Following God’s call to become a Christian missionary is a great way to serve the Lord. However, there is more involved than just declaring that the person wants to be a missionary. Each mission field, mission agency and mission work will have its own special requirements. The person interested in mission work needs to take time to prepare properly for serving the Lord long-term.
Missionary Calling
People can be emotionally moved by a dynamic speaker. But an emotional feeling will only sustain someone on the field for a short time. A true calling by God on their life is what is necessary to keep a missionary on the field.
Initial Preparation
Once God’s call to be a Christian missionary has been confirmed, then the person should begin preparing for service. Many decisions must be made in the process. Where to serve? What type of ministry? What mission board? What special training is needed?
Preparation for missionary service should begin by seeking the pastor’s council on a missionary agency. The mission agency does not take the place of the pastor or the church, but they assist the pastor in getting the missionary to the field. Therefore, the candidate’s pastor can recommend a mission board that he is comfortable working with. The mission board will have their own requirements for missionary service. This may include a certain level of Bible knowledge or specific training based on the type of mission work to be done.
It is possible that the pastor recommends that the candidate not use a mission board or agency and work through the local church instead. This is a good arrangement as long as the pastor helps the missionary prepare for service on the field. The church will need to take a more active role in the missionary’s life as a mission agency normally handles the financial and tax information. A pastor and church may not be prepared for these extra responsibilities.
Formal Preparation
Many boards will require that the missionary have a college degree. This may or may not need to be a Bible degree. They are interested in knowing that the missionary candidate has enough character to complete advanced training. The board can recommend programs where the candidate can get the Bible training they need.
If the missionary will be involved in a ministry other than church planting, he may need special training beyond Bible school. This may be practical training such as on the job experience if the missionary will be involved in trade type ministries like construction. If the missionary will work as a teacher, or in some other professional field, he needs formal training in this area.
A foreign missionary may need to go through language training. As much as possible the missionary candidate should begin personal language study before he has to dedicate himself to regimented language training. With the online tools available to missionaries today, a candidate can get a head start on his language training before he arrives on the field.
Practical Preparation
Reading missionary biographies will help the candidate learn about life on the field. Knowing that men and women have gone through incredible trials of faith gives encouragement to new missionaries when they are preparing for Christian missionary service. These stories are brought to mind when when the missionary has their faith tested on the field.
Short-term mission trips help the candidate get a burden for people. It is one thing to read about a country and know all the facts; it is a very different thing to interact with people and get a burden for their need for Christ.
The Christian missionary candidate should get to know other missionaries. These could be missionaries who are working in the same field as the candidate or in other countries and ministries. This gives the prospective missionary a chance to build relationships with people who understand what they will experience on the field. Veteran missionaries can be called upon to give council and encouragement during trying times.
Final Preparation
One of the last things a missionary must do before getting to work on the field is to raise their prayer and financial support. This involves several months of visiting churches, pastors, friends and family to share their burden for missionary work. This can be a precious time of fellowship with other believers who partner with the missionary to support their work. It can also be frustrating knowing that there are lives on the field who can be touched and changed by God’s salvation. The missionary must continue to keep their eye on the goal while enlisting other Christians to be a part of their ministry team. This time of support raising is part of God’s plan to prepare the missionary for the needs he will have on the field.
Preparing to become a Christian missionary takes time. Rarely does someone have God’s call on their lives and then go to the field in a matter of weeks. It is a time of preparation for long-term service. This preparation can take years. But the missionary will be properly prepared for a lifetime of service.
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You have summarized the steps so well my friend on preparing for a missionary trip. Outstanding work my friend.
Thank you Jack. I get this question every so often from young people. I was glad for the opportunity to write it down and share it.
I hear a call to TEACH THE IMPORTANCE of RECITING the HOLY ROSARY and MEDITATING on the LIFE ! DEATH ! and PASSION !!, of OUR LORD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, and the MERITS of OUR BLESSED VIRGIN MOTHER ! MARY. for this was given to us by the HOLY SPIRIT ! it is the ROSARY of “JESUS and MARY”. may one be married ..
for the word said he who has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life, (1john 5:12).
Some people hope that they will recieve eternal life. john says we can know we have it. our certaintly is base on God’s promise that he has given us eternal life through his son. this is true whether you feel close to God or far away from him eternal life is not based on feelings but on facts you can know. if you have eternal life if you believe in God;s truth… young people just like me ask many question..and God have created me differently to help them.
I’m 14 and have this desire to become a missionary. I’m unsure of whether or not I was called to do this, but have always wanted to glorify or help God in any way I could. Perhaps becoming a foreign missionary would be preferable. I wish I knew more about this. I feel that now is the time for me to start preparing. I love music and photography, how can I involve these in my missions? If you can give me any advice or tips please email me at FunshineAlanahBear@yahoo.com
Alanah, thank you for your questions. I have friends who use music as their main area of ministry on the foreign field. One of my missionary friends is a single lady in Japan who is a painter. She uses her art to illustrate teaching materials and tracts. There are many ways that your photography and music could be used.
I would encourage you to read as many missionary biographies as you can. This will help you learn the different ways missionaries serve the Lord with the talents they have.
You are right, now is the time to prepare yourself for ministry. Study the Bible as much as you can. Read good books that talk about service to the Lord. Listen to as much godly preaching and teaching as you can. God will help show you specific ways you need to prepare yourself as you make decisions about college and other preparation. Until then, you can do your own general preparation with books, preaching and studying your Bible.
God bless you as you prepare!
Thank you so much for the advice. It was much needed and greatly appreciated. I will certainly have to look into those books and read my bible every night. Thank you so much. I hope to inspire others in the future to follow in my footsteps just as you’ve inspired me. Thank you. & God Bless!
Hey Alanah,
My name is Isabella and I am 14 too. I want to serve the Lord with all of my heart and I also have a desired to become a missionary. Lets talk. It was a pleasure meeting a girl my age that wants to become a missionary too. My email is preciadocarlos@hotmail.com write me when ever you want to.
God bless you take care.
<3
I’ve wanted to be a missionary ever since I cam to the Lord at 16 it’s all I think, read, speak, and dream about. I am 20 now and a junior in college. I have switched my major so many times because of listening to various opinions. I am an orphan so I get advice from my mentors who are Christian. I want to be a medical missionary and have found a school that focuses on that. I believe God wants me there but my mentors think that is ridiculous, that missions are outdated.
I am the most confused person in the world right now.I know I shouldn’t pour out my heart on here. But just from your experience do you know missionaries who actually went to a mission school vs getting a normal degree at college? And what was the difference? Thank you for your time
I am a missionary who went to a missions school. It was a Bible college that offered a specific program in missions.
