Can God use writing, photography or journalism in missions?
I am interested in social work and sociology in university. How could I use this in missions?
» more related questionsQ: I am in engineering. How could I use this in missions?
A: Use appropriate technology.
I work with a mission agency that disciples people holistically, in the vision of seeing a whole community transformed by the Gospel. Working on a team with Medical, Theology, and Agriculture specialists, engineers empower people to make inventions with locally available resources as they disciple them to follow Jesus with their whole life. You would also teach people to teach others. Imagine designing a rain collection system, a clean water system, or an enclosed oven. These inventions can save people's lives from dirty water, dehydration, and burns from open-fire ovens.
A: Numerous possibilities with SIM.
There are numerous ways in which a civil engineer can minister in missions. There are numerous projects all over the world that need the expertise of an engineer.
For example, we are currently looking for someone to plan the system of waste water disposal and supervising the construction of this system at a hospital in Niger.
There are many other similar opportunities.
For example, we are currently looking for someone to plan the system of waste water disposal and supervising the construction of this system at a hospital in Niger.
There are many other similar opportunities.
A: Be a witness to whom others can relate.
I'm an industrial engineer (PhD) and came to Italy working for a US company as a tentmaker. Even though Italy is not a "creative access" country, there are still excellent reasons for going the tentmaking route. Generally middle and high level management, engineering, and other technical jobs are the ones that US companies fill overseas with expatriates. If your goal is to get to the mission field as a tentmaker, engineering could be a great springboard.
In my case, after 3 1/2 years as a tentmaker, I decided that the opportunities for the traditional, "full-time" missionary were so great that I left my job and changed. In many countries, however, the doors for traditional missions work are less open and I would have kept my secular job. Even here, I still work part-time so that I can honestly tell people that I'm an English teacher and translator rather that saying "I'm a missionary. After I've finished destroying your culture, I'd like to help you change your religion to that of my non-Christian cult." (That's what most Catholics hear when you say the word "missionary" or "protestant".)
In my case, after 3 1/2 years as a tentmaker, I decided that the opportunities for the traditional, "full-time" missionary were so great that I left my job and changed. In many countries, however, the doors for traditional missions work are less open and I would have kept my secular job. Even here, I still work part-time so that I can honestly tell people that I'm an English teacher and translator rather that saying "I'm a missionary. After I've finished destroying your culture, I'd like to help you change your religion to that of my non-Christian cult." (That's what most Catholics hear when you say the word "missionary" or "protestant".)
A: Be willing to use your engineering skills on the side.
I am a former Civil Engineer. I had committed my life totally to the Lord when I was 12, at a Bible camp, but after high school and a year of Bible college, did not feel that the Lord was calling me into full-time Christian work. So I went to engineering school. After graduating from IIT in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, I worked several years in engineering in West Virginia. Then I felt that the Lord wanted me in some time of Christian work, quit myjob, and went back to theological seminary. I ended up here in Irian Jaya, with my wife, Suzanne, in church planting and Bible translation with UFM International. (We have just completed the New Testament in the Nalja tribal language here, by the way.)
Working in a primitive area (no roads at all in large areas of the jungle mountains of Irian Jaya), my engineering training came in very handy in planning and supervising jungle airstrips for Missionary Aviation Fellowship and other mission planes to use. Also, we put in a small hydroelectric plant for power at our Nalja station. Many other things we have done, and have been able to help other missionaries with, were made easier by that engineering training.
Many missionaries, obviously, do not have such training, so it is very good to have someone with such a background working in various fields. Effective missionary work involves a lot of partnership.
Therefore, my advice is: seek info from various mission agencies and information sharing services, and see if there are some opportunities to directly use your training on the mission field for some of them. If the Lord does not open up something directly, choose to work in some significant spiritual ministry in some less developed area of the world. There will inevitably be opportunities to use your training. It is not necessary to be using your training extensively to be in the Lord's will
either. The most important ministries overall obviously are the spiritual ministries, and we need not feel time was "wasted" in other training even if the Lord later leads us into places where we do not use that training a lot. He knows what He is doing! :)
Also, I always encourage those involved in engineering or mathematics fields to consider Bible translation. The same analytical skills used in those fields are vital for Bible translation. Training in developing those kinds of skills contributes to ability to do Bible translation, which I consider one of the most significant ministries of all! What can we do that is more
significant that providing God's Word in their language for the first time for a whole people group or language group?! God can continue to use His Word then in that group, with or without missionaries!
