The National Parent Retreat, hosted by the International Mission Board (IMB) on March 20-23, brought 148 parents of IMB missionaries together for a time of encouragement and connection.

Laura Harrell, the IMB’s director of alumni and advocate engagement, said her hope for the weekend was grounded in the retreat’s theme verse, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

“We pray that when you depart this place on Sunday, you will have experienced encouragement just as you have encouraged someone else,” Harrell said.

Parents gathered in different groups throughout the retreat, which was held at the International Learning Center (ILC), where missionaries are trained before heading overseas. At mealtimes, under the flags of the countries where their children serve that decorate the cafeteria, parents cautiously asked each other for more details. Since so many IMB missionaries serve in high-security countries, parents often can’t share where their children are serving, compounding the isolation they may feel.

Parents were intentionally seated at different tables throughout the weekend to form as many connections as possible. In one session, parents were grouped by state. As a result of previous retreats, parents have formed state fellowships, found prayer partners and formed instant messaging groups.

In another session, parents were seated by the region of the world where their children serve. This allowed them to share and talk about the issues their children face.

Ana and Daniel Nieves were casually chatting with Kat Tinsley when they made the connection their daughters serve on the same team.

“It was quite the joyous moment,” Ana said.

Tinsley agreed. “I understood immediately why our daughters hit it off as teammates because we three parents connected immediately as well.”

From 2016 to 2020, Tinsley coordinated the North Carolina Parents Fellowship, an active group of IMB parents living in the state.

Tinsley said one of her favorite parts of the retreat was touring the IMB office. She attended a previous retreat and said the tour “always makes me weepy to see the level of support and concern the IMB offers my kids.”

Daniel said his favorite part of the retreat was meeting parents who can sympathize. He was encouraged that despite missing their kids, and grandkids in some cases, the IMB parents he met have great faith and trust that their children are doing the work God called them to do.

Tonya Lynch said holding the retreat where her daughter spent formative weeks in missionary training helped her feel more connected.

“As I walked the various paths around campus, sat in a chair at mealtime or laid my head on the pillow each night, I had to ponder where the missionaries who had done these same things were serving at that exact moment and pray a prayer of blessing over their ministry,” Lynch said.

Parents selected breakout groups centered around whether they were first-term parents, a Journeyman, career, or Project 3000 parents, parents of a single missionary or Third Culture Kid (TCK) grandparents.

Parents toured the IMB headquarters in Richmond, Va. and met people in different departments, such as IMB employees who help arrange freight shipments, file taxes for missionaries and conduct risk assessments for the areas where missionaries serve. Employees monitor the security situations of IMB missionaries seven days a week, a fact that impressed and reassured parents.

Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer for Woman’s Missionary Union, challenged parents, saying, “The best way you can support your missionary children is to be the very best Christ follower you can be.”

Jeff and Barbara Singerman spoke on a panel of IMB alumni parents. The couple recently retired after 36 years of service in Benin and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Singermans’ son and daughter-in-law serve in Uganda.

 “The price that our kids are paying for being there is worth it,” Barbara said during the panel discussion. “Whatever pain, whatever difficulties they encounter there, Jesus uses it in their lives, in the lives of others, to bring people to Himself, to mature them, and to be an encouragement and influence on other missionaries and Christian ministers and workers in their context.”

Jeff encouraged parents to embrace Philippians 4:11-13. In verse 14, Paul thanks the Philippians for sharing in his trouble by supporting him.

“I see that as a huge need for missionary parents, that we can come together to support one another, to help one another be content in the situation that we find ourselves in,” said Jeff. “The need for missionary parent fellowship is to help one another be content and then come alongside those who are struggling.”

Sharon Pumpelly and her husband were missionaries in Uganda before retiring and returning to the U.S., where she serves as the alumni, parent and WMU networks associate.

Pumpelly went to the field with parents who supported her. They’d prayed that the Lord would send one of their children to be a missionary. Pumpelly is now a parent and grandparent of children serving on the mission field.

She started working with IMB parents in 2017 and coordinated the first National Parent Retreat. She said her goal for the retreat was for parents to understand the IMB and how the organization supports their children.

“I think that helps them to love the organization that their children are being sent out from, and it gives them confidence in us,” Pumpelly said.

Pumpelly is retiring in April after 36 years of service with the IMB.

Marlo Salamy, who previously served missionaries at the ILC, told the parents at the end of the retreat: “I knew I loved your kids, I just didn’t know how much I loved you too.”

 She said these parents raised amazing kids.

IMB missionaries and missionary kids form life-long relationships during their time at the ILC. Their parents have now done the same.