Q: I am years away from finishing my education. When should I start to look at agencies?

Start investigating possible agencies now. Check out their webpage and see where they are serving and what sort of ministries that they are involved in. Try a short-term trip this summer with your agency of choice to see how it is working with them. If you can go to an orientation session prior to graduation you may be able to start support-raising at graduation.

This is not an issue with which you deal with alone. Step One is to submit yourself to your church leadership according to Acts 13:1-4. As you work with them, the type of ministry you will engage in will determine the agency. Maybe a first step would be to read the book I think God wants me to be a missionary . This will help you walk through a lot of issues to think about right at these early stages of preparation for missionary service.

It is good to begin the exploration early. A good mission agency will want to develop a relationship with you, not simply look at a form and give "thumbs up or down" and deploy you. If an agency simply says, "Call us back when you're out", obviously they are not seeking that sort of relationship and are not as likely to walk with you as you explore you calling. During your college years they can give advice on experiences that can help prepare.

The agency I'm with first met us when I was a new seminary student. We ended up going to the field in nine years later! They walked with us all those years, checking in on us, discussion our call, exploring options. No pressure, just a genuine desire to help us fulfill the call God had where and when He chose.

I'm on staff of that same agency now and believe strongly in maintaining that approach!