oppressed in third-world countries. Many amazing organizations travel all over the world to help people. They bring food and water, the gospel, and other necessities to those less fortunate. However, what about here at home?

What Is Your Mission?

There are so many causes here at home that are on a “mission” to help people, but have you thought about your mission? Is there something God is calling you and your spouse to do or a project to help people?

This could be anything from starting a foundation or charity to volunteering for a cause God is calling you to. Take some time to think about areas in your life where God may nudge you to get involved and pray about what he is calling you to do. He may be directing you and your spouse as a couple to the same area, or he may guide you both in different directions, intending to help one another in that specific area.

For example, he could call a couple to start a charity and work on their mission together. He could also call the wife to start a soup kitchen and the husband to work with underprivileged kids, and both spouses can work on both missions. Regardless, whatever God calls you to is your personal “mission,” no matter how big or small, it is important.

Researching Your Mission

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Delmaine Donson

Once you know where God is calling you, take some time and do some research. If he calls you to start a shelter, charity, or foundation, start looking into everything that goes into it. Read books and articles, listen to podcasts about how to get started, and talk to people who are already doing what you want to do.

If he calls you to volunteer with an organization, start researching them as well. Check out their website, see what they offer, and decide where you would like to serve. God may call you to a specific area or clarify the organization and let you decide what area you want to work in.

Tips to Get Started

It can be a little overwhelming when trying to figure out your “mission” and waiting for God’s leading. Here are some steps to help.

1. Consider your interests and where God may call you to serve.

2. Talk to your spouse and see if any of your interests align; if not, talk about areas where you would both like to serve.

3. Pray and ask God what “mission” he would like you to start or serve in.

4. Once you know where he is leading you, start researching your “mission.”

5. Talk to people working on the “mission” you want to start or be involved in.

6. Pray about timing; just because he put it on your heart, it may not be a “right now” thing.

7. With legalities, get wise counsel.

8. Pray some more.

9. Start the project or get involved.

10. Work together with your spouse.

11. Ask friends and family for help if you need it.

12. Continue to keep your “mission work” in constant prayer.

13. Have fun and enjoy helping others.

Spouses On Board

If you’re wondering how spouses can work together on a mission, here are some examples I have seen that have worked out perfectly.

A great example of this in my town is our local cat cafe, Catfeine Cafe. A husband and wife opened the cafe three years ago to help homeless cats get adopted. This was their “mission” to help cats and the community. They also partner with different rescue groups to find cats for the cafe, help promote adoptable cats, and get donations. This shows that a “mission” doesn’t always have to be about people. It can be about God’s creatures, great and small.

Our cat Cupcake spent some time at the cafe before going into a foster home. Cafe life wasn’t for her. We adopted her from a rescue group that works with the cafe, and couldn’t be happier.

Another great example is a bookstore called The Book Rack in Peoria, Illinois. Stacy Hardin is the owner, and her husband helps her in the shop when he has time. Stacy does a lot of amazing things in the community, including collecting books for schools and underprivileged children, putting up little libraries, and holding events for local authors to showcase their work. Her love for literature and people shows in her “mission” to help foster a love of reading in children and the community. Owning The Book Rack had been her childhood dream, and now she feels fortunate to have a supportive husband who helps her fulfill it.

My mission? God has pressed on my heart to open a homeless shelter someday. This is close to my heart because I have known people who have been homeless. It breaks my heart that they have had to live this way; they are my inspiration. I also see a lot of homeless people in my city. People wind up homeless for all different reasons, but to me, it doesn’t matter. They are people and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Everyone deserves to have a place to live.

I’ve done some research, and honestly, all the logistics, rules, and regulations are daunting. Still, I have big dreams and goals for this mission, so we will see what God does. For now, I will keep praying, researching, and trusting him for the right “timing” to start on this. I believe timing is everything and that if he puts it on your heart, he will lead you toward getting started in his timing. In the meantime, putting something on your heart may be preparation for the mission you are called to in the future.

My husband has mentioned that he would like to start a shelter for only homeless veterans. I love this idea and have been thinking about if there was a way to incorporate both missions in the future and work together on it. Once again, we will see how God moves.

Better Together

Being joined in marriage and working together in missions work is a great way to spend time together while impacting those around you. If you are called to start something on your own, working at it together and bouncing ideas off each other is a great way to figure things out. You will also complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. By keeping your “mission” in prayer and working towards one goal or helping each other in different areas, everything you do will be better together.

Take some time today to pray and ask God what his “mission” is for you and your spouse to help make the world a better place.