I don’t know your specific situation, but I have known missionaries who have never been to Bible college and I know missionaries who have studied nothing but the Bible. God prepares different missionaries in different ways. Obviously for medical missions you will need special training that most schools won’t offer. At some point you will have to focus on your medical training. During that time you will be busier than you could ever imagine, but it is the most important time to continue to focus on the Lord and pursue personal study in the Bible.
One thing I know is frustrating for a young person is that you want to get the training done so that you can get into the ministry. I believe the Lord is coming soon and I hope that He does. However, you will be more effective as a missionary if you take the time to train properly.
May God bless you as you prepare to serve Him.
Pray that the Lord will lead you where you are needed.
Dear Mr. Peach,
I am so glad I found your website. I believe I am called to become a missionary. I need some help….I know the main purpose of a missionary is to lead others to Christ, but are there different positions ….and I want it to be my life job….what do I major in college and what steps do I take? I am a junior in high school and this is crucial for me to figure this out. Thanks
Thanks for your questions Alex.
While missionaries do lead people to Christ, we do this through different means. Some missionaries start a church and work there like a pastor. Other missionaries work as computer technicians. I have some missionary friends who are pilots and teachers. I work as a missionary teaching people in churches how to interpret for the Deaf. While doing that, I witness to both the Deaf and hearing around me.
What should you study in college? That really depends on what type of ministry you will have. Some missionaries train for a specific type of work in college and then go to seminary to get their Bible training. Other missionaries go to Bible college first and then get specific training in graduate school. Not every type of ministry will require graduate work. It depends on the type of ministry you will have as to what you should study.
God bless you as you prepare to serve Him.
What about all the lost fools in our own churches? Or maybe I should say “church buildings,” because that is all these “churches” are, is mortar and brick. What about the damned money lovers in the church, the very ones Jesus would have driven out of His Father’s house with a whip? By violence? Missionaries like you, Mr. Peach, are the only Christians I believe are actual ones, the only ones making any difference for The Kingdom’s sake, by reaching out to the lost. I’d say we need to send missionaries like yourself into the churches themselves, especially here in America. And root out the evil. Pry the gold from their clasping hands. With a whip. One with many sharp and painful tethers attached.
I find the information on what is required very helpful.Thank you David, I hope to serve in the future for the future.For me true fame was always to serve, this was born with me.
A heart that buds on earth, blossoms in heaven….
this makes the lords nose a happy nose.
Gypsy, poet, servant and child of god.
hey my dear david it`s my paliser to speak with you over this website . i juste i have au quistione . I come from muslim contry from african 5 years ago and i recuved the proficy that i become au missionary . and i m still praying about that allsow
I fell like I got au call from Cod to become au missionary for those contres in african and muslims contry and I speak arabic,frenche , what do you think whats do I confirmed this call / how can I know that is come from LORD bless you .
Kamal, thank you for your question. One of the ways I have always heard how you can know that God is truly calling you into ministry is to think about other things you could do with your life. If you could be happy ignoring God’s call to be a missionary and do something else, then you are probably not called. This is dependent on you having a right relationship with the Lord. Obviously God could call someone into ministry and that person completely ignore God’s leading.
If you are walking with the Lord and listening to His leading, then you will not be content until you do His will.
My son is in school and is feeling the call of the Lord to be a missionary. What college degrees are needed in the field? He unsure of what to do but he knows he wants to serve God.
Richard, I am glad to see you trying to get help for your son in this matter.
Really there are many things a person could study to be a missionary. I would strongly recommend that your son get some specific Bible training either as an undergrad degree, or through post-graduate work. Then if there is a special type of ministry that he wants to be part of he will need the required training for that.
I personally have a degree in Bible with an emphasis in Missions study. I am working on an advanced degree in the Bible. I have specialized training in signed languages because of my work with the Deaf. Some missionaries I know get a four-year degree in a specific field (Education, Engineering, etc.) and then work on an advanced Bible degree.
While it is hard to say what specific degree he should get, it is important to encourage him to get an education. Not every missionary has to have a college degree, but the whole process will help prepare him for what he will face in future ministry. Getting an education shows a certain level of character that mission boards and other missionaries are going to want to see when choosing ministry partners.
Praise the Lord
My Name is Jijo… i am newly married… I live in India with my wife and parents.. i really want to serve Jesus Christ and i already accepted HIM in my life 2006 and now i am preparing my self from baptize.. While when i sleep at night i cant sleep i always wake up it seems someone walking me up and asking me to pray… Once a pastor told me that i will be a missionary and for that i need to pray very hard.. I need you prayer… Please Guide Me… I will pray for you… God bless you and your entire Mission amen..
Hi Jijo. I am sending this message from the State of Tennessee in the United States. I just came from a mission field in South Africa and Mozambique. I too am a prayer warrior. I am awakened around 3:00 am every morning by the Holy Spirit’s prompting. He will not let me sleep. At first I tried to rebel against it and it didnt work. I even asked, “God, how can I make it through the day when you’ve kept me up half the night” but He has never let me be tired, when I have been obedient to His calling. I sometimes spend 2 or 3 hours now in prayer time in the Spirit during those early morning hours. Stay obedient in your prayer time beloved Saint of God, my brother in Christ, especially during the quiet times while the rest of your family and friends are in slumber. God has called upon you as an intercessor. Pray up! God will bless you abundantly for your obedience.
Thank you Kathryn for replying my email… I happy i am chosen and more happy to hear your testimony.. I will pray for you and your plans.. May Our Good God bless you…
Hello brother David,
I am 49 years old; I was born again at 44 after living a life of adultery, bar hopping and drunkenness sleeping with many women during my 20 years of playing in six different rock bands. In 2002 I lost my brother and best friend to a construction accident and in 2006 my live in girlfriend of 7 years left me do to my lack of love and respect for her and a bit later after that lost my home to foreclosure,(the Lord was getting my attention I assume) sitting alone in my house a week before they came to kick me out I found the Lord listening to John McArthur and RC Sproul on local radio and shortly after I quit all rock music performing and since have made a promise to God that I will never live with or sleep with a women unless I am married one day by Gods will, so far its been 6 years with no dates or sex, it’s not so bad…hehe.
I have never been married, have no kids and have never gone further than high school. I am a self taught computer builder and programmer and also run a one man medical courier service for ten years. Past year or so I find myself waking up around 3am thinking wide awake about God and I start praying to him to show me the way and let me find the open path he has planned for my life since I feel such a dead end feeling in my current day to day life that comes with no fulfillment by day’s end. These four our sleep nights have been occurring more and more as if getting awaken by the Holy Spirit to pray.
