When you say the word deputation the average person has no idea what you are talking about.

If you ask a church member they may tell you it’s when a missionary travels town to town and state to state trying to raise support for the field to which they are called. If you ask the Missionary, he will tell you that it’s a time to share his burden and the need for the Gospel to be preached in the specific country he is going to and around the world. But if you ask his wife what deputation is, she will likely tell you that it’s a time of growing and learning about ministry, her husband, her children, and herself. She will also tell you that this time in her life is teaching her a lot about her Lord.

The missionary wife on deputation learns from the many churches that she visits that there so many ministries that ladies can get involved in. She learns that people are hurting – out in the world but also in the church. The missionary wife on deputation learns that her husband has dreams and that he struggles with the feeling that he’s just not doing enough. She learns that her beautiful, well-behaved children don’t behave as well after hours on the road and they just want mommy and daddy to play with them. During deputation, the missionary wife learns that she doesn’t have it all together. She may snap at her husband, give in to her children and struggle with the monotony of the road. But through all of this she learns that her God is an amazing Lord. He provides for her family every.single.day. He helps her be an encouragement to the churches she visits and He shows her how blessed she is when those churches sacrifice to be a blessing to her family. He teaches her how to build her husband up and help Him chase His God-given dreams. On deputation, God is teaching her how to be the godly mother she needs to be to her children and how to balance discipline with grace. He teaches her not to give way to her own frustrations or be weary in well doing. He teach teaches her that He is a great God and worthy of all praise!

What’s the point of deputation? Why can’t we just skip it and get straight to the field? Why is it so important? Because it’s a time of learning and growing.
2 Peter 3:18 KJV
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.