Lifetime Missionary Trip

HannahElizaW · Aug 17, 2015

Not for a first, but after a 'feel' of what a missionary trip is like, if you get the sense in your heart to become a missionary, does it seem unwise, the second time, to just step out in faith that God will take care of you if you decide to become a lifelong missionary, walking from "place to place", as the apostles did, just continuing to carry out the Great Comission without coming home?

Luke 9:57-62
Matthew 28:19

My mother and her family; her dad was a pastor that loved the Lord more than anything (he passed away of cancer because he refused to be seen by any physician other than The Physician); my grandmother mentioned to me of her missionary trip to Mexico but my mom often has told me about her missionary trip to Haiti for years and years and years on end. If it has become your passion to do so, would becoming a missionary in a certain location and just continuously spreading the Gospel be a non-recommended thing to do? I know my family knows I love them, but there's a quote that says a missionary is one who leaves their family temporarily so that others may be with their families for eternity. Isn't preaching the Gospel to all a lot more important than staying home with your family? And if i don't have intentions on starting a family, doesn't that make it a lot easier to separate from home?

My grandmother asked me what region I wanted to go to, as a missionary, and I was drawn to

Does all this seem unwise? Please help me with this..

Odetta · Aug 17, 2015

If God is calling you to do this, why would you think it would be not recommended to do? You actually sound like you feel like you should feel the call, but actually don't and feel guilty about that. If you aren't called, don't go. If you are called, go. Figure out if you are indeed called.

HannahElizaW · Aug 17, 2015

Odetta said:
You actually sound like you feel like you should feel the call, but actually don't and feel guilty about that.

It's not that. It's just simple uncertainty. I have no experience whatsoever as a missionary as a 17 year old. Do i just say "Hey, God told me to do this! Bye!!" to m-....well..no...cos Jesus said not to (Luke 9:61-62)... and how d-...

Goodbook · Aug 17, 2015

If you planning on going be throughly prepared...bone up on the language, find others who can support you both at home and where you going. Get in touch with christians already in the area.

Bathe everything in prayer. if God is calling you to go, go. But also be prepared. I remember one lady in church thinking God had called her to go to america (where she was from) and she went but couldnt find a job or support there so had to come back. I dont think the issue was the call so much as she just didnt prepare well. She thought just by trusting and blind faith that everything would be fine but it didnt turn out like that. i think that shook her faith a bit.

I dont know that it was just her wanting to go and ignoring God and believing it to be God. Its just there are practical things to work out. Even Paul was practical, he didnt just go on a whim. He had support like Barnabas and Silas, and he made tents to support himself. So even if he didnt have a place to stay, he could just pitch a tent.

BFine · Aug 17, 2015

HannahElizaW said:
Not for a first, but after a 'feel' of what a missionary trip is like, if you get the sense in your heart to become a missionary, does it seem unwise, the second time, to just step out in faith that God will take care of you if you decide to become a lifelong missionary, walking from "place to place", as the apostles did, just continuing to carry out the Great Comission without coming home?

*One of the hardest places to be a missionary is around the people who know you...the mission
field is where ever one goes in this old world...that would come under-- "going from place to place"...whether that be at school, in one's home, visiting friends and family, talking to a neighbor etc.

"Stepping out in faith" is doing what God has called you to do. Before you run-off to "parts unknown"
one needs to do: 2 Timothy 2:15
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

It's not hard to find folks who had "good intentions" who went off to the mission field in say...Africa and came back home...I had a friend who felt called
to go to the mission field in Africa, so he and his new bride were all aglow with dreams of doing so much good there...within a month's time my friend's wife left him in Africa and returned to the USA.
She had romanticized how it would
be a missionary...her dreams were ripped to shreds when faced with the harshness of poverty, seeing malnourished people literally everywhere.

If you noticed those in the bible...those who were called out to serve, had a Great Teacher, who was
also the Good Shepherd...He didn't send them out unprepared nor did He fail to teach his disciples God's Word.

Luke 9:57-62
Matthew 28:19

My mother and her family; her dad was a pastor that loved the Lord more than anything (he passed away of cancer because he refused to be seen by any physician other than The Physician); my grandmother mentioned to me of her missionary trip to Mexico but my mom often has told me about her missionary trip to Haiti for years and years and years on end. If it has become your passion to do so, would becoming a missionary in a certain location and just continuously spreading the Gospel be a non-recommended thing to do?
*That depends upon if God is directing one to actually devote themselves to being a missionary in just one
location or not."