I have a passion to help the elderly and disabled people such as clothing them, sitting and talking with them or performing simple tasks they may need done, things that do not demand a degree. I also have nothing holding me back to do out of the country mission work. I would like to serve the Lord full time even with my non degree self taught computer skills. I’ve been studying the bible for 5 years since being born again and also play MP3 internet sermons from my favorite pastors to my 81 year old Mom over the phone almost every night as we talk about this world and discuss Jesus Christ.
Ok after that long intro LOL now my question.
Is it likely that an “out of country” mission project would and could utilize my skills and passions to help others without any formal degree in hand?
Thank you so much for your time and the effort you have put into this website and its content, God Bless You!
Mark
Thank you for sharing your journey with us Mark. It is exciting to read about a changed life and what God can do in a person’s soul. I know what He did for me, but it encourages me to read about what He has done for others.
Certainly there is not a need for a formal degree to be a missionary. I do encourage young people to get a degree because it gives them a foundation to learn more quickly from the experiences in life. It should also give them much more ability to do a larger work than they could have conceived without the knowledge (and hopefully wisdom) that college can impart.
I would encourage you to be involved an a local level (which it seems like you are). Talk with your pastor about your desires. He comes into more contact with missionaries and ministries who are looking for personnel that you probably do. Your pastor may know someone your church already has a relationship with that can use your skills.
God bless you as you seek to serve Him in a greater way.
Thank you David for the informative reply and your insight..
God Bless You and the work your doing!!
Mark
I’m 18 I want to serve the lord with everything that I have, I just can’t find how. Seems people love to just shoot you down when you get ideas. I’m really confused.
Getsi, stay faithful to what the Lord shows you in His Word. There will be many people who try to help and guide you in life. Some will be good advice and others will not be. Remember to filter all the advice you receive through the pages of the Bible.
is age a factor in becoming a missionary? I know I have a calling from God, and that is to serve His people. My mission, goal, eagerness and passion is to get connected and begin using the gift/gifts Gods equipped me with….How do I get started, is my question?
Liza,
Regardless of your age you can, and should, serve God where you are currently. Obviously your age may limit you on what you can do at this time. For example, a 15-year old girl can’t leave her family and move to a foreign country (at least, not under normal circumstances).
One of the best ways to prepare for future service is to be involved in any ministry that you can today. If your church has some type of outreach to the community, get involved in serving. Find local ministry opportunities. Each experience can be used by God to prepare you for the ministry He has for you in the future.
Hello.my name is marlene.i am in my third semester in college majoring in social work.ive always felt the urge to help the homeless.the poor .the sick .and especially the orphans.i want to take every orphan n raise and take care of them.i think i have been called to be a missionary .i always read the bible and read books about heaven and spirituslism.but does being a missionary mean u have to abandon your friends and family and can i be a missionary with a social work degree?are there missionaries that are couples?
Thank you for your questions Marlene. The Bible does not give any limits on a missionary being married or not. I am married and have two children. Most of my missionary friends are married.
A social work degree can be very helpful in the field of missions. Understanding the legal system and human rights are important. There are many missionary works which are orphanages. They could certainly use someone with the skills you would learn as a social worker.
God bless you as you plan to serve Him.
Hello! my husband and i have been talking for some time now about missionary work. We have two young children that we would love to have grow up the rest of their years learning god s word. I have attended several churches throughout my life but never have i felt so welcomed as when i stepped foot into GFC a little over a year ago. Since my first day in attendance at GFC ive felt that a part of me was missing and today while i listened to other missionaries tell the story of their journeys in Bolivia it hit me though my husband and i have talked about it we havent taken those first steps into missionary work. Hearing Eva and Arlie speak today sparked something inside of me and it was confirmed that My husband and i want to make our dreams a reality.reading the Bible to me has become one of my favorite things to do as I enjoy gods word as much as the twilight saga. And should i miss church because myself or one of my children are sick I log onto sermon audio and listen to sermons i miss. How i knew it was time for me to serve god and spread his word was when i was sitting listening to my pastor speak and while he was talking my eyes drifted to a verse that fit in his sermon perfectly and as time went by i noticed more and more that i was being led by god into a further understanding of the bible. I plan in the upcoming months to become a member of GFC and also be baptized, and as my knowledge grows i see it fit that i pass that knowledge on. Will it make a difference if i dont have a college degree? I have one year of Early Childhood Education and in claas Training as a Personal Support Worker but dont have either certificate. I really wanna serve the lord as i truly believe he has called upon me to do so.
Congratulations Raylene for getting into a church you feel comfortable at. I don’t know anything about GFC churches (what does the GFC stand for?), but I trust you are learning much from God’s Word.
I would first recommend that you talk with the pastor of the church. Find out what his recommendations are on how you should proceed while pursuing becoming a missionary. He can help point you to specific training that may be available in your area.
You certainly don’t have to have a college degree to be a missionary, but it does help. The point is not always the degree as much as it is getting more education. The more education you can have the better teacher/counselor/missionary you will be. You will have a broader understanding of different subjects. Because of the work involved in writing papers and interacting with other students you will also be a better communicator of God’s truths.
May God bless you as you seek to serve Him.
Hello David Peach,
God works amazingly. I have seen it this past 5 years. I am 14 years old and have 3 brothers, two of them are in Colombia and one of them is living with me and my parents. My parents are missionaries. The Hot Springs Village Church of Christ supports them. I was adopted 5 years ago and I gave my life to Christ 2 years ago. Miracles happen everyday. But the Lord is a God of compassion because last year in November 28, for the first time in like 4 years I have not seen my brothers and I got to see them. Now they are been adopted. So they get to come to live in the U.S., and they live like 40 to 45 minutes away from our house. The people back in Colombia said that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for my brothers to be adopted. They said that because they have no IDEA OF WHO IS GOD. My brother was 15 and when you turn 16 you can’t be adopted anymore. The adoption takes like five years and then by then my older brother is to old to be adopted. But God works in mysterious ways. My oldest brother’s birthday is in September. So there was less than a year for him to be adopted. Money was missing and they had not even stared the process yet. Everything seemed IMPOSSIBLE like those lady said. My dad says that when ever something seems IMPOSSIBLE it means that for God it is POSSIBLE. There is still money missing but THEY ARE COMING THIS WEEKEND.
THANKS TO THE ALL MIGHTY. When I grow up I have the dream and will become a missionary. I found your page because one of my teachers gave it to me. I told her that I wanted to be a missionary and then she send me this website. THIS MIRACLE THAT GOD HAS DONE HAS TO BE TOLD.
God bless and I love you with the love of the Lord.
Say Hi to your family.
Isabella, gracias por escribiendo tu historia y compartiendo eso con nosotros.
