How to become a missionary?

Hello everyone ,i've thought of it today. Maby i want to become a missionary ,maby in Africa or some desolated country in need of Gods words. But ehm, how do i go from nothing towards something as huge as spreading the word of God?

What im looking for is this..

I want to help people, really lending a hand.
I want to spread the word of God sorta in my own way.

As you can see i have no foundation to stand on, its touching in the dark, for those who have experience could you tell me a little about your own missionary work?

For instance i want to know the following thing. Lets say if i depart to some uber desolated african country to help people and spread the word, how is 'housing' + 'food' arranged? I have this messed up idea that i would get a 'paycheck' from the Vatican each month lol
Of course, its volentary work that i would do for the love of my Lord ,but the idea of sleeping in the sand is just ehm something that holds me back, and not being able to speak the native language. + no internet arg , or do modern missionaries have internet acces?

So many stupid basic questions, but i have absolutely no idea for how one should start for anyone who could share some info.

Anti Existance said:

Hello everyone ,i've thought of it today. Maby i want to become a missionary

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Just today? I would encourage you to begin researching along the direction you are already going, asking the questions you already are.

Anti Existance said:

maby in Africa or some desolated country in need of Gods words. But ehm, how do i go from nothing towards something as huge as spreading the word of God?

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Actually, cities are as much a part of the mission field as "desolate" country. Many people are moving to urban areas to find jobs from the countryside.

Anti Existance said:

I want to spread the word of God sorta in my own way.

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What do you mean "In your own way?"

Anti Existance said:

So many stupid basic questions, but i have absolutely no idea for how one should start for anyone who could share some info.

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I would suggest:

Become invovled in your church and its missions program. Get to know some of the missionaries they support.

Take the www.Perspectives.org. class.

Purchase and read Operation World.

This will get you started, especially the first two.

How old are you and what church are you affiliated with? Those are two very important considerations to where to get started! If you're about college age, an excellent organization is YWAM for short term missions trips (with the possibility of transitioning to long term). If you're older, what did you study or what do you do? Or, what "career" do you want? Computers? Accounting? Teaching? Writing? Art? That may affect who you work with and what you do--but almost anything can find a niche somewhere, in the right organization.

I would suggest the perspectives course, too. I haven't taken it but have heard many wonderful things from now missionary friends.

Also, google and see if there are any missions conferences in your area. Usually, lots of missionaries have tables set up with information. Go talk to all of them, see what hits you as something you'd like to do, and talk to lots and lots of people! Listen to stories, look at pictures, ask about where they live.... Or, check out your church affiliation--if they have any international missions groups or any missionaries they're supporting or any organizations they know of that have a particularly good reputation.

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Most organizations will help you get set up, do fund raising if necessary, and find appropriate housing and situation. And, depending on where you're at, most missionaries have access to internet at least part of the time if not all of the time. Even cell phones are becoming available some places where land lines aren't! And, not all missionaries live in villages in Africa. As the above poster mentioned, many missionaries live in cities or towns or in suburbs--some work on college campuses or orphanages or with street kids or in air conditioned computer labs with pocket protectors and everythign!

The above comments are both great...
Let me tell you a little about how it's worked for me... how i've been blessed (and challenged) to spend almost 10 weeks in Africa in the last year and a half. i never actually wanted to be an african missionary, like some... but God is funny that way... i LOVE it.

About 2 years ago i prayed that "God would use me more". A valid prayer, and one that i didn't really know where it would take me. It was a desire of my heart to serve our God, as it sounds that may be yours as well. The bible states that God will give us the desires of our heart. A desire to serve him is a good thing! Kudos'
After a prayer like that, my focus entailed staying in God's word, and looking to serve, locally. I did. And soon after that, i was invited to serve in South East Africa (Kenya & Zambia) with Athletes in Action. They took me not because of my athletic ability, but in spite of it. As it is, im NOT an athlete... but on short term (or longer term) mission groups... people of ALL kinds will be needed to fill a team.

Funding has been a faith step, asking God to provide where he guides, which he does. i like to say "if God orders pizza, he picks up the tab (or pays the bill)". That funding has covered ALL incidentals during the trip. From airfare, to insurance, food and lodging while on the mission. Visa's and fares in country. Everything except personal spending, like buying trinkets and gifts.

i've been on 3 trips now... and God continues to answer that initial prayer...so i say with warning, don't bother making that prayer if you don't want it, because the Lord will answer that prayer, and provide you with ample opportunity to serve him. Just start looking, and being willing to stretch your comfort zones.

i've also found that, as exciting overseas missions can be... i'd encourage you to be open to working locally as well. God loves the people that you see every day... he loves them very much, so much that he chose to die for them (of course)... that local connection might prove to be a way God is preparing you for bigger and farther away things, OR you may fall madly in love with serving God locally.

Either way, you win, your spirit soars and God is delighted. Well done Good and Faithful is a comment that you can expect from our Lord, if that's the case!

Praise God that you are heeding Christ's words in Matthew 28:19 and 20!!

About housing and food... there is this little old thing called "deputation" also known as "pre-field ministry" where you share your ministry with lots of churches and individuals and get support from them.

Don't let it discourage you. A lot of people see that as this big wilderness they have to go through when all they want to do is get on a plane and GO... We have been at pre-field for three years now and it has been hard but a HUGE blessing to us as well. We are departing Lord willing for Nigeria August 16 of this year!! Hallelujah!!

Keep praying and walking through the doors God opens. Don't be discouraged by people who tell you that if you aren't winning tons of souls at home, you never will overseas- because something happens to people when they are out of their comfort zone- I've seen it in my life and in others as well. don't be daunted or think that something like Bible school or deputation is too big for God.

Do something so big for God that it's destined to fail without Him!!

Do you go to church regularly? You're church body should already have a missions program set up.

I never thought I'd be a missionary until the Lord put the opportunity right on my doorstep. It's the best thing I've ever done with my life!

How your situation is will determine your lifestyle. I don't live in some remote village. I live in the largest metropolis in the world (Tokyo metro), yet the Christian population is in the 1% range. Obviously, remote African villages aren't the only places that need Jesus. As I'm in Japan, internet access for me isn't a problem. I had a friend who was a missionary for a while in Ghana. He was able to get internet access fairly often. He had a laptop that he could plug into his base office for e-mail, etc.

I think it's pretty rare to be SO remote that you won't have any internet access at all. It may be limited though, depending on where you are.

Many missionaries are paid as well. The amount depends on where you are. As I'm in Japan, I earn a decent living. It would be very difficult to survive in this country without a good wage!!! Compared to the rest of the populous, missionaries don't generally live in poverty. On the other hand, you're not going to get rich as a missionary (if you're working for the Lord, this is never your goal anyway!).

As for language, it's possible that you may go through a long period of training (up to a year even, depending on what you're doing) that would definitely include language training. Generally, you would have local people translate for you, when needed.