Working in a primitive area (no roads at all in large areas of the jungle mountains of Irian Jaya), my engineering training came in very handy in planning and supervising jungle airstrips for Missionary Aviation Fellowship and other mission planes to use. Also, we put in a small hydroelectric plant for power at our Nalja station. Many other things we have done, and have been able to help other missionaries with, were made easier by that engineering training.
Many missionaries, obviously, do not have such training, so it is very good to have someone with such a background working in various fields. Effective missionary work involves a lot of partnership.
Therefore, my advice is: seek info from various mission agencies and information sharing services, and see if there are some opportunities to directly use your training on the mission field for some of them. If the Lord does not open up something directly, choose to work in some significant spiritual ministry in some less developed area of the world. There will inevitably be opportunities to use your training. It is not necessary to be using your training extensively to be in the Lord's will
either. The most important ministries overall obviously are the spiritual ministries, and we need not feel time was "wasted" in other training even if the Lord later leads us into places where we do not use that training a lot. He knows what He is doing! :)
Also, I always encourage those involved in engineering or mathematics fields to consider Bible translation. The same analytical skills used in those fields are vital for Bible translation. Training in developing those kinds of skills contributes to ability to do Bible translation, which I consider one of the most significant ministries of all! What can we do that is more
significant that providing God's Word in their language for the first time for a whole people group or language group?! God can continue to use His Word then in that group, with or without missionaries!
A: Serve as a missionary engineer or be a tentmaker.
I see two options. First, serve with a mission agency that is channeling missionaries with engineering training to use their skills in a mission context. How well I remember my friend, Lawrence Emory, a civil engineer with a theological degree, working with the Presbyterians in Colombia. He was a pioneer, delighting in taking his half-ton truck into the remotest backwoods areas. He carried a sledge hammer and a huge iron spike to which he attached the winch on his truck to pull himself out of mud holes or across streams. I don't know how many church buildings he designed and erected. Often he carried a tent and boards for benches in his vehicle and set it up for evangelistic services in which he or young Colombians he was training would preach. For example, look into Engineering Ministries International http://www.emiusa.org.
Other agencies, such as World Vision http://www.wvi.org or World Concern http://www.worldconcern.org particularly focus on areas of relief/rehabilitation and training, so that they seek people like you with technical know-how.
Second, be a "tentmaker." That is a bi-vocational missionary who is self-supporting financially, but whose main purpose is to be in a cross-cultural context for the purpose of sharing the Gospel. If this is your interest, I would suggest that you begin by contacting the mission Global Opportunities http://www.globalopps.org. They list as their goal: "to mobilize and equip missions-committed Christians to serve abroad as effective tentmakers, especially in countries of greatest spiritual need." They claim they can find jobs for almost anyone.
Other agencies, such as World Vision http://www.wvi.org or World Concern http://www.worldconcern.org particularly focus on areas of relief/rehabilitation and training, so that they seek people like you with technical know-how.
Second, be a "tentmaker." That is a bi-vocational missionary who is self-supporting financially, but whose main purpose is to be in a cross-cultural context for the purpose of sharing the Gospel. If this is your interest, I would suggest that you begin by contacting the mission Global Opportunities http://www.globalopps.org. They list as their goal: "to mobilize and equip missions-committed Christians to serve abroad as effective tentmakers, especially in countries of greatest spiritual need." They claim they can find jobs for almost anyone.
A: Engineers are needed in the least reached countries.
Imagine, your skills are needed where His name has not been heard! We have helped many engineers go to these places, using their work skills to model integrity and form friendships. The opportunities for engineers is huge, but I would caution you against going before you have had a chance to build a support network back home through your church and also to get some training. We at Global Opportunities have much to offer both online and in our courses. Visit Global Opportunities.
A: Check out Engineering Ministries International.
Engineering Ministries International supports missions and indigenous ministries in developing countries that have design needs. They send engineers, architects, and related design professionals on project trips to design facilities such as orphanages, medical centers, clean water projects etc. Check out emiworld.org for lots of opportunities!