I know my family knows I love them, but there's a quote that says a missionary is one who leaves their family temporarily so that others may be with their families for eternity. Isn't preaching the Gospel to all a lot more important than staying home with your family?
*I don't know many who don't leave their families after they finish school...in my case, I took care of
my widowed mom who has been in low health since
I was born...my older siblings all left home after
they graduated from high school to go do their own
thing.

Christians...lots of them go off to college, some marry
and have children, some go to work or start up their
own business etc. Many of the ones I went to high school with have moved all over the place... even my extended Canadian family have lived in different provinces and other countries (a couple of them are living out of the country still yet.)

And if i don't have intentions on starting a family, doesn't that make it a lot easier to separate from home?

*That's what's so wonderful about being young and
pretty much "unspotted" by the world...one tends to
have many aspirations...cherish that quality.
I don't find it easier to separate from family but I don't believe in holding back "our" children who
have been called to serve in Indonesia-- nor do I believe in "guilt tripping" them either.

I don't have biological children...the "our" children are my husband's grown children from his first marriage.
His oldest son is a minister, and he and his family live
on the Sunshine Coast (Canada.)
The middle son is a police officer in Ontario; he and his wife have 3 children.

My husband's youngest (a daughter) is married and has 4 children-- they are missionaries and will be that for many more years (in Indonesia.)

I was born and raised in the USA...lived there until
I married a Canadian in 2002... leaving the USA wasn't
easy...I didn't have children either and back then, I too had
many aspirations.

My grandmother asked me what region I wanted to go to, as a missionary, and I was drawn to
View attachment 162133

Does all this seem unwise? Please help me with this..

*It would be unwise to go anywhere the Lord hasn't
called you to go.
It would be unwise to go into missions without having
spent much prayer on this matter and having other
mature Christians praying about this matter also.

It would only be unwise if one merely dashed off
haphazardly...a lone, young female needs to be careful
traveling in the part of the world you circled on that
map...especially if you are wanting to just "up and
go do missions" in the places/in or surrounding India.
It would be very unwise to go there without a solid
network of spiritual/emotional/financial/physical
support in place before you step foot out of your
own country.

Financial support... "Our" daughter and
her family-- it takes just over six thousand dollars
each month so they can be in Indonesia....a married
couple(no children) who serve in the UK require over
seven thousand dollars each month.
There's an unmarried man who serves in India and
it's been his life's work...back when he was connected
with our church it cost several thousand dollars each
month to keep him there...since he is "off-line" he
will live out his days in India being taken care of by
many of the thousands of street children(who are now adults).

If you'd like to chat more about missions-- PM me
any time... currently "our" daughter and her family
are visiting with us and they can provide lots of
first hand information about where they serve in
Indonesia.

Get more education... connect with mentors/prayer
partners and people who are of good reputation who
have served as missionaries...align yourself with a well known missions minded church or missions organization.
There is much training and education needed to be a
missionary...especially if you are going to a foreign place/third world country where knowledge of another language is needed.

It took several years for "our" daughter and son
in-law to learn another language (to speak and read it.)
They also had to undergo psychological tests/exams and spent a lot of time being taught about spiritual attacks/spiritual warfare... which they encounter a
lot of in Indonesia, which is a Muslim country... every morning around 5 am and throughout the day they hear the loud droning sound of the call to prayer...
it took them a LONG time to get "adjusted" to that!

1watchman · Aug 17, 2015

I believe one should have the commendation of their local assembly for any fulltime service (other than giving out tracts around town and to clerks in stores and restaurants, etc.). The local assembly should know if one is spiritually mature and sufficiently knowledgeable of the Word of God, to go abroad and represent the fullness of God to others. That usually takes some years of Bible study and one should see the encouragement of elders in their assembly.

DiscipleHeLovesToo · Aug 17, 2015

Mar 4:26-29 KJV
(26) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
(27) And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
(28) For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
(29) But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

before God sends you to some far away place to be a missionary, He will have you practice being a missionary to your family, friends, and circle of acquaintances where you are now; be a missionary to those He's already put around you first, and He will let you know when you're ready for another assignment.

