Staying Long Enough to Matter: Why Presence Is the Mission

“Grab a cuppa ☕…”

That’s usually how we like to start because most of what we do here in Birkenhead, England begins the same way:

sitting down, making space, and taking time to be present.

But here’s something we’ve come to realize over the years:

Most missionaries don’t stay as long as people think.

Across many mission organizations, the average time on the field is often around 3–5 years. There are lots of reasons for that, some practical, some personal, but in places like ours, we’ve seen how much time itself shapes the work.

Depending on the organization and context, career missionaries often serve an average of 3–5 years on the field before transitioning out or moving roles. Some studies within Protestant mission agencies suggest even shorter effective tenures in difficult urban or post-Christian contexts due to burnout, funding instability, or isolation. Retention challenges are especially high in Western Europe, where visible “success” in ministry can take years, sometimes decades, to emerge.

In places like ours, we’ve seen how much time itself shapes the work.

When You Stop Being “The Missionaries”

When we first arrived in Birkenhead, we were outsiders. New accents. New culture. New everything. And over time, slowly, quietly, that began to change.

These days, we’re not just “the missionaries.” We’re the people who get called when life gets hard. That shift didn’t happen overnight. It happened through years of showing up in ordinary, often unseen ways.

Like when a young person had a birthday coming up, but no support system to help make it special. Dietary needs made even something simple, like cake, complicated. So they reached out to us. And we got to show up with dairy-free, soy-free cupcakes, ready for the celebration.

Or when tensions at home escalated between a mum and her child to the point where running away was being threatened. And again, they called us.

We didn’t fix it in a moment. But we showed up. We listened. We spent time with each of them, not just that day, but in the weeks and months that followed, walking with them toward something healthier.

This is what ministry looks like here.

It’s not big stages or big moments. It’s being present long enough that people know they’re not alone.

The Table That Keeps Showing Up

For the past three years, we’ve helped host a simple rhythm at our church:

A community meal. Every other week.

No pressure. No expectations. Just a table.

And honestly? At first it just felt like…a meal.

But over time, something deeper started to happen.

People kept coming.

Conversations grew.

Trust formed.

In a community where many feel isolated or disconnected, that table became a place where people could belong before they believed.

And now, after years of shared meals and shared life…

👉 A small Bible study is beginning among some of the mums who first came just to eat.

That’s the kind of thing that reminds us: this slow work matters.

Why We’re Still Here

We’ve now spent over 12.5 years of the last sixteen in Birkenhead, England, a place where ministry doesn’t follow quick-win narratives.

This is a post-Christian context. Many people we meet haven’t grown up around church or faith. Some carry skepticism. Others just feel disconnected from it entirely.

So we don’t rush.

We stay.

We build relationships.

We trust that God is at work in ways we don’t always see right away.

Because sometimes the most important thing we can do…is simply be present.

Come Along With Us

If you’ve read this far, you’re already part of the story in some way and we’re really grateful for that.

If you’d like to stay connected, hear more stories, and see what God is doing here in Birkenhead, we’d love to invite you to journey with us:

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Morocco in Need, CHOG responds

Being part of the 3W team means living in one of the most active parts of the world.  Our region—Europe and the Middle East-- is almost entirely prone to massive earthquakes, is the heart of the world’s refugee crisis and currently has two hot wars going on:  Ukraine-Russia, and Israel-Hamas.  There is never a lack of drama or people in need in this region, and that gives our team and the greater Church of God, an opportunity to be a part of responding to these immense needs and challenges.

Thanks to donations to the Church of God Disaster Relief Fund, I was able to travel to Morocco which was hit by a devastating earthquake on October 8th in the Atlas Mountains.  As winter is setting in, there is a desperate need for food, shelter, and clothing.  Your donations were able to make a difference. 

I connected with our partners on the ground (who I won’t name for security reasons).  We in the Europe-Middle East region are very proud of our emerging young leaders, and in Morocco, I met with three of our finest who make up part of our 3WLN network.  I learned a lot about this beautiful country, its culture, its religious atmosphere, and the earthquake needs. 

Morocco is a nation that is officially Islamic and is strict about it compared to many other more lenient and liberal Islamic nations.  It is not legal to convert Christians or to become a convert.  Consequently, our brothers and sisters there must be very careful.  As is often the case, the Christian community always feels called to respond to human suffering and disasters.  Networks have evolved with our young leaders being at the forefront of these churches and believers working together to bring hope and relief. 

One of the things that most struck me was the need for toys for children.  Why?  Because it helps them disappear into their imagination and escape the tragic situation, they find themselves in.  A truck or a doll can give hours of relief to a child who is having to deal with their world suddenly disappearing.  The hardest hit areas are where Berber tribes live in the Atlas Mountains.  It's a dangerous terrain as it is filled with unsteady rocks and boulders dangling from cliffs.  Some Christian relief workers died on the dangerous, curvy, roads of Morocco’s hardest-hit interior. 

The influence of Islam is weaker in the areas where the indigenous Berber tribes live, and they wonder who these people (Christians) are who come to them and not only bring supplies and food, but also friendship, love, hope, and a listening ear.  No one else does that and it has a tremendous impact.  As tragic as the situation is, God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28).  We want to thank all of you who support our team and leaders in this region during the good times and the bad times.  We couldn’t do it without you, but we can do it altogether with God.