The Hidden Battle: Preventative Care Matters

Most of us have heard the phrase, “I had no idea they were struggling.” It’s often spoken in the wake of a crisis—after the resignation letter lands on a pastor’s desk, after the marriage unravels, after the breakdown occurs.

But by the time the crisis is visible, the struggle has often been present for months, even years.

As leaders, pastors, and sending churches, we deeply care about our missionaries—our Christian global workers who have answered the call to go. But here’s the reality: they are often fighting battles in silence, hesitant to admit their struggles until they are drowning. And by then, the cost is far greater.

Biblical Examples of Hidden Struggles

Even in Scripture, we see that struggles rarely surface immediately.

• Moses was leading God’s people, performing miracles, and interceding on their behalf—but in Numbers 11, we find him exhausted and overwhelmed:“I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” (Numbers 11:14-15)

  His burnout didn’t happen overnight. It built up over time, unseen and unspoken, until he hit a breaking point.

• Elijah had just called down fire from heaven, proving God’s power before the prophets of Baal. But in the very next chapter (1 Kings 19), he’s running for his life, sitting under a broom tree, asking God to take his life.

  From the outside, he was a powerful prophet. On the inside, he was utterly depleted.

• Even David, a man after God’s own heart, hid his struggles until they exploded. His unaddressed sin with Bathsheba led to deception, murder, and deep personal anguish (Psalm 32:3-4).

If these biblical heroes—faithful servants of God—wrestled with deep exhaustion, discouragement, and sin in silence, how much more are today’s Christian global workers at risk of the same?

How Compass Asia Is Stepping Into This Gap

At Compass Asia, our heart is to be a place where Christian global workers don’t have to wait until they are at their breaking point.

• We offer debriefing to help them process experiences before they become overwhelming.

• We provide spiritual retreats where they can rest and reconnect with God before they hit exhaustion.

• We are networking counselors and coaches so global workers can get care before the struggles escalate.

  
  

Our goal is simple: keep crises away before they begin.

But we can’t do this alone. This kind of care takes time, resources, and a network of churches and individuals who believe in the value of preventative member care.

Will you stand in the gap with us?

Investing in prevention means fewer resignations, fewer broken marriages, and fewer lost workers. It means healthy, resilient Christian global workers who can sustain their calling for the long haul.

If your church supports missionaries, let’s talk about how Compass Asia can be part of your proactive care plan. If you’re passionate about ensuring global workers thrive instead of just surviving, consider partnering with us to provide the care they need before the crisis comes.

Because the time to care isn’t after the breakdown. It’s before it ever begins.