I trust God will give you clear direction in your future ministry.
Thank you Mr. Peach I trust he will too.
Dear Mr. Peach,
My name is Denise. Thank you for preparing these pages for us. I am blessed to have found this website. I am a 42 year old woman that has a deep rooted, intimate relationship with God. During a very toxic childhood, I relied on The Thrinty Family as my functional family and thus we are very close. I am a special education teacher and I recently visited Hopkins Park, Pembroke Township, Illinois. It is small town with about 5, 000 residents. The mayor currently estimates about 2000 people live in the woods. They have closed their schools, there in no pilce department, 40% of children live without running water, and 98% of students had qualified for free lunch. While I am a special education teacher by profession, I am many more things and have numerous and valuable skills to offer this community. I was invited by the mayor to sit on a new planning board for the town. While I plan to do so, I am more interested in a missionary type experience. I have always been trying to find ways to talk about, share, be with, and engage in God’s work all day, every day. I begin each day saying , “yes God, yes God, yes God,” and I love this way of life. It is difficult to be in a school all day where I see God in every moment, but can never express it, or share it without breaking human rules.
Currently, I feel trapped in a world that doesn’t know the loving God I know, whose Son on the Cross is a sign to me that I am radically accepted even in the midst of my sin. I have a never ending amount of hope, and when my current work for God exhausts me, I am always renewed and full once again with an abundnace of hope and happiness and joy and desire to share this that are gifts from my Lord. In Illinois I hope to increase the hope and create motivation. I hope to instill that we are radically accepted and that our pain is already carried by Jesus on the Cross and we do not have to remain stuck in a life where we feel God has abandoned us. Many of my greatest blessings were revealed when I triumphed over adversity by giving the lead of my life to God. I feel my life story connects with so many diverse life experiences and this offers me the opportunity to connect with a wide and varied population of people.
I feel called to be a missionary and do nothing else with my life but serve God. I finally know that all my life has been a preparation for serving Him, and I am eager to get rolling. So, how do I do it? Do I get involved with a church here that is interested in these specific causes? I am not currently involved in church. I have been in discernment about which denomination I am most aligned, and I notice that my soul is coded similar to many, many of the worlds religions. I often pray that one day we will have an eclectic church that uses teachings from the many diverse spiritual practices in our world.
Until that day, how do I connect with a Missionary Group that might be intereted in my cause here in the US? Do missionary groups have recruiting centers? Unfortunately, when I discuss this with peers, most of them think I am crazy. But I feel more on the right path than I have ever felt before, and even if all I did was dig ditches for water pipes, I’d be thrilled! Can you help give me some direction, sir. I am eager and excited and full of grace, love and hope. I just can’t find the place to start. Thank you for listening. Denise
Denise, thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I would find a church that you can get involved in on the local level. Take your time getting to know the pastor and the church. One thing that frustrates a pastor is to have a new person come in and get involved, but the person has their own agenda that doesn’t match the church’s plans. A pastor certainly wants you to be an effective witness, but they also feel responsible for everything that goes on in the ministry. They will be leery of a new person coming in and trying to start new things.
If you can find a church that already has a ministry like you want to be involved with, then that is much better. But it may be hard to find one in a smaller community.
Almost all mission agencies will want you to be part of a local church before they will even consider having you join their organization. You will need to have a hearty recommendation from your pastor. Therefore it is important that you get involved with a church and get behind their programs while working towards your goals.
God bless you as you share His love with others.
pls link up to any where for missionary training
Aigbosoria, Thank you for your question. I would encourage you to talk with your pastor to find out what he recommends in your area for missionary training.
When I was thinking about your question, I wrote an article at my website with some suggestions for missionary education. I hope it can be a help to you and other people looking for guidance.
Hallo David,
I am Jackson in South Sudan. I came across this article and I became very much incouraged. But one thing I would like to ask is; what are missions strategy?
Jackson, I have prayed for your new country. I am excited what God will do with South Sudan. I pray that there will be a great revival now that you have more religious freedom to serve God.
Mission’s strategies are intentional plans that are adopted by churches and individual missionaries on how they will preach and teach the Bible to the people groups they are trying to reach for God. This often involves research and planning on the various people groups they will reach as well as a plan to mobilize their church members and missionaries to accomplish the task.
I’m 14 and I feel called to be a missionary. How can I start preparing now?
Ashley, it encourages me to read that you feel called to be a missionary. Praise the Lord!
I would say that you need to continue to develop a personal relationship with the Lord. This goes beyond your salvation. Read and study the Bible. Pray and ask the Lord to guide your choices in life. So many young people ruin their lives for future service by making bad decisions. While God can and will forgive, we have to live with the consequences of our actions.
Ask your pastor how you can become more and more involved in the ministry at church. Tell him you feel called to be a missionary and he will probably help find various ways you can serve in the church. Each new task you are given can be used by the Lord to help prepare you for future ministry for Him.
Hello David,
The information you have provided has helped in some ways. Thank you. I am 45 and have been teaching for years…currently working on MA ED for school administration. I want to help create schools in the mission field. Could you explain what happens to my family? Where do my children go to school? What do we do for money? Where do we live? These are my concerns. Could you please send the information to my email that I listed? Thank you.
James, thank you for your questions. I will answer them simply which should give you enough information to do further research. Each of your questions could be an article in itself.
Family: Most missionaries these days take their family to the field with them. Historically that was not always the case.
Education: Some missionaries have schools available in the country for missionary kids. Some missionaries put their children in the local school system. I would imagine most (my family included) homeschool their children. This really depends on the field you are looking at going to.
Money: This is very dependent on the mission agency you are going through. Some denominations pay their missionaries like employees. Most “faith missions” is done by the missionary raising their own support through churches and individuals. This is done through monthly donations.
Housing: If you are going to the country long term and would like to buy a house there, sometimes it is possible. That depends on whether the country allows foreigners to buy property. Most missionaries rent a house. Sometimes mission agencies will own property in the country that their missionaries can use to live in while there.
I hope this helps!
Hello My Bro. in Chrst,
Thank you for sharing that article, I realize everything and I know it is not an accident that I read your article about How to become a Missionary. I have this desire to become a Missionary. I know it is hard but I want to share the Word of God to those people who are Lost.
I was stress and don’t know what to do or what to decide and I asked God for help and everyday He gave me a wonderful and amazing answers in a different way.
Thanks and God bless.
Praise the Lord that He directed you to this article. Let us know if you need any further information.
