Six Essentials for Becoming a Missionary

All believers are called to make disciples of all nations, and some are specifically called to international cross-cultural missions. The following six points are helpful to anyone who may be considering becoming a missionary.

CALLING

Is a sense of calling frequently on your heart?  Some people sense God’s call to missions when they’re children; others when they’re adults. Either way, there’s a quiet sense that God is speaking to your heart. This quiet sense may or may not identify a specific people group, or country, but that sense of God’s calling is there.

MEANINGFUL FAITH

The mission field will test one’s faith in very real ways. It’s not as much about demonic attacks as it is about overcoming preliminary isolation and stress, prayer and leaning on God to provide people of His choosing for you to meet, and dependence on His leadership in everything. In the USA people often feel as if they don’t need complete dependence on God since Walmart is just around the corner and one is surrounded by friends and family. But on the mission field, one learns to lean harder on Him for almost every sort of necessity. So, a meaningful relationship with the Lord is essential for anyone who is heading to the mission field.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

One doesn’t need to have started a small business, planted a church, or sold the most Girl Scout Cookies. But a general “can-do” sense, with a positive spirit and a will to make things happen, are important qualities. There are no play-books or formulas that universally work on the mission field. Most of the time, missionaries just creatively figure out how to make positive relational connections, and then use these for Kingdom purposes. One Korean couple taught western cooking classes in their apartment in India.  Another provided goats to rural farmers as their point of entry to talking about Jesus.

HUMILITY

It is crucial that every missionary become a learner and humble enough to serve others as Jesus did. One missionary went to a region recently devastated by earthquakes and began his “missionary presence” by helping dig toilets to provide sanitation for thousands who’d lost their homes. It is assumed by most cultures that foreigners are all rich, so living simply is a must. Language learning can be challenging; it can also provide a means for making new friends.

PLATFORM

A missionary calling takes you beyond the short-term mission trip. In most cases ‘career’ missionaries move to and live in another country where they can most effectively minister. In most countries today you’ll need a “Visa Platform,” i.e., a reason other than being a missionary, for your presence in that country. While there are a few countries that still offer a missionary visa, most will require that you have a more secular reason for permanent residence. Your visa platform may be as close as your education, skills, and training. Teaching, language learning, medical professional, business, agriculture, consulting, engineering, and tourism are only a few of the endless possibilities for your visa platform.

CHURCH AFFIRMATION

One’s missions call is intimately tied to the body of Christ and the Church’s mandate to make disciples of all nations. It’s important that your church and pastor support your sense of calling enough to function as a “sending church,” possibly providing some financial support but definitely praying regularly for you, providing a small team to be your “go-to” group when special needs arise, and being there for you in real ways when you come home to visit, re-tool, or even to retire.

As important as your local church is in affirmation and spiritual support, it is not always able to provide an adequate level of practical and logistical support. While not listed in the five ‘essentials’, it is important that every missionary connects with an agency that can supplement the role of the local church by providing financial accountability and logistics, spiritual and prayer support, and member care.

GlobalGrace cares for missionaries in more than 40 countries. Through its 85-year history, GlobalGrace has not only assisted missionaries in maintaining their day-to-day ministries but also assists those who are trying to discern God’s call to the missions or determine how and where they should serve.

John S serves in a leadership position with the GlobalGrace home office