How can I know if God is leading me to become a missionary?
Are there missionaries who have gone even though initially they had no desire to go?
How much should I consider the needs of the world and my gifts?
» more related questionsQ: Should I wait for guidance to a specific country?
A: No. Let God direct you whereand how He pleases.
Don't let this worry you. We are all different. Missionary biographies are replete with those who had a lifetime direction to a particular people, such as Hudson Taylor's call to the Chinese. Others, like C.T. Studd, moved around. Did Paul have direction to a particular culture or geographical location? He went as he was led of the Spirit.
My own direction came as a child. I knew He wanted me to be a missionary. I thought it was going to be in Korea, but He shut this door. Through a chain of circumstances He led me first to Canada, then to Latin America in general and university students in particular. Thirty years in Colombia has made this people very dear to us, but we lived in four different countries and served in many more. The fundamental direction to all of us is to God and He will lay the burdens on our hearts when and how He pleases, as we are open to Him.
God's basic guidance is to know and serve Him - the place is secondary. We served the Lord among students for many years in Colombia, South America. I once asked Eugenio, who worked for several years among indigenous peoples, how he happened into cross-cultural ministry. He replied, "Well, you got us involved in serving the people next to us, then took us to universities where there was no witness, and you never told us when to stop."
As we seek God's will, it is helpful to analyze who we are: our abilities, our interests, our opportunities, the counsel of wise friends we respect, what gives us the greatest joy, and also the tug of our hearts. As we bring these resources before the Lord in prayer and get involved in serving Him where we are, we can expect Him to show us more and more clearly the next steps.
My own direction came as a child. I knew He wanted me to be a missionary. I thought it was going to be in Korea, but He shut this door. Through a chain of circumstances He led me first to Canada, then to Latin America in general and university students in particular. Thirty years in Colombia has made this people very dear to us, but we lived in four different countries and served in many more. The fundamental direction to all of us is to God and He will lay the burdens on our hearts when and how He pleases, as we are open to Him.
God's basic guidance is to know and serve Him - the place is secondary. We served the Lord among students for many years in Colombia, South America. I once asked Eugenio, who worked for several years among indigenous peoples, how he happened into cross-cultural ministry. He replied, "Well, you got us involved in serving the people next to us, then took us to universities where there was no witness, and you never told us when to stop."
As we seek God's will, it is helpful to analyze who we are: our abilities, our interests, our opportunities, the counsel of wise friends we respect, what gives us the greatest joy, and also the tug of our hearts. As we bring these resources before the Lord in prayer and get involved in serving Him where we are, we can expect Him to show us more and more clearly the next steps.
A: No. Invite God to first match you to a missions agency.
One missionary leader has said, "The team you're playing with is more important than the stadium in which you're playing." Let the Lord decide where He wants to place you in His world. Perhaps you have a specific geographic call that's clear and will focus your selection of an agency. But for most, God has given gifts and a desire to respond. For example, half of those who join WEC Int'l don't begin with a geographical call. They know they are called to missions and to that agency.
Some agencies have global opportunities and you can a find a placement anywhere in the world. Other groups have a focused geographical calling, such as Greater Europe Mission. The agency name may or may not indicate that focus. For example, Christian Associates International also works mainly in Europe.
Some agencies have global opportunities and you can a find a placement anywhere in the world. Other groups have a focused geographical calling, such as Greater Europe Mission. The agency name may or may not indicate that focus. For example, Christian Associates International also works mainly in Europe.
A: Let an agency match your gifts with the need.
I’d always thought missionaries were "called" to a particular country and I had no tug like that. I talked with a recruiter about my background. When I mentioned my degree in journalism and career in/publications, her eyes lit up. She mentioned a communications role in Hungary, and as soon as she said "Hungary," something clicked inside. I know this could only come from the Lord, because I have never been interested in leaving my friends and family and moving halfway across the world to become a missionary!
I had never had any interest in Hungary. I wasn’t even sure I could find it on the map!
Since joining God on the mission field, He has led me to a place physically, spiritually, and emotionally where I have only Him to trust and depend on. My relationship with the Lord has grown stronger and more confident, as He has shown me consistently that He is the way, the truth, and the life. While I have kicked and screamed at times, He always returns my questions, frustrations, and my occasional willingness to obey with love, assurance, and blessings.
I had never had any interest in Hungary. I wasn’t even sure I could find it on the map!
Since joining God on the mission field, He has led me to a place physically, spiritually, and emotionally where I have only Him to trust and depend on. My relationship with the Lord has grown stronger and more confident, as He has shown me consistently that He is the way, the truth, and the life. While I have kicked and screamed at times, He always returns my questions, frustrations, and my occasional willingness to obey with love, assurance, and blessings.
A: No. Expect a God-given curiosity to be your first step to the nations.
Christians in the West have for generations talked about missions mostly in terms of being "called" to political countries. The Bible, however, tells us to make disciples among all "nations," using the Greek term ethne--or ethnic groups. For example, in the political country of Sudan, there are more than 500 distinct ethnic groups. So how does God lead you to a particular group?
Missiologist Herbert Kane interviewed hundreds of missionaries about their sense of a "missionary call" to a place or people. He found that what they referred to in hindsight as a "call" was most often a sequence of curiosity, interest, an understanding, an assurance, a conviction, a commitment and, finally, the action of moving out to live among a particular people.
So instead of waiting and waiting for some kind of traditional "call" to some specific place or people, it makes all kinds of sense to follow your God-given curiosity and interests--and "look among the nations" (Habakkuk 1:5).
Missiologist Herbert Kane interviewed hundreds of missionaries about their sense of a "missionary call" to a place or people. He found that what they referred to in hindsight as a "call" was most often a sequence of curiosity, interest, an understanding, an assurance, a conviction, a commitment and, finally, the action of moving out to live among a particular people.
So instead of waiting and waiting for some kind of traditional "call" to some specific place or people, it makes all kinds of sense to follow your God-given curiosity and interests--and "look among the nations" (Habakkuk 1:5).