Hi David,
over the past months during my first year of college i have been having the urge or feeling of traveling for some reason and doing a career that calls for some traveling..at one point I thought about joining the navy but then i researched and the thought of being stuck on a ship for 7months or more doing military stuff only and nothing else bothered me.I not only want to travel the world a bit but I want to make a difference and help out the children for God’s kingdom. I’ve thought about missionary work but I don’t know what direction to head in as I attend college. I also love photography and I wanted to know if I could mingle the love of photography and kids together into one for God’s kingdom..I am only 18 and young you could say so I’m not sure if i need more life experience or how to go about my desire…should I start out a elementary teacher first or how should I go about it? (not to mix you up too much here but I also like the art of journalism mixed with photography, photojournalism. ) thank you for taking time to read my post… God Bless.
Crystal, it encourages me to read about young people wanting to serve the Lord in missions.
It is hard to say exactly what you should study in school, but let me give you some thoughts on the various topics you mentioned. You will have to be the one who decides exactly which course you should pursue. Going into a field just because it seems like the best option, may not be the right option for you. Find out where your passion lies and where God is leading in your life. This will help you in all your future work and ministry.
Studying to be a teacher will help you in many ways. You will learn good communications skills that you can use in any field you ultimately choose. Writing or Journalism will also help you in communicating your ideas and plans regardless of how you minister. Any art-type program can also help in these same areas. [I am convinced if you know how to communicate you will be a better worker in the business world or servant in God's ministry.]
I would encourage you to read a book that I enjoyed a few years ago. It is called Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado. The point of the book is to help you think about your past and your passions to see how God has designed you to work and minister. At 40 years old it was a help to me to see that I am doing the work God has designed me to do. But it would have been helpful to read it at your age to see where God might be leading me in the future.
God bless you as you seek His will.
Hello brother David,
I am 49 years old; I was born again at 44 after living a life of adultery, bar hopping and drunkenness sleeping with many women during my 20 years of playing in six different rock bands. In 2002 I lost my brother and best friend to a construction accident and in 2006 my live in girlfriend of 7 years left me do to my lack of love and respect for her and a bit later after that lost my home to foreclosure,(the Lord was getting my attention I assume) sitting alone in my house a week before they came to kick me out I found the Lord listening to John McArthur and RC Sproul on local radio and shortly after I quit all rock music performing and since have made a promise to God that I will never live with or sleep with a women unless I am married one day by Gods will, so far its been 6 years with no dates or sex, it’s not so bad…hehe.
I have never been married, have no kids and have never gone further than high school. I am a self taught computer builder and programmer and also run a one man medical courier service for ten years. Past year or so I find myself waking up around 3am thinking wide awake about God and I start praying to him to show me the way and let me find the open path he has planned for my life since I feel such a dead end feeling in my current day to day life that comes with no fulfillment by day’s end. These four our sleep nights have been occurring more and more as if getting awaken by the Holy Spirit to pray.
I have a passion to help the elderly and disabled people such as clothing them, sitting and talking with them or performing simple tasks they may need done, things that do not demand a degree. I also have nothing holding me back to do out of the country mission work. I would like to serve the Lord full time even with my non degree self taught computer skills. I’ve been studying the bible for 5 years since being born again and also play MP3 internet sermons from my favorite pastors to my 81 year old Mom over the phone almost every night as we talk about this world and discuss Jesus Christ.
Ok after that long intro LOL now my question.
Is it likely that an “out of country” mission project would and could utilize my skills and passions to help others without any formal degree in hand?
Thank you so much for your time and the effort you have put into this website and its content, God Bless You!
Mark
I answered your question above. I hope you get a chance to read my response.
I’m so glad that you happen to have this up here. I recently met a couple who worked as missionaries and I loved their stories and what they did and stood for. I loved listening about how they were changing lives and helping others. I just got so energized listening to them and being a missionary had always been a thought, but now, I think it’s what I’m meant to do.
I’m 17, a senior in high school and right about to graduate. I really wanna use photography and journalism in the mission field, but I don’t have a clue on how one would go about doing that. I know that most missionary organizations want college degrees and such.
Do you have any suggestions or advice on how to go about this?
Thank you and God bless you! : )
Sarah, thanks for your comments. I would say most of the same things to you that I said to Crystal above.
I encourage you to go to college and get a degree of some kind. I also think you should study the Bible either personally or through some kind of college program. Regardless of how you minister, you will need to have a good understanding of God’s Word.
Yes, most mission organizations will expect you to have a degree of some kind. This is very helpful to you in that it gives you experiences and knowledge in areas much more quickly than you would get otherwise. A proper use of knowledge and experience will help bring wisdom as you study the Bible. These are the reasons mission agencies like to have their candidates go to school.
God bless as you seek to serve Him.
God bless you David for this website,it is really a blessing, i like the way you are encouraging people to become missionaries, i believe that missions is the heart beat of God for our time.am already a missionary serving God in Uganda in east Africa,it is a needy land that needs both man power and resources to carry out the work,we are reaching the remote villages with the gospel and also mobilising the churches in the capital city to go into missions, we have a lot of orphans that needs help,we run discipleship programmes to train the converts to be like Christ and many other works,but we need financials help to be able to carry out the work effectively,so please am asking if you can link us with any group that supports mission work or any church or even individuals that has burden for Africa to be liberated, we work with a faith mission group that started from Nigeria called Calvary ministries aka known as capro.you can check about us on the website or just goggle capro pls we need help for the work is much hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you for writing Mercy.
I am glad to know you are sharing the Gospel with those around you. I am thrilled to see the outreach of Calvary Ministries from Nigeria into the world. Nigeria has a rich religious history. I pray that you and the others from Calvary Ministries clearly communicate the Gospel to the hearers.
I am not sure what the best option for you is on seeking financial assistance. Maybe someone willing to provide help will read this information and contact you and the ministry.
Dear David,
I really picked interest in all messages from you and comments from the brethren.All that I learnt, I was able to share with other brothers and sisters. But I was asked a question that I was not able to answer. The question is: Can somebody who has not gone to school be a missionary?
Here I would ask your help.
Yes, certainly someone who has not had a complete education can be a missionary. However, they will be less effective than the could be if they had some schooling. I don’t know if you mean someone who has never been to any type of school or someone who has never been to university. Either way, the person would be limited to effectively reaching people of their educational level or below.
From a practical point of view, that means that if I only had a high-school education, I should realistically expect to only reach people who have had up to a high school education as well. Certainly God can work and give me opportunities to reach people with a higher level of education.
I hope this helps to answer your question. I am excited to learn that you are teaching others the things you learn from the website. May God bless you and you help to educate your brethren about Him.
