How
do I know if I'm called
to missions?
There
is no one way to discern
the call of God. Just
allow God to lead and
pray for the affirmations
to follow, it will come
together. There is an
article available that
is good to review, especially
as one considers taking
this huge step of exploring
God's call to missionary
service.
Download
Exploring
Your Personal Call
(298KB)
A solid and
accurate formula for
the missionary call
of God:
God's
Call = Direction + Preparation
+ Timing
The
call to missions
-
What have I felt in
my heart about my
call to missions?
-
What is God's will,
and how may I be a
part of that will?
-
Where have I seen
God at work that has
stirred the most interest
in missions possibilities?
-
What biblical characters
responded to God's
call and how do I
see a similarity in
my life?
-
To what specifically
has God led me so
far?
Take an honest
approach, open to self
examination.
Then
the following is taken
into consideration (the
order does not reflect
the order of importance):
-
Educational
preparedness
-
Experiential preparedness
-
Ministerial and evangelical
preparedness
-
Personal (maybe subconscious)
motivations
-
Relational affirmations
of family and friends
-
Wise counsel of trusted
mature Christians
-
Leadership of the
Holy Spirit
-
Prayer (What is God
continuing to say
to me? Am I still
on track?)
-
The Word of God confirming
all
-
Health issues and
necessary preferences
-
Language skills and
capacity to learn
-
Cross-cultural readiness
and flexibility
-
Desires of my heart
(be careful on this
one)
-
Is now the right time
to go overseas?
-
Couples: are
you both sensing the
same calling?
-
Parents: are
you ready to turn
the world of your
children upside down?
-
Parents: what
are the educational
and social opportunities
and needs for your
children?
Points to remember
as the focus becomes
sharper.
Go
through the next points
as you seek Him:
-
God
calls you to Himself
foremost, the leading
to a place or ministry
is secondary.
-
The journey is dynamic
and may change over
time.
-
God's call is not
about you, it's about
Him and His global
purpose.
-
Your job is to listen
to His voice and follow
Him.
-
You are in process,
becoming conformed
to the image of the
Son. Not all bad beginnings
have bad endings.
Search for a
place in ministry.
The
search may start with
any of the following
or a combination of
the following:
-
By
country or region.
-
By
the type of assignment.
-
by
interest in a spoken
language.
-
by
searching for a people
group .
-
by
an affinity for a
certain population
segment or ethnic
group.
-
A
desire to do something
beyond your experience.
-
A
ministry to where
you feel drawn.
-
Take it one step at
a time!
-
We are to walk by
faith and not by sight.
-
Walk
in the light that
He has given!
_____________________________
Adapted from material
by Dr. Andrew Tuttle,
an ISC/Journeyman consultant,
in the Office of Mission
Personnel at the IMB.
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