Behind-The-Scenes Roles in Missionary Work: Administration with SIM USA
Tessa and Russell serve in West Africa with SIM USA. They initially moved there so Russell could step in to fill a much-needed role in Bible education, and then Tessa began supporting the team through administrative work. Over time, their ministry evolved—now both are serving God in largely administrative roles that facilitate and multiply the impact of their mission teams. Russell now serves as a regional director, and Tessa continues to play a vital role in missions behind the scenes through administration.
When Tessa originally envisioned her role in global missions, she never envisioned herself in an administrative ministry. With a background in nursing, she naturally assumed God would use her in medical missions. But God’s plans are often different than ours! In this case, He chose to employ Tessa’s unique set of personal and professional skills in a totally different setting.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“God has done so many things through a willing heart, through obedience to follow Him, and being willing to sacrifice the nursing career I expected to [use] where God was leading us as a couple. That meant opening up my hands to release nursing as I envisioned it,” Tessa said. “God gave so many things that I never imagined, and He revealed my real spiritual gifts… then I got to use them in the office setting for His glory.”
In her administrative role in global missions, Tessa has launched initiatives to mobilize the next generation for cross-cultural ministry, provided care and support to missionaries in challenging seasons, coordinated missionary housing logistics, and much more. Though often behind the scenes, administrative ministry is essential and impactful, quietly enabling frontline ministry to thrive.
“You cannot have the ministry we have in West Africa without a strong administrative team,” Tessa said.
Administrative Work Enables Global Missions: Creating Housing for Gospel Access
When SIM obtained property for missionary housing in West Africa, the homes needed significant preparation before being used. Located in a predominantly Islamic area, transforming the space into housing for Christian missionaries required careful, culturally sensitive collaboration with local partners.
“We had acquired former missionary houses that had been nationalized, and we needed to prepare them for missionaries to live in once again,” Tessa said. “You don’t just barge in and make that happen. We work together with our national partners through cross-culturally sensitive administrative negotiations. It was a long process.”
Over the course of two years, SIM’s office administrators and directors navigated delicate negotiations to thoughtfully and respectfully renovate the homes for ministry use.
When the renovations were complete and the homes were finally filled with missionaries, Tessa saw the project as a powerful reminder of the vital importance of administrative work in ministry. What seemed like behind-the-scenes tasks had directly paved the way for missionaries to spread the gospel in a predominantly Islamic region of West Africa.
“This never could have happened without a faithful administrator doing behind-the-scenes work, coordinating all the moving parts to come together to make that happen,” Tessa reflected. “When I saw the missionaries moving into the houses, I thought, ‘This would not be happening without me giving my small contributions behind the desk.’”
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-34
This story is just one example of how vital administrative work is to the Great Commission. Across continents, others like her are faithfully serving behind the scenes.
The Mission Behind the Mission: How Administrators Sustain Gospel Work
In Bolivia, Osvaldo is one of those people. Serving in administration with SIM USA, he plays a key role in mobilizing the Bolivian church for missions and providing leadership as deputy director.
“Even though you are sitting in an office, having a lot of meetings, the meetings have a purpose. The purpose is to support our missionaries and ministries in Bolivia,” he said. “We are working for the missionaries to have all the resources they need.”
Behind every new missionary stepping into cross-cultural service is a faithful team of administrators who make that journey possible. Their behind-the-scenes work ensures legal compliance, coordinates housing and transportation, manages finances, and provides ongoing support.
“When God leads someone to ministry, they’ll follow. But behind them is a whole team of people working to make it possible. Because of administrators, they don’t have to focus on the details; they can focus on their ministry,” Osvaldo said.
Osvaldo’s wife, Timara, serves as a teacher in Bolivia with SIM USA. While she isn’t involved in administration herself, she deeply values its importance and encourages potential administrative workers to realize how crucial their role is.
“Recognize how vital that role is. Without administration, missionaries wouldn’t be able to be in their country. Administration is like an open door for missionaries to be there and do their jobs,” she said. “Administrators need to know that it is not a backseat or a secondary role. This is a primary, vital role to ensure missionaries can stay in their ministry location.”
Missions are a team effort, and administrative roles are not just supportive but foundational. Administrators like Osvaldo help sustain gospel ministry in places that need it most. The work may be behind the scenes, but its impact is front and center in God’s global mission.
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-20
Ready to Use Your Gifts in Missions? Discover Opportunities with SIM US
SIM USA serves throughout a wide range of countries and regions, often through multiple ministries in the same area. Behind the scenes, it takes skilled administrators to keep this work moving forward.
Cross-cultural mission teams around the world are actively seeking people with administrative skills to help grow God’s Kingdom in meaningful, lasting ways. Your gifts may be just what they’re seeking!
From managing personnel and shaping policies to planning for contingencies and supporting HR functions, your administrative gifts can play a vital role in bringing the gospel to hard places and helping it take root.
Are you wondering how you can use your skills in missions? Read more about current administrative needs or contact a coach to learn more about the pathway toward missionary administration. Connect with a SIM USA missions coach here to learn more!
Maggie Watts
Content Creator
I am a Content Creator with SIM USA. It is a joy to use writing and multimedia to glorify God and tell stories about how He is working around the world.