What are the advantages of long-term missions?
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?
» more related questionsQ: What is the first step toward becoming a missionary?
A: Six early steps from my journey
There can be many possible first steps, depending on your situation. I will list a few possible ones; but above all, the most important is to know that God is calling you to missions.
1. Get out or stay out of debt. It is very hard to launch out overseas when you are trying to repay a mortgage, student loan, credit card, or other loan.
2. Travel overseas for an exposure visit. Visiting another country firsthand can give you the vision and understanding you need to move forward. Be sure to visit other missionaries while there and get some hands-on experience.
3. Get trained. There are many excellent training options. Which one suits you depends on what type of work you want to do. It could be a Bible School, Seminary, YWAM program, etc.
4. Get people at home (including your church) on board with your vision. Find someone who can mentor you or serve as a model. Listen to what they have to say.
5. Learn as much as you can about your target country or people group and about being a missionary in general. This can include making friends from that place who live in your home country, reading, studying the language, etc. Read books like "Let the Nations be Glad" by John Piper or "The Great Omission" by Robertson Mcquilkin.
6. Try to become as healthy as you can and develop healthy habits. These can include the discipline of spending time with God, dealing with past hurts/struggles so that they don’t burden you on the field, etc.
Of course there are many more things but these are the ones that have been important to my journey.
1. Get out or stay out of debt. It is very hard to launch out overseas when you are trying to repay a mortgage, student loan, credit card, or other loan.
2. Travel overseas for an exposure visit. Visiting another country firsthand can give you the vision and understanding you need to move forward. Be sure to visit other missionaries while there and get some hands-on experience.
3. Get trained. There are many excellent training options. Which one suits you depends on what type of work you want to do. It could be a Bible School, Seminary, YWAM program, etc.
4. Get people at home (including your church) on board with your vision. Find someone who can mentor you or serve as a model. Listen to what they have to say.
5. Learn as much as you can about your target country or people group and about being a missionary in general. This can include making friends from that place who live in your home country, reading, studying the language, etc. Read books like "Let the Nations be Glad" by John Piper or "The Great Omission" by Robertson Mcquilkin.
6. Try to become as healthy as you can and develop healthy habits. These can include the discipline of spending time with God, dealing with past hurts/struggles so that they don’t burden you on the field, etc.
Of course there are many more things but these are the ones that have been important to my journey.
A: Confirmation of your church
Barnabas and Saul came back to Antioch from Jerusalem. It is an assumption, but a valid one, that they were thinking about the "regions beyond". Act 11:19 says the Gospel had gone no further than Antioch in Syria. In Acts 13, five men were put forward. The church heard the Holy Spirit say, "I want Barnabas and Saul."
From my experience, I am confident to say that the FIRST step after you believe God has given you a "personal call" is to obtain the prayerful (and fasting) confirmation of your church, whether that be the whole Body, the leadership, your home fellowship--some group larger than a couple of friends who will seek the Lord for His confirmation.
From my experience, I am confident to say that the FIRST step after you believe God has given you a "personal call" is to obtain the prayerful (and fasting) confirmation of your church, whether that be the whole Body, the leadership, your home fellowship--some group larger than a couple of friends who will seek the Lord for His confirmation.