I know that I am called to missions for a fact. When I was about 11 or 12 I was at a church camp and one of the night sermons was about missions. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest by the time it was altar call. I went to the altar and God gave me a vision of all these Chinese women and children. God has shown me more about this calling on my life and how it ties in with human trafficking. I’m almost 17 now, going to be a senior in high school next year and I’m so confused about college.. I don’t know if I should go to some university and get a degree to be a social worker or if I should study to be a minister.. This is stressful and like I said, confusing. Any advice on that?
Thank you for commenting Courtney.
Your sensitivity to God’s leading in your life is encouraging. Stay close to the Lord and tender to His leading throughout your life.
I can’t definitively answer the question as to the best way for you to prepare, but I have some suggestions. There are many good Christian colleges where you can study both ministry and social work skills at the same time. You would not even need to find a program dedicated to just social work. Many programs can help prepare you for ministry. If you are particularly interested in China I would suggest you look at studying for an education degree or something that will open opportunities to go to China as a foreign worker.
I understand your concern for making the right choice. In my life when I have had big choices like this to make I ask God to give me very clear direction and peace with the final decision. God will show you if you are willing to allow Him to lead you instead of insisting that you make your own decisions.
I am extremely happy that you have written this article. It is awesome that people have been commenting on this for so long! I have been thinking about becoming a missionary. But, I am nowhere near ready spiritually for that. I recently re committed my life to Jesus. I haven’t found a church yet, but am looking. I have been praying that God show his purpose to me. I sincerely want it to be his will and not mine. I don’t want to make a decision to be a missionary because of the desire to travel. I am struggling with the know how to discern the difference between God calling me, or my own desire to do what I think his will is. Thank you again for this article, and God bless you.
Thanks for your comments Nicholas.
I think you are on the right track as far as waiting for God to show you and give you clear direction.
I pray that God will show you the right church in your area and that you will grow spiritually there. As you have a better relationship with the Lord and the church, you can ask your pastor to give you specific direction and areas where you should ask the Lord to help you grow spiritually. It is always helpful to have someone you can trust who will be honest about your areas of spiritual need.
I think you are wise to not make a quick decision about being a missionary. Get a good foundation (church, supportive spiritual leaders, etc.) and then you will make the right choice about how God wants you to serve.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your article on becoming a Christian Missionary. This has been a pull on my heart and spirit for as long as I can remember, but life and ministry on the “homefront” took precedence. I wanted to know how old is too old to start working on becoming a missionary? I used to be a Pastor, but my passion is to the less fortunate, the abused, the homeless, the unlearned “green” souls. I love to teach, disciple, and to mentor others. Is this something that I could still look into although I’m just shy of 50 years old?
I’ve worked the corporate jobs, the non for profit jobs, and ministry jobs, but the unsettling in my spirit makes to know that I am not meant to serve behind a desk any more. I feel that I could be best utilized in the field helping others learn more about the Bible, God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus… Teaching them to walk out their salvation in practical terms.
Can you provide any direction on mission agencies that deal with more “mature” (in terms of age – smile) missionaries?
Looking forward to hearing back from you. Again, thank YOU so much for laying the foundation of the missionary process.
Thank you for your questions. Fortunately, if God is calling you to His ministry, you don’t have to worry about age. I have heard of people going into foreign ministry in their 80s. Surely you can get everything together before then.
I don’t know of any mission’s agency that has a limit concerning age. Though many agencies will have health requirements (they don’t want you dying before you get a chance to arrive at your work).
Talk with your pastor or other men in the ministry you know and see if they can give you a specific recommendation for a mission board. I am always hesitant to give specific recommendations without knowing someone personally. Mission groups and philosophies are varied. It would be so easy to pick the wrong one. But if you have a friend who knows you and missions organizations, they may be able to recommend a good match for you.
I am glad to see you allowing the Lord to lead you throughout your life. Keep your heart tuned to Him and He will show you the right choices to make.
Hey,
but does any body know how I can be completely sure to become one ?
I’m 14 but ever since last year I just had this burning desire in my heart to become a pastor!! At first I thought I was stupid even thinking of becoming that but I can’t seem to get it out of my head its really all I want to do … But I’m a girl and I haven’t really seen any women preaching and I sorta struggle to talk infront of people…. Hehe* sorta thought I was the only one who wants to work in the ministry one day but it looks like there’s a few who wants to be missionaries … So that’s pretty awesome
Nadine, thank you for writing and I pray that you will be able to find out exactly what the Lord has for you in ministry. There are many ways to serve without being a pastor of a church. Many women teach other women either in large groups or in smaller Bible study groups.
As a missionary there are many ways you can serve others and love them like a pastor would without having the role of a pastor. Most churches which take the Bible as their sole authority for faith and practice do not have women pastors. You should talk to you pastor about this and see which direction he will guide you.
Be encouraged that even at your age that God is working in your life and leading you. Stay sensitive to His will. I knew I was called to the ministry at the age of 12 and God has guided me in each step of my growth in serving Him. I trust He will do the same for you.
I read through some of this site and the comments. I wanted to offer a way for people to get started in mission work. I am currently on the world race … http://Www.theworldrace.org … This is a great way for young adults to grow with God and discover if full time mission work is your calling. Check it out! Also I am currently in Romania helping a growing ministry … They need more missionary help in all areas … If God is putting a calling on your heart … Watch this power point
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16784093/Hope%20Church/HopeChurchMissionswMusic.pptx
Thank you for the information Jessica. I hope it can be a help to others as they look into ways to serve the Lord.
Since i became a christian I have always had the desire to become a missionary particularly around Africa. I have asked people for so much advice and I always get held back, even by my pastor. The things i’m not sure about are would i be able to doit for the rest of my life and be supported to doit, with accomodation, food, etc. I have many skills and talents that I can offer, but I always feel restrained.
Thanks for your questions James.
Sometimes people may be hesitant to encourage you to take the step of faith into missions because they are afraid of losing a good worker in the current ministry you are involved in. This is probably the biggest fear that pastors have. They are concerned that they will have trouble filling the role that the potential missionary already plays in the local church ministry. That is actually a good sign that you are involved and will probably make a good missionary. One thing you can do to help your pastor feel more comfortable with your leaving is to begin to train someone to take over your responsibilities.
If you aren’t involved in a critical way in the church ministries, then your pastor may be hesitant to recommend you to missions because he doesn’t think you will be a good worker on the field. If that is the case, then get busy in your local church and ministry.
It also may be that your pastor (and others around you) think you need more preparation and training. Find out from them exactly why they are not excited about you becoming a missionary. Don’t be offended by their responses. Use this as good feedback to become the missionary and spiritual leader God needs you to be.
Can you serve long-term and meet all your financial needs? Absolutely! If this is the work God wants you to do, then trust Him to take care of those needs. Most missionaries raise their own support via churches and friends. Raising support is a big task, but, again, if that is what God wants you to do, He will enable you to complete the job.