Travelers.Soul · Aug 17, 2015

There is a lot of work that goes into getting ready for any mission field. You need to find an organization to work with whether it is through your denomination or just one that helps you handle all of the hurdles that come with mission work (getting your visa, helping with an exit strategy, etc). You will need to learn the language and culture. You should also learn all you can about the people groups you will run into while on the field. You may also want to look into getting some mission classes under your belt or at least some theology classes from a reputable Christian college. I would also encourage you to study the religions in the area so you know what the people believe. You need to know how the people view the world and why things happen. It would also probably be helpful to go on a mission trip out of your country if you have not already. Contextualization of the Gospel is also very important. Sorry, that sounds like a lot but it will help you greatly if you are educated on the people you are going to; their culture, language, religion, and world view.

jaugu · Aug 17, 2015

but if God called her, wouldnt he guide, provide, and take care of her along the way?

Travelers.Soul · Aug 17, 2015

Yes, he would but I would not have her go ignorant into the mission field nor do I believe that the Lord would have anyone go into ministry without knowledge and wisdom. How would she be able to effectively share the gospel if she knows nothing about the people, the language, or anything else? Here's an example, If I speak German and the people I go to witness to speak mandarin how are they going to understand? I won't always have an interpreter around. Here is another. In some cultures there is a truth telling tree and a story telling tree. If I didn't know that and stood beneath the story telling tree and shared the gospel the people would not believe me. They would think I was just telling a story instead of sharing the truth. This is why we need to be educated about the people we are going to and their language.

jaugu · Aug 17, 2015

yea but what if God does it his way and since he called her, he would be with her and tell her what to do and say..

jaugu · Aug 17, 2015

Isn't preaching the Gospel to all a lot more important than staying home with your family?
View attachment 162133

Does all this seem unwise? Please help me with this..

yes its more important..i'm learning this the hard way..

Travelers.Soul · Aug 17, 2015

So, you believe getting an education or being equipped for ministry and mission work is not God's way? God is always with his children, always so in that you and I are in full agreement. Who God calls, he equips and he does that through learning and studying. Whether it's in a class room, with a mentor, or if your from an oral culture orally the point is he equips those he calls.

jaugu · Aug 17, 2015

you are right..i guess but most of the people God called didnt have any education at all...

jaugu · Aug 17, 2015

he equips us with spiritual gifts

Goodbook · Aug 17, 2015

Gladys Aylward, go look up her story.
Yes God equips but he also prepares and will tell you to prepare before you go. Remember Paul spent 14 years preparing before he got sent out.

Goodbook · Aug 17, 2015

Even Gladys 'the small woman' who could barely afford an education, went to bible school even though she failed, she went, she was looked after by christians who she worked for as a housekeeper. When she got to China she stayed with a missionary who was already there. Even though nobody else would go, she went. The important thing was her heart for those God wanted to hear the gospel. God equipped her for everything but she did spend time preparing and she went on His timing.

Cernunnos · Aug 17, 2015

I support getting all the equipment (I don't just support what Dreaminofireland has said because of our obvious cultural roots, though we Irish have a history in missionary work that shaped Europe from about 480-present) Seriously and more to the point: missionary work is important, important enough not to be taken lightly nor entered into with inadequate resources and education (many are the tomb stones of those who went without one, the other or both & didn't reach a single soul).

St. Patrick lived with the people he would latter bring the Gospel to for six years, before going back home, getting his education AND THEN returning to bring the Gospel to them.

BFine · Aug 18, 2015

jaugu said:
but if God called her, wouldnt he guide, provide, and take care of her along the way?

*Yes, He would equip and provide for her... all you have to do is look at how God did the same for Moses... "whom the Lord calls, He also equips"... Making provision: Moses got "adopted" by Pharaoh's daughter...oh, Moses' sister was watching over her baby brother-- she happily supplied a "wet nurse" for him (his own mom) Pharaoh's daughter even paid the lady!

Equipping: Moses was well educated in Egypt; then later on he got "disciplined" out there in the "back country" by the Lord before being sent back to the Egyptian court to petition for his people to be set free...oh yeah, I almost forgot, God also "called" Moses' brother (Aaron) to go along with him.

BFine · Aug 18, 2015

God worked in different ways in the lives of
the people He called... Samson was called
to be a Nazarene and a judge...Samson was
a "real project".

Other "projects": Jonah and King Saul.

Lifetime Missionary Trip

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