Okay. I know it's been like three weeks, but I said that I would give my whole story and so I am. I really don't expect anyone to still be reading this thread, and even if you are, I don't expect a response. But just in case.
This summer, about a month before I was to start college, I made a random comment about how I did not want to spend another four years in school. It was not meant to be taken seriously. It was just that: a random comment. My mom responded with: are you sure that you need to go to college? Have you talked to any missions agency representatives to see what their requirments are? It was a thought. So I emailed about five different missionary organizations, among them Pioneers, New Tribes, Global Frontiers and Mountainside Ministry. The latter three all had one or two year programs that trained a potential missionary on the field. Pioneers did not have such a program, but suggested a few others. So I looked into those, emailed them and they sent information packets. I was really encouraged. I could spend one or two years saving up, then join one of those programs. In four years time, I would have two years of missions experience and be involved with a missions organization. My parents, particularly my dad, was not very happy. They sat down with me, went over all the benefits of college and how good an idea it was and how I was not ready for real missions work yet. That was discouraging. My options seemed so clear, so right and yet my parents would not support me. I decided I didn't have to make any decisions immediately. I would be taking at least a semester off, so I would use that time to pray and seek God's direction.
A little while later, my sister sent me a link to hi5.com. She has a Xanga and a myspace and probably other things as well, so I assumed that this was just another thing like that. When I realized that my mom had joined this as well, I thought it might be fun to try, so I joined as well. I put this in my profile:
"I'm a Christian, who feels called to be a missionary and has controversial ideas about how to do that. For instance, I'm not going to college for it. For now, I'm working as a full time manager at a shoe store, saving money until I figure out what God would have me do. So that's my life in a nutshell at the moment."
A week or so later, I received an offer from another hi5 user to take part in his ministry. I assumed that it was kind of the same deal as with the other missions organizations: You may work out over here, send us more information, we'll send you some and we'll see what God does. So I sent an e-mail back, saying I was interested in learning more and I told him a little bit about myself. Over our next few e-mails, I began to realize that this was different than what I thought. He was not asking me to correspond with him to see if this was where I belonged. He was saying that he felt that God was leading me to work alongside him in this ministry, and that if I felt the same, I could, at any time, come and work alongside him. He was not asking for more information, though he sent me a detailed file on his work.
I was amazed. I thought that it was kind of reckless of him at first, but then I realized that he was just trusting God. I don't know what led him to me, but I do know that there are literally hundreds, if not more, users of that website. How did he happen to stumble across me? What made him think that I, an eighteen-year old with no training and very little experience, could benefit his ministry? The answer was clear: I loved Jesus. He loved Jesus. He wanted others to love Jesus.
That's when I realized that this was what God's wanted me to do. Please understand that I am not trying to bash big missionary organizations. They are wonderful, reaching many thousands of people in many different countries. I hope someday that our ministry will reach those heights. But more than that, I hope that if we do, we don't lose sight of our reason for doing this (and I am not saying that the big organizations have). I hope that we will not forget that we need to trust God to lead us to the right people. And even if someday we have to require applications and interviews of our missionaries, I hope we will not rely on their experience or training, but on their devotion and commitment.
There is nothing wrong with the organizations that do require training and experience. Nothing wrong at all. In many of their cases, it is absolutely necessary. But in some it is not. I hope that our ministry will be one in which it is not, because there is an abundance (perhaps not an overabundance) of those that do. Both have their advantages. Both have their disadvantages. There needs to be a balance. There needs to be a realization that college degrees are not to be confused with God's qualifications for his messengers.
I also realized that if I chose to do this, I would most likely be doing it for the rest of my life. No bouncing back and forth between training, serving in this area and serving in that area. The focus and direction would be straight.
I also realized that I could literally sell all I have (which granted is not much) and give everything to this ministry, which I believe should be the focus of every missionary (not just foreign ones).
No, my parents did not like it. No, my parents still do not like it. But I will wait for a year, maybe two, and hope that God will work in their hearts and continue to confirm his calling in my own.