I trust the Lord will help you take the steps necessary to serve Him in the way He would want you to.
I was raised in a Christian home as a child, but really didn’t understand what it meant to be a Christian and was not active with any church for most of my adult life. I am now 54 and became a Christian a little over five years ago, when I found my present church home. For quite some time now I have felt God’s tug to become a missionary. I have been on two mission trips to Costa Rica and am active with our local missions as well. God’s call has been getting stronger over the last two years and really hit me hard while on my last trip to Costa Rica in January. I had a very moving experience with a young child while working with a feeding program. I have discussed this with my pastor and he was cautiously encouraging. He said that it is not uncommon for people to have emotional experiences on mission trips, and to give it time to see if the feelings continue. I have been praying for clarity and have been studying as much as I can about recognizing God’s call. I seem to be making a lot of excuses in my mind for why I can’t possibly become a missionary, but I am ready to sell everything and go. What guidence would you offer?
Thank you for your questions. There is wisdom in taking some time to think about what the Lord wants you to do, but you also understand that sometimes waiting is an excuse to do nothing.
Your pastor is right to be concerned that you might make an emotional decision and not necessarily a decision based on God’s leading. I would encourage you to keep your pastor informed about what God is doing in your life and heart. I trust that God will give him wisdom to guide your decision. I also hope that soon he will see your desire is a God-given passion for the ministry and not just an emotional pull to do something.
Keep studying God’s call and missions. As you study more I believe God will give you clear direction or He will take the passion away from you. At some point you will have such a burden that you can’t stay away from missions or you will begin to wonder if you should really be involved.
One thing I have always done in decision making like this is to ask God to make it painfully obvious what I should do. Allow Him to close and open doors so that you know it is His leading and not your emotions.
Your pastor sounds like a wise man and I trust he will give you the encouragement you need.
God bless!
Hey David, i’ve been changing my major for quite some times in the past 4 years. i went from music, to law enforcement, to education, to architect, then back to law enforcement, and now i want to become a missionary. my dad held a family meeting and i mentioned that i was not happy with my current major (law enforcement); during the meeting i was explaining about who i was and what i desired in life. i was talking for a good 10-15 minutes and towards the end i said i wanted to become a missionary. Though i never thought about becoming a missionary, the word just came out and everything became clearer to me. i thought that my parents were going to be mad at me for saying that, but they were actually quite happy. i also told my youth director and he seemed happy as well and said that he’ll be praying for me; even i was happy that i said that.
i don’t want to live a comfortable life while other countries are suffering. i want to go out there and help them in any way possible. i know that i’m capable of becoming a successful wealthy person in this country, but that’s not what i want. i want to serve God as much as i can. Though i’m scared of what’s going to happen to me, i’m also trusting that God will help me along the way. i don’t expect it to be easy and i want to go through the pain and sufferings that other people are going through. it’s not that i enjoy the sufferings, but without going through the sufferings, how can i say that i have faith in God when i have not gone through the worst of the worst of sufferings. i would say that i’m pretty active at church as well and everybody knows me. i was a shaman before i converted to christianity in 2002 and i never regreted it for one second.
i have talents and characteristics that i know i can use to help in the ministry, but i don’t know how. i’m average with musical instruments, but i can compose pretty well; i like to and am willing to clean/build/fix anything if i was taught how to do it; i like kids and am a kid at heart because i like to be silly even though i’m 22 years old; and i want to give my whole life to God and serve him because He gave His life for us.
my church does not have a pastor at the moment because our church has been going through a division and it is still going on. it has split up twice in the past 3 years and a lot of us know who is causing it, but our districts headquarters is not doing much to fix the root of the problem.
do you have any suggestions on who else to talk to about my decision and do you know what kind of ministry would work best for me?
Kong, thank you for telling us your story. I trust the Lord will give you clear direction as you seek Him.
Because you don’t currently have a pastor, I would suggest you look to other spiritual leaders around you. If your parents are good Christians they may be able to help guide you. Keep in mind that parents often want what they perceive to be best for their children; that is not always what God wants for them though. Find a good Christian who is older and has seen God work in your life over the last several years. They should be able to see if God has been helping you mature into a good Christian who truly wants to serve the Lord, or if you are just emotionally tired of all the decisions and are looking to please other people. If your immediate desire is to please others and not to follow God at any cost, then it will be hard for you to stay at the task God would have you do.
I always encourage people to talk with their pastor because he should be a spiritually mature Christian who can see God working in another person. However, any mature Christian who has known you for a while can be a good counselor.
God bless you as you seek to find His will.
Hello, my name is NaRetta and I have grown up in a christian home and now have a family of my own. I have always had the desire to be a missionary. I have traveled much and studied several different languages. I had a rough spot in my life for awhile though and kind of fell out of sorts with God. I recently have re-given myself to the Lord and have received the Holy Ghost. I have been praying and I feel God wants me to be a missionary but now that I have two kids of my own I feel like it is impossible and my father and grandfather happen to be the pastors of my church and I know that staying with my family and at home is the number one priority for myself as well as what they would say. I tried to join the peace corp and military when I was younger and not so long ago actually but being not near home or in a way of danger always got a no answer from my father and I don’t know how to approach him with this desire and overwhelming feeling. My husband is on board with the idea but does think it’s important that I have the blessing of my church as well as my father. I just don’t know what to do or how to approach this particular situation.
Dear NaRetta,
Praise God
Please can you come to Ghana and establis and work together?
Hear from you and may God wishes bless
kwame yankey
mobile 00225 05421088.
Ellen, I am glad to hear that your husband is in agreement with you. I also agree with him that it is important that your church be supportive of your desire to serve God in a greater way.
I would encourage you to pray daily and fervently that God would give you clear direction. Ask your father to do the same. If you are both truly in communication with the Lord over this matter, I trust that He will give you both the same answer and that God will either reveal what He wants you to do or will change your father’s heart in the matter.
God bless you as you strive to serve Him.
Dear Minister
Good Evening.
Am 32years old and i’m making my own personal evangelism to win soul for christ but i start this as prayer groupe , now i have ten people who are convince to form prayer ministry and pray for others so i need more teaching ,because i know that in future it will turn to church so i need your advice.
be bless and may God guid you
Kwame Yankey
mobile 00225 05421088.
Kwame, my best advice for learning more about the Bible and what it means is to daily be in God’s Word. Also, read the wonderful teachings here at What Christians Want to Know.
God bless you as you seek to share His Word with others.
