Q: Can I serve international missions and still live full-time in my home country?

I think you can find ways to serve in world missions from home, even though you work full-time.

First, God has brought the internationals of the world to the door step of the developed world. Contact a Christian ministry at a university near you.

Another way is to find out about missionaries from your church who are serving internationally. Get to know them, find out what they do and how you can support them (not only financially, there are many other ways you can also support them morally and practically). More information on that can be found in the book Serving as Senders by Neal Pirolo.

Finally, and most importantly, pray for the world. Find a group who meets for prayer. There are always options to go during your vacation on short term missions trips - that's what I have been doing as well. That way you get connections to international organizations and ministries. You can support them as well and maybe even send a team from your church to them.

If members of the body fail to do their part back home, then the rest have to struggle on the foreign mission field. One way to serve in your home country is to inform churches of the missions work going on in your areas of interest. Prayer is always needed! Contact known missionaries and ask what you can do to help. You'll be surprised at what you can do. Our missions organization is assisted by several denominations in various regions that collect clothing, baby formula, and other items that we distribute in Central America from trailers that arrive twice a year. The most effective way to know what God has is to seek Him earnestly in prayer and ask what He would like you to accomplish for mission in your home country.

Many mission agencies have offices in your home country. Those of us working in the home office serve as a lifeline of support for those called to be missionaries on the field. You can serve in personnel, recruiting, fund raising, finance, payroll, computers/IT, publicity, marketing and a dozen other areas. In many cases you will need to raise your support just like someone serving on the fields (but hey, that is fair to those on the field). An army has to have its supply lines and so does God's army of missionaries. Check with the home office of the agencies you might want to serve with to see what positions they need to fill.

"My child, I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have plans to use you in reaching out to those that I lead you to. How long? Just be sensitive to me and I will lead you. Be willing to give me all of your life to serve wherever I lead you. It may be in your home country. It may be overseas. The location is not as important as obedience to wherever I lead."

Also, read Roger Babik's book 'A Call Against the Will' that is Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God" brought to life. Learn how a career businessman does the trading-spaces thing by casting aside his secure management job of 17 years to launch an international ministry while still based in his home country.
http://www.masterprovisions.org