Peeling away the romanticized veneer placed on the hard reality of an unforgiving yet most fulfilling ministry, these are the ups and downs, thoughts and experiences of Christian Evangelical missionaries currently serving full-time in Western Europe.
Where to start? We’ve had a lot of requests from people about becoming a full-time missionary. If this is you, here’s our short list of things you can do to start the process.
Speak with your pastor/clergy about it
There’s a lot involved with becoming a full-time missionary, and your pastor/clergy can be a great source of information, especially if it means you can be put in touch with missionaries who have already been in the field.
Inquire with your denomination (if affiliated) about mission opportunities, especially short-term
This can help answer a lot of questions, both logistical and spiritual, about the need and opportunities available to you. We would also encourage (at very least) one short-term trip to fact find and get a glimpse into the culture you plan to minister.
Contact mission agencies that are currently sending to the area God is calling you
Again, agencies can be loads of help in wading through all the logistics of things from residency permission to living circumstances.
Be patient
This is a process that takes time. Fundraising is difficult to determine exactly when you’ll have enough to go, and some locations need several months lead time to approve immigration visas.
Read “Funding Your Ministry: Whether You’re Gifted or Not” By Scott Morton
Unless you are going through a mission organisation that is paying you or you are able to fully pay your way, this book was invaluable to our journey in fundraising. Even if you are a gifted sales pitchman (as one of our contributors is), this book delivers great insight into how to best communicate your mission and retain your supporters. We know we would have made several missteps without this book.
Above all, pray pray pray
Seems like a no-brainer, but all the commotion can really distract you from what God may be calling you to do. Plus, we’ve met a lot of people who, at some point in their lives, really thought they wanted to be a missionary—until they researched the entire thing. Pray through the process, and God will make it very clear if it is His will.
