When we hear sermons and conversations about how we should be involved in missions, we often think of three different avenues: 1) we can go to the mission field; 2) we can provide prayer support to those who go; and, 3) we can provide financial support to those who go.
If you’ve read our pillar articles (which can be reached through the tabs at the top of the site if you are using a desktop or the three-bar/”hamburger” menu if you are using a mobile device), you know that our conviction is that all believers should be part of a team seeking to reach the unreached. And we contend that there are four basic ways we can be part of such a team — as we said above, some will go, some will pray, and some will provide financial support.
But we often don’t consider another very important way to be part of a team seeking to reach the unreached — providing logistical support to those who go. Those who provide logistical support to on-field missionaries may handle financial, administrative, communications, or technology matters for the missionary family, among other specialized responsibilities.
By consistently addressing these areas, a team member providing logistical support frees the missionary to devote themselves to declaring the gospel on the field — much like deacons in the early church addressed issues of food distribution so that the apostles were freed to devote themselves to prayer and the preaching of the Word.
The Lafon Family
Bob and Edie Lafon are good examples of those providing logistical support and participating on teams seeking to reach the unreached. In Bob and Edie’s case, they are members of almost 3,000 Assemblies of God missionary and missionary associate teams around the world! They are an integral part of these teams, providing technology support to those who may not be as familiar with computers, email, social media, audio and video communication, etc.
Whether providing remote support (which is much more challenging than many people realize) or traveling to the field to provide in-person support, Bob uses his computer science background to help missionaries navigate the challenges of modern technology, communication methods, and media outreach which have become intertwined with so much of what today’s missionary employs to declare the gospel.
Whether it is helping with email, teaching how to make website updates, offering advice on software purchases, providing technical support at conferences, or addressing a host of other technology-related issues, Bob stands ready to serve.
Uniquely Qualified
After being born in Honduras and receiving his secondary education in Ecuador (as the son of missionaries), Bob studied computer science in college but graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible/Missions from Southwestern Assemblies of God College. He then received a Master of Arts degree in Missiology from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
Edie received a degree in Bible from Zion Bible Institute, a bachelor’s degree in art from Keene State College, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Evangel University, and a master’s degree in Biblical literature from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
And they spent 15 years as missionaries in El Salvador, where they worked in evangelism, discipleship, church planting, church construction, Bible school teaching, university teaching, medical teams, evangelism teams, and helping train and send missionaries from El Salvador to other countries around the world.
This combination of a well-rounded education, 15 years of experience as on-field missionaries, and over 15 years of experience providing technology support to missionaries make Bob and Edie uniquely qualified to fill the role to which God has called them.
Join Bob and Edie’s Team!
And just as Bob and Edie are members of almost 3,000 different teams around the world, you have an opportunity to be a member of their team! Joining their team would be one of the most strategic choices you could make for the cause of world missions because their influence, though it often takes place “behind the scenes,” is vast in its scope. Here are three ways you can join their team:
- You can learn more about their ministry by visiting and bookmarking their website. You can also connect with them on Facebook.
- To keep up with their news and prayer requests, subscribe to their newsletter at their missionary profile.
- And to support them financially, visit their giving page. If you are a pastor or missions leader of a church, please consider inviting them to speak in a service. Bob and Edie are full-time Assemblies of God missionaries and do not receive a salary — they depend on the financial support of churches and individuals.
By joining Bob and Edie’s team, you will be joining those 3,000 different teams around the world through them!
WORKERS IN THIS ARTICLE: Bob and Edie Lafon
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