Thank you all for your time in giving me your advice. I know I naturally sound defensive in all my replies, but I have and continue to consider your words and learn from your advice.
This summer, about a month before I was to start college, I made a random comment about how I did not want to spend another four years in school. It was not meant to be taken seriously. It was just that: a random comment. My mom responded with: are you sure that you need to go to college? Have you talked to any missions agency representatives to see what their requirments are? It was a thought. So I emailed about five different missionary organizations, among them Pioneers, New Tribes, Global Frontiers and Mountainside Ministry. The latter three all had one or two year programs that trained a potential missionary on the field. Pioneers did not have such a program, but suggested a few others. So I looked into those, emailed them and they sent information packets. I was really encouraged. I could spend one or two years saving up, then join one of those programs. In four years time, I would have two years of missions experience and be involved with a missions organization. My parents, particularly my dad, was not very happy. They sat down with me, went over all the benefits of college and how good an idea it was and how I was not ready for real missions work yet. That was discouraging. My options seemed so clear, so right and yet my parents would not support me. I decided I didn't have to make any decisions immediately. I would be taking at least a semester off, so I would use that time to pray and seek God's direction.
A little while later, my sister sent me a link to hi5.com. She has a Xanga and a myspace and probably other things as well, so I assumed that this was just another thing like that. When I realized that my mom had joined this as well, I thought it might be fun to try, so I joined as well. I put this in my profile:
"I'm a Christian, who feels called to be a missionary and has controversial ideas about how to do that. For instance, I'm not going to college for it. For now, I'm working as a full time manager at a shoe store, saving money until I figure out what God would have me do. So that's my life in a nutshell at the moment."
A week or so later, I received an offer from another hi5 user to take part in his ministry. I assumed that it was kind of the same deal as with the other missions organizations: You may work out over here, send us more information, we'll send you some and we'll see what God does. So I sent an e-mail back, saying I was interested in learning more and I told him a little bit about myself. Over our next few e-mails, I began to realize that this was different than what I thought. He was not asking me to correspond with him to see if this was where I belonged. He was saying that he felt that God was leading me to work alongside him in this ministry, and that if I felt the same, I could, at any time, come and work alongside him. He was not asking for more information, though he sent me a detailed file on his work.
I was amazed. I thought that it was kind of reckless of him at first, but then I realized that he was just trusting God. I don't know what led him to me, but I do know that there are literally hundreds, if not more, users of that website. How did he happen to stumble across me? What made him think that I, an eighteen-year old with no training and very little experience, could benefit his ministry? The answer was clear: I loved Jesus. He loved Jesus. He wanted others to love Jesus.
That's when I realized that this was what God's wanted me to do. Please understand that I am not trying to bash big missionary organizations. They are wonderful, reaching many thousands of people in many different countries. I hope someday that our ministry will reach those heights. But more than that, I hope that if we do, we don't lose sight of our reason for doing this (and I am not saying that the big organizations have). I hope that we will not forget that we need to trust God to lead us to the right people. And even if someday we have to require applications and interviews of our missionaries, I hope we will not rely on their experience or training, but on their devotion and commitment.
There is nothing wrong with the organizations that do require training and experience. Nothing wrong at all. In many of their cases, it is absolutely necessary. But in some it is not. I hope that our ministry will be one in which it is not, because there is an abundance (perhaps not an overabundance) of those that do. Both have their advantages. Both have their disadvantages. There needs to be a balance. There needs to be a realization that college degrees are not to be confused with God's qualifications for his messengers.
I also realized that if I chose to do this, I would most likely be doing it for the rest of my life. No bouncing back and forth between training, serving in this area and serving in that area. The focus and direction would be straight.
I also realized that I could literally sell all I have (which granted is not much) and give everything to this ministry, which I believe should be the focus of every missionary (not just foreign ones).
No, my parents did not like it. No, my parents still do not like it. But I will wait for a year, maybe two, and hope that God will work in their hearts and continue to confirm his calling in my own.
Thank you all for your time in giving me your advice. I know I naturally sound defensive in all my replies, but I have and continue to consider your words and learn from your advice.
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