Simi Valley: “Sending Your Best” Keeps Congregation Vibrant

Grace Church in Simi Valley, California has been partnering with Encompass for over 60 years now, making us their primary missions agency. That partnership has included everything from doing short-term trips with us to sending some of their best members to serve as long-term Encompass missionaries.

“We’ve sent missionaries to Southeast Asia, supported church planting in France and Poland, and are currently supporting three missionaries in Japan,” says Pastor Jordan Bakker. “We’ve definitely had a robust relationship with Encompass throughout the years: both healthy and ongoing.”

Jordan views the relationship between church, sending organization, and missionaries as a complementary one. “There are things we just can’t do as a local church,” he says. “Encompass is equipped to train people cross-culturally and relationally, but the local church has a huge role in forming disciples before they ever go.”

“We should be sending our best people,” Jordan says on behalf of churches. In his ideal scenario, the church should prepare workers with discipleship and a love for Jesus, while sending orgs should provide the specialized preparation needed for long-term service in another culture.

While some pastors might hesitate to release some of their best people to the mission field, Jordan views it as a blessing. “When you send your best people, it creates real voids,” he says. “But that forces others to step up, keeping the church vibrant.”

Another unconventional approach that Jordan’s church uses is to support fewer missionaries but support them more deeply. Instead of sending small checks to dozens of missionaries, they can heavily invest in their missionaries, both financially and relationally. “If we’re going to support you, we’re going to support you—and be there when it’s hard,” he says.

As Jordan’s story shows, partnership between local churches and sending organizations like Encompass is a win for everyone: it strengthens missionaries, revitalizes congregations, and extends the reach of the gospel far beyond familiar borders.

Could your church benefit from partnering with a sending organization like Encompass to engage more deeply in global missions?