Going on the mission field is exciting, rewarding, and challenging all at the same time. There is something thrilling about getting out there, and ministering to others who are in need. It is a powerful experience to see how others live and how little they have. You are looking forward to the day you can travel to new countries, and be the witness God needs you to be to the most unlikely souls to come to faith in Jesus Christ. You think of starting churches in the spiritually darkest places.
You want to reach the world for Christ because you want to glorify His name. You may think that in order to fulfill those dreams all you need is passion and to trust that God will open the doors for you to go somewhere. You may find yourself disillusioned by loneliness, despair and crushed dreams if you’re not sure what it takes to be a missionary. Here are five things that you should know before going on the mission field
1.
It Can Be Like Going to War: Being in a third world country can be like going to war.
Some say that they wished that there was some sort of cross-cultural training
to prepare people for what they see. The water supply is often poor. There are
often airborne viruses everywhere. The chances of getting sick are real. Many
say the culture does not make any sense to them, and they feel homesick. The
people are not going to change. It is the missionary that must adjust their
ideals to adapt to the environment.
2.
It Is A Life Changing Experience: You will come away from the experience different. It will
alter your thought processes and change your total outlook. You will never be
the same again. You will learn to appreciate even the smallest of things. You
will be so thankful for where you live, and all that you have that you will
have a new reality. You must learn to depend on God and trust that you are
doing His work, and He will take care of you. Remember you are never alone.
3.
Language Barriers Are Real Issues: Most missionaries find that they don’t speak the language
of the country they are serving. It makes communication difficult. The goal of
most of these trips is to share the gospel with those who are lost and to help
someone less fortunate. The language barrier can really inhibit the work you
set out to do. Learning to use interpreters can be quite unsettling. Many have
no clue how to communicate with these people and the interpreters may not
understand everything either. Gestures and things that are commonplace in this
country are not in others. It is important to learn a few basics of the
language before going.
4.
Spiritual Warfare is Real: You must understand and recognize spiritual warfare before
heading into these countries. Every country has its own demons to battle. You
need to know the nature of that battle so that you can be victorious. For
centuries, Satan has built strongholds for mankind. The battle is different for
each section of the world. The battle may look different than in our country,
but it is certainly not any easier. To get the victory over the powers of
darkness, you must ensure you are prayed up and on guard.
5.
You Must Have Realistic Expectations: Many people glamorize the mission field to get people to
join. You must have realistic expectations of the journey. Mission trips
usually are designed with work in mind. These groups go out to build houses,
feed the poor, and do other good things. Forget about being on a
super-spiritual high. You will be humbled by the experience. Many find that
they come face-to-face with all of their inadequacies and weaknesses while
doing mission work. You must totally depend on God for strength, or you will
want to leave.
“[In] 1845… the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society declared that any
slave owner would be disqualified from consideration for missionary service.
Baptist churches in the South and formed the Southern Baptist Convention so
that members would not have to choose between their slaves and their calling to
be missionaries.” (Robert P. Jones)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Things You Should Know
Before Becoming a Missionary” by Theology Degrees
·
“What it Takes to Be a Missionary” by Ken Freire
This post is inspired
by my daughter, Allena.
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