By the grace of God, i am a member of ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH in nigeria. I have been a sunday school teacher for more than 25yrs, i have been able by His grace to plant up to four churches in differant states incuding the federal capital. I have also head hospital and prison ministy for some years now.I need a mission organisation where i can serve the Lord more and give out my little knowledge even outside my country.
Daniel, I am thrilled to know that you are teaching other people about God and His Word. I trust that you will study the Bible and its doctrines concerning salvation and faith in Jesus Christ alone. Our salvation is not provided through our work or experiences we have, but through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
For more direction on how you can reach out to other areas and countries, I would recommend you speak with other pastors or a Bible college in Nigeria. They will be better able to point you in the right direction for organizations which can help you.
i became christian my father family want to kill me and my baby i cant live i pakistan plz help me i want to leave this country otherwis these people want to kill me i need help .
Hello Mariam. I wish we had the resources to help you leave your country. I will pray that God will provide an open door for you to leave and to use you as a witness of His for the gospel’s sake. When you are being persecuted for Christ’s sake then you have the glory of God resting upon you. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” and the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 4:12-19, “”Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”
Dear Mr. Peach,
I became a Christian at a very young age around seven years old. I also went to Christian schooling from middle school to high school. Now I am in College. I feel God calling me to missionary work because of a sermon series I heard my pastor just began called “Disciples” which he focuses on asking people “what is your ministry?”. Since that sermon, I have felt inspired to do mission work and from reading the Great Commission in Matthew 28 in the past. The only problem is that I am at regular liberal arts college. I originally wanted to go to a Christian college like Messiah College or Nyack but unfortunately I can’t afford to go those colleges sadly. I wish my family could afford to send me to a Christian college so I can major in some kind of ministry. We don’t have much money since my mom is a single parent. Right now I’m stuck at this college and may or may not be able to transfer to another Christian college. I don’t want to waste my time in college doing a major that’s not needed in ministry and then waste money too. I want to find a major that will help me fulfill God’s call for me to be missionary and build up His Church.
I read in another comment that you wrote about that said Social Work is greatly needed in missions too because of having knowledge in legal matters. As a matter of fact, my college has that Major and I just finished my freshman year so I have time to switch majors! Originally I was going to be a history teacher but if social work is better for God’s ministry then I’ll do it.
Do missionary organizations really need or want social work majors? Is social work good for ministry? How would I implement that into ministry?
Please let me know. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Parker, thank you for your questions.
I think a degree in social work can be used by the Lord on the mission field, but I also think just about any other degree can be used. Don’t go into social work because you feel pressured to do it, rather, choose that as a degree path if you think that is where the Lord is leading you.
A degree in History may not be something you use on the field directly, but all the education classes you will take along the way are invaluable. It doesn’t matter what you actually end up doing as a missionary, those education classes will be put to use. My wife was a Math and English Ed double major. She uses neither one directly. But what she does as a sign language teacher and what she has taught me about education helps me every day in the ministry.
If you can’t go to a Christian college, or maybe even feel that is not the way the Lord is leading you, then that is fine. There are many ways to grow in the Lord personally while you are in school. When you finish your degree there are many Bible colleges and programs which can help you gain a better understanding of the Word of God. Talk with your pastor and he may be able to recommend a good 2 year program that focuses solely on the Bible. You would not have a B.S. in Bible at the end, but you might end up with an even better education in the Bible if that is all you study for 2 years. Plus, you will be 3 or 4 years older than you are now which is a huge benefit to actually learning. It took me 6 years to go through Bible college. I know the last 2 years I was much more mature and serious about my studies than I was my first 4 years.
God bless you as you seek to find His will and direction for study.
I have wanted to be a missionary for some time now. I have no college education. But I have life education and the Lord has been with me my whole life. I am a member of St Vince De Paul and I want more. To help spread the gospel and help any way I can.
Scott, I suggest you talk with your pastor and see how he can help direct you. He may be able to plug you into a ministry right there in your area that you can do while he spends time discipling you in areas of need. He can fill in the gaps you may have in your Bible knowledge so that you can more effectively serve the Lord.
This is a great path for someone who is older who may not even need a four year degree. However, for younger people, getting a degree sets you up for quicker success in the ministry. You will learn skills in school that may take many years of experience to learn on your own.
Hi
I am 20 years old and was born and raised in South Africa. I live in Pretoria, South Africa.
Now, I have been working on and off for the last 2 years and every time I start to become acclimated to the work something happens. Every time it is like God is telling me he wants something else for me.
In September 2011 I lost my father to a heart disease. Not long after that people told me that I had changed and became hard and loveless.
I now realise that the reason for this is because I again blamed God for taking away another parent. For you see my mother shot herself when I was only 3 years old. It took me 12 years to forgive God and realise he did it so I can help people that are going through the same heart ship and pain.
So in December 2011 I went on a tour from the northern point of South Africa in Musina to the southern point in Cape Town on bicycles. On this journey I decided to take a step of faith and ask God to give me a clear indication of what he wants for my life and what he wants me to do. So on the journey I asked Him the same question every day, ”What do You want for my life and what do You want me to do?” this went on for 3 weeks and there was no answer. So I gave up and I decided that God wanted me to go my own way.
I got a job but that did not last long. So then I realised that God is trying to tell me something.
That is when I had an operation. So after the operation wen the anaesthesia wore off, in a hazy state I started to tell the doctors and nurses around me about God. It felt like a dream. The words came so naturally it was like the Holy Spirit was in control and I was not part of the equation. I was left in a sitting position to recover. That night in the recovery room I was all alone. I woke around 3 in the morning. As I looked around I remembered what I told the doctors and nurses. I was still thinking of it as a dream and I was struggling to decide which it was a dream or reality.
Then something above me caught my eye and I looked up and I saw light coming from behind me it was like sun light coming from underneath the slit of a door. I looked around and no lights were on nothing. That is when I understood that what I said to those people was no dream.
Just to add to his power a nurse came to me later that day. She asked me questions about God and told me her story. She asked me to help her understand why God is doing the things he is in her life. The words just came to me.
I never asked her why she chose me to speak to but in my heart I know that God sent her.
That was a weak ago and now I know God wants me to spread his Word. My problem is I can’t find a place to start.
Please help
God promises to fill our mouths and minds if we are submitted to Him. Of course it is easier to fill if we have knowledge of His Word. I praise the Lord for the way He has worked and led in your life.
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Where to start? Start right where you are. Sometimes people want to wait to witness for the Lord when they get to the mission field; however, if you are not being a witness where you are then you probably won’t do a good job at it somewhere else.
Find out from your pastor and church where a need is. It may be that you are needed in some foreign country, or it could be that God would have you work with a special need right there at home. Find out from your pastor and spiritual leaders if there is some way you can serve the Lord today.
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