How does one know that they are being called by God into the mission field?

[Dondi]

How does one know that they are being called by God into the mission field? What are the indicators that is guiding you in that direction?

 

[bluemarkus]

if the thought about it comes back again over and over

 

[Eldaah]

Well, my calling was sort of different than most people's. Here's how I was called to be a missionary:

I was called to serve God on the mission field on October 16th, 2005. This is how it happened:
It was a sunday morning and we headed off to sunday school. When we got there, it seemed just like any other sunday, but something happened different. My sunday school teacher said that the previous night he had felt God calling him to preach about getting in a quiet place and listening to God. So he did. I listened and considered it.
That night, there was a missionary visiting our church, and he was talking about what he did on the mission field. I was intrigued.
When we got home that night, I went into my room and did what my ss teacher said. I asked God if he wanted me to be a missionary, and asked Him to shut the light off if He did. Well, I waited and eventually I had to get ready for bed. As I was getting ready, The light in my room suddenly went out.

So that's how it happened for me.

 

[amadeus2]

Shouldn't everyone who says he is a servant of God have a mission? Whether we go into another country or another State or another city or just into our own neghbor or to our own job, we must be what He wants us to be.

Our life and our words should sooner or later raise questions in the hearts and minds of those who see us or know us that we are witnesses for Him. This should not be only because we are always saying, Let's go to church! Or, Let's pray! Those things are not wrong, let us remember the words written by Paul

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom 12:1-2

If we are actually performing just our reasonable service we are already on the mission for Him, because He is the most important thing in our life. The most important thing in our life will not be hidden under a 'bushel'. It will be seen and people will either love us or hate us as they loved or hated Him.

 

[RMDY]

My heart cries out to be a missionary. I have this deep down feeling like I am called to do that, to spread the good news, even to people locally. I have been doing a bit of that at my work, spreading bibles to some people and talking about God with some others. I feel God has called me to do this but I am in the middle of being reshaped into what he wills me to do and just beginning to seek the Holy Spirit.

I have this crazy feeling to do things like going to a popular mall, standing up on a table in a footcourt and proclaiming the gospel to all who are around me. But I hold back from doing those kinds of things. I have it in my heart to say "Peace and grace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, who redeems you with his crucification, by dying for your sins and being raised up to heaven three days later, you can have faith in him and receive eternal life!"

 

[Richard]

I was called into the Ministry on Father's Day of 2004. We had an intern that was in love with Africa and she told us all about it etc. I knew I had something different and I knew that I wasn't suppose to be living a normal life. God had taken me through good times and bad times. I really don't know how or what I will do, but I know i've always had peace when it comes to do something in Africa. I think its leaning towards working through a missions company, but i'm still trying to figure that all out. You'll have a peace about it if your suppose to go.

 

[HiLaReE320]

Same here. I know I am called to be a missionary. Trust me, you will know. And if you run from it, God will deal with you and basically put you in missions eventually. If you're not too stubborn, that is.

I find it interesting how some people say they're "called" to be a missionary, while others are not "called" to.. Sooo ok, I'm called to a life of almost poverty so I can go to a closed Asian country to risk my life to spread the everlasting Gospel, while you're called to stay here in America, chasing the American dream filled with all the pleasures it has to offer (cars, houses, entertainment, LAZINESS). But, you say, I am just called to go to work and witness to people there! Really? How exciting.

I believe EVERY CHRISTIAN in America should take atleast one mission trip (at least) or become a full-time missionary (at most). I personally believe that God ordained America as a Christian "breeding ground" of sorts. We are a Christian nation, but we want to keep it to ourselves. We are brought up in a free country with the free opportunity to read the Bible, go to church, be discipled... And then He sends us off to other countries like Afghanistan where it is less than 1% Christian. Quit sending churches to Honduras for God's sake where there is 1 missionary for ever 50-100 people! Send them to China where there is 1 for every 1 million!

Sorry, that's just a little rant I have.

But to answer your question.. You will just know.

 

[debbiege]

YES YES YES. You are called. Jesus said, "Go!" The question American Christians need to be asking themselves is: Are you called to stay??? The world is dying dying lost without even a glimmer of God. Help! Please go, dont let anyone talk you out of it, dont try to be normal...when my husband was a young man, he said to the Lord, "God, if you make a way, I will go." The Lord spoke to his heart immediatly, " You make a decision and I will make a way!"

We have been making decisions now for more than 24 years...and yes, God has made a way. Just go. Please.

 

[jive4005]

If you are indeed "called" to anything, God will set your heart upon that thing. You'll know!

