Paying for Higher Education for Missions Career

[HannahElizaW]

Hello.

I've contacted IMB with questions about the requirements to go on missions, I've already been admitted into Oklahoma Baptist University, and due to the requirements of IMB to become an Apprentice/Career in long term missions, I am getting a B.A. in Cross-Cultural Ministry and a M.A. in Intercultural Studies... the only issue is: how am I going to be able to not only pay for college, but more specifically, student debt?

Going into the " workforce " as a missionary coming from a private school, how do missionaries appropriately pay for their student loan debt and what is some advice on this?

I already started a GoFundMe account/campaign, but it's just for the tuition at my community college and I'm kind of worried about paying for all this.

Any advice about this I'm thankful for. Thank you anyways.

 

[Goodbook]

Good question. I would think that you would work first to save up money to pay for this education, or sell something. Its not good to be in debt.

Have you looked at scholarships?

 

[Kit Sigmon]

I would hope your own family, friends and those in your church
would likely help you with sponsorship/funds for college...my church has
done that for a couple of students who are part of the church that
me and my husband attend...we contributed to they sponsorship then
and we contribute to sponsoring them now that they be full time missionaries.

Before you go through all that education, have you been on any short term mission trips?
I think it be important to get some hands on experience, not only that but
is this something the Lord is calling you to do? It can't be for no other reason...the Lord
got to be the one leading you to full time missions. Has this been the subject of much
prayer? have you discussed this with your minister? do you have your church praying
about this?


In sponsoring some missionaries, we have heard about missionaries who quit
due to the spiritual attacks, stresses of living there with people who are greatly
impoverished, they lack proper sanitation and the stench of human waste is great,
substandard medical...then there be the parasites that get in the food supply,
the mission field isn't what many people think it be. If you want a missions experience, try
going on a short term mission trip to Haiti, my church took about a dozen teenagers there a few
months ago, they got their eyes opened for real! They got up an spoke about they experiences
there and couldn't get through they talks without breaking down in tears...it's a different world
in Haiti.

 

[HannahElizaW]

Good question. I would think that you would work first to save up money to pay for this education, or sell something. Its not good to be in debt.

Have you looked at scholarships?

Yes'm! I can't even really count the ones I've applied for... so... mm...

 

[HannahElizaW]

I would hope your own family, friends and those in your church
would likely help you with sponsorship/funds for college...my church has
done that for a couple of students who are part of the church that
me and my husband attend...we contributed to they sponsorship then
and we contribute to sponsoring them now that they be full time missionaries.

I haven't asked that of the church that I attend for personal reasons but my father was struck with paralysis from West Nile Virus back in 2014 and his job fired him while he was hospitalized so now we really on Social Security Disabilities on his part... my mother makes about $48000 and he gets probably about $1400 annually... so so.... so...

Before you go through all that education, have you been on any short term mission trips?

Yes'm!

I think it be important to get some hands on experience, not only that but
is this something the Lord is calling you to do?

Yes'm!

It can't be for no other reason...the Lord
got to be the one leading you to full time missions. Has this been the subject of much
prayer?

Prayer? Yes...

have you discussed this with your minister?

I told him about the calling and going into college for this...

do you have your church praying
about this?

No...

In sponsoring some missionaries, we have heard about missionaries who quit
due to the spiritual attacks, stresses of living there with people who are greatly
impoverished, they lack proper sanitation and the stench of human waste is great,
substandard medical...then there be the parasites that get in the food supply,
the mission field isn't what many people think it be.

I'm going with IMB possibly to India for long-term... and possibly parts of Middle East

If you want a missions experience, try
going on a short term mission trip to Haiti, my church took about a dozen teenagers there a few
months ago, they got their eyes opened for real!

Our church typically takes the students down to Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas, but most if not all of other missions that people go on are outside the church...
My mother, though, when she was a 5th/6th grader, her parents were called down to Haiti and they stayed there until around the time she would graduate from High School... when she tells me about Haiti, she talks about how small the " homes " are and that it's basically tin, in some cases, lying next to each other or on top of each other... she talks about the demonic influence that have accured while she was there.... how she contracted, i think it was, yellow fever..... such things like that...

They got up an spoke about they experiences
there and couldn't get through they talks without breaking down in tears...it's a different world
in Haiti.

Right...

 

[Greg J.]

If you've been devoted to the Lord long enough, persistently asking for his help, then he may have already answered your prayer. Do you know what the Lord wants you to do? If so, do not let anything stand in your way. He has many experiences lined up for you to grow you and will use them all for your benefit. Do not let it concern you if you have to take a roundabout path to get there. It sounds like you are willing to do some work to keep moving forward (instead of waiting for the Lord to make something appear). Because of that, I think you can be confident that until you hear clearly otherwise from the Lord, what you want to do deep in the core of your soul is what he wants you to do. He will provide the way. If there isn't anything "deep in the core of your soul," then the Lord may take you on a journey to put something there, or perhaps he doesn't want you to make a long-term commitment right now, but to go down a shorter-term road.

 

[Mudinyeri]

I grew up dirt poor and joined the military to pay for college. It's a little more difficult to get into the military these days but it might be worth investigating.

 

[Goodbook]

Gladys aylward worked as a maid and saved money to go to bible college, even though people didnt think she would make a good missionary as she was from an lower class background and didnt have much education. And she was a single woman. But the men around her at the time didnt want to go.

her efforts reached so many in china. If God calls you to go, he will equip you. You dont need to ask others to fund you or go into debt. You just ask the Lord. He may provide you with a job so you can save money to go. Or he may lay it on someones heart to sponsor or contrribute, but dont go begging people for money, thats not christian.

 

[HannahElizaW]

.

 

[Maciel A.]

If you or someone you know is ages 17-24, Reside in NY, NJ, CT, or PA, Are going to undergrad college, 3.0 GPA and an active church member, download our application at www.YCLscholarship.org for a chance to receive a $1000 scholarship. We seek to empower Young Christians through supporting their dreams of Higher Education! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YCLscholarship

 

[DawnStar]

I grew up dirt poor and joined the military to pay for college. It's a little more difficult to get into the military these days but it might be worth investigating.

Good advice. My cousin did this and never looked back. After he got his college diploma he applied for a commission and was sent to officer school. He is now an army officer.