His,
Rev J

 

[Doer]

I was praying one night asking God to tell me that night hat he wanted me to do. I told him I would not go another day without knowing. So I cried out to him to let me know. Well, when I stopped praying, I was lead to Godtube and heard something inside of me say click the most recent video. So I did, and it was teh song Tell the World. Now I was a bit at a aww here because it was kinda vague. So I went into a prophetic thread and someone posted something about becoming an evangelist and as I read it I began to just start balling. That is a true sign that it is legit. Another person also claimed that it sounded right to them as well.

 

[jive4005]

Wrestling with God and not letting go... yeah!

His,
Rev

 

[2writeabout]

Some interesting thoughts have been shared through these threads. I must say that our, my husband of 30 years and my, growth towards our forth coming shift to a nearby Asian country (we are Australian) has been over many, many years. And funnily enough neither of us see it as being 'missionaries'. We view it as continuing to live in the grace we have enjoyed, growing in our understanding of our own strengths and limitations and, coming to understand that we will gain as much from our time as 'missionaries' as will those in the country we will be living and working in. I become very concerned with fly-by-night types of people who think they are 'doing mission' by buzzing into a country, bringing with them their own culturally loaded version of Christianity (who says that 'doing church' means sitting in buildings, listening to a male speaking from the front?). People from the USA have, unfortunately some of the worst track records of such colonialist behaviour!

Whilst the church continues to have a hierachy of 'valued' roles with missionaries and clergy pretty near the top, (come on think about that statement and think about how such people are talked about in your own church settings) there will be very flawed understandings of what it means for a Christian to live and work in another country or cultural setting. Why isn't living as a Christian in your own neighbourhood considered to have the same 'status' as someone going into another country? Why? Why is being a 'missionary' equated with 'preaching the gospel' whereas living with integrity and open-ness in your own community not so valued?

We will be going out as 'missionaries' because that is the label most Christian can use to tag us with. We will be living in another country, respecting the culture, spending years learning the language and the customs and in that time living out the life of a daughter and son of the King. Even this religious language will need to change to respect the absence of Christian jargon in our new country of abode. That will be a challenge in itself - to become aware of how culturally shaped our language is.

Working out the difference between colonialist behaviour (often incorrectly called Christian evangelism) and world view and, Christian worldview takes much time, sensitivity, open-ness to criticism and commitment to the people and land in which we live. Not quite so exciting as the 'fly-in-fly-out hit them between the eyes' approach - but one of integrity and one modelled on the life of Jesus.

Let's think about this thing called 'being missionaries' and
review the unfair status it has been given in many churches. Let's encourage each other to live a life of thoughtful faith lived with integrity in whatever street, house or hut we are located in. Let's also encourage each other to identify the cultural shaping we each have and the possible inappropriateness of our language, behaviour and, views in contexts dissimilar to our own.

 

[jive4005]

I really believe that every spirit-connected Christian is a missionary of sorts. It's what we do and the example we set that testifies our obedience to the world. It's our sharing of His love that makes the difference.

Before we go to some far away country to spread the word, we aught make sure we have the '\"walk", right here and now. Getting into the annointing before starting the real work is always a good idea... no matter what your eventual aim.

Lord God, bless all those brothers and sisters as they struggle and mature in Your call. In Christ Jesus... amen

His
Rev

 

[Dondi]

Thank you all for your wonderful responses.

What do you think the role of a missionary is? What kind of work do you think should be involved? What kind of training should one gain before going into the field?

 

[2writeabout]

hi Dondi

My response to your query would be, we are 'missionaries' where we live. Since we are called to relationship with God and with each other ie 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself' we live our daughter/son relationship to the King. As we do this with honesty and open ness we are able to live our faith.

A Christian person who lives in a culture other than their own I would say has a responsibility to skill and equip themselves as much as possible so they can contribute to their host country/culture. Are you mechanically savvy? Can you ease pain? Can you teach others how to teach well and with respect for the learner? Do you have skills and knowledge in pest control? What are the skills and knowledge you can grow in to take with you when you relocate?

Making a commitment to a people group means working and living with them and sharing your life with all its colours and shades with integrity. And respecting the people with whom you live. Jesus was a carpenter, Peter a fisherman, Paul a tentmaker.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Yeah, it was in my head for awhile. A missionary came to our church and told us that our calling has to do with the desires of our hearts.. (Godly I suppose..) And for about a year I was wondering whether to be a missionary and reject the materialistic American lifestyle. I tell God that I'm willing, and this is his work, so i'm hoping I get lead to it..

 

[hiumble1]

Yes.. We are ALL called to be misionaries. When Jesus said GO....

Jesus asked his disciples if they understood the things he said and did, and then said they would be blessed if they would DO. (we are not to be just hearers of the word but also doers).

When you leave your house everyday and walk in the world (where ever it is) that is your mission field.
(your neighborhood, workplace, friends, family, etc....) In season and out of season.

We should not look to other countries as our mission unless we go there or are specifically called to go there.

If we do not tend to our own backyard, what good are we.

 

[Nobility]

How does one know that they are being called by God into the mission field? What are the indicators that is guiding you in that direction?

For me, I have had a passion for East Africa since I before I was 6. I know this because I can remember the "passion" when I lived in one place that I moved from when I was six years old. The dream never died down and now at 21 years old it still hasn't. In about July 2004, I decided I wanted to learn a language and decided on Swahili, even though I knew I'd probably never go there.. however, God had other plans and in about Feb or March the next year, I found a brochure in my Youth Leaders study about a mission to Tanzania and I "enquired" about it. I got engaged that July and still decided I was going. In Dec 05 I went to Tanzania for the next 3 months... We immersed ourselves in the culture and whilst we did live somewhat "New Zealander" style particually in the first month with 20 of us there in two teams (4 in the last 2 months), we did live as much as in Tanzanian style as possible. There were constraints such as travel insurance meant we had to drink bottled or boiled water, and we didn't eat only there normal food (i.e. had rice, not uglai (like polenta) for a staple), or paying Tanzanians to do our washing (because our Tanz team members would do it if we tried ). Those constraints were mostly on us because for health reasons, or because we were NOT skilled enough to actually to it effectively, and so they wouldn't let us.

So, I knew about I was supposed to be involved in East African missions due to my passion for it, even though that may be by prayer, financial support, and friendship support through email. My indicators were friends and family and Christian "counsel" (pastors, youth leaders, etc) supported me in my decision and agreed with it. I couldnt' and wouldn't have done it without this.

I find it interesting how some people say they're "called" to be a missionary, while others are not "called" to.. Sooo ok, I'm called to a life of almost poverty so I can go to a closed Asian country to risk my life to spread the everlasting Gospel, while you're called to stay here in America, chasing the American dream filled with all the pleasures it has to offer (cars, houses, entertainment, LAZINESS). But, you say, I am just called to go to work and witness to people there! Really? How exciting.

Yes, we are certainly ALL missionaries, but not all are designed to do out of country work. For instance, do you actually know how many Americans are truly saved? I doubt it's a high percentage. Who is going to remain to actually reach out to those around them! My family have a nice big house (never mind that 2-3 extra kids would often stay, most recent ones had there solo parents (2 kids with unrelated parents) in hospital with a heart attack and severe breathing problems). They also have a jet boat, 2 canoes and 21 yachts - never mind that many a weekend was taking 20 kids to the lake when we owned the house bus for a youth group outing, they were mostly nonchristian. And never mind the fact that many of these have had the chance to accept Jesus through this, or they have. But you see this would be a lot 'of' the American dream wouldn't it? Yet without it, there'd be a lost opportunity to reach these.

I believe EVERY CHRISTIAN in America should take atleast one mission trip (at least) or become a full-time missionary (at most). I personally believe that God ordained America as a Christian "breeding ground" of sorts. We are a Christian nation, but we want to keep it to ourselves. We are brought up in a free country with the free opportunity to read the Bible, go to church, be discipled... And then He sends us off to other countries like Afghanistan where it is less than 1% Christian. Quit sending churches to Honduras for God's sake where there is 1 missionary for ever 50-100 people! Send them to China where there is 1 for every 1 million!

Ok, but heres some figures for you. I had a 3 month trip to Tanzania. It cost about $6000 and at the time that would have worked out to around $5000US. I could have supported one minister in Tanzania for 8.3 years on that amount - that's NOT including interest or any of that. The interest alone (if I've calculated right) may have managed to give them another years work. Imagine if all of us who were going to go overseas decided to donate that a minister so they could live to have the resources that they needed. Let me put it this way - there were 50 of us going overseas to different countries the year I went with the same organisation... working out the cost and that 145000 US that we used would have been able to support ministers working full-time in those countries for 242 years (all combined). Or more simply... A life time employment and retirement payment to one minister in each of the 5 countries that team were sent to.

 

[GodsoldierClintus]

For me, I know my skills, my heart, my weaknesses are suited towards a life of missionary. I can't explain it - it's what I want to do. I've been called, no other choice.

 

[ANM29]

It all starts in the heart. You seem to be so at peace and joyful thinking about it dong something to make their lives better.

For me when I was younger I always knew that I had a heart for hungry kids in Africa. I use to sit in front of the TV around the age of 6 and cry when I saw those kids without food and the conditions..and I use to say, "When I get big, I am going to help those people"..Even though I was living in poverty myself..as a child you don't even realize how poor you are sometimes.. I use to even call ( I don't know why they didn't realize I was a child ) and make pledges to send in money..and it would come in the mail under my name..and my mom would be like, "Did you call these people?"...

It is something that has always been with me..and you will know when God is calling you to it..

Everyone is not called to go to foreign lands and live there to bring others to Christ..But, we all are called to do the same right here in our own countries and communities..