The Path to the Field
Glorifying God is our ultimate goal and it is the reason that missions exists. Missions is an expression of our worship of him and our desire to see him worshipped by people of every nation, as described in Revelation 5:9—Christ is praised because he has “purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” We long to see Jesus acknowledged and praised by more least-reached people around the world. As John Piper wrote in “Let the Nations be Glad!”: “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”
Missions is a result of being loved by God, loving him and loving people in return. It is a reaction to a supremely gracious God and an outpouring of a desire to see him worshipped by more people around the globe.
There is no fail-safe formula that will get you to the mission field, glitch-free. Even if there were, following a set of steps to the letter does not guarantee that you will glorify God in your efforts. Service on the mission field, like any type of ministry, can become an idol – something that we worship and pour more of ourselves into than we do our pursuit of Jesus.
Following God into cross-cultural missions is a process. It takes time—but God isn’t in a hurry! Seek him above all and make serving him your goal rather than missions as you move forward on your journey toward the field.
At Christar we’re committed to walking beside you on the path to the field. We’re here to help guide and encourage you as you follow God’s leading. We want you to thrive, not only in your eventual ministry, but in your time of preparation – and we’re prepared to pour ourselves into your long-term effectiveness in missions – starting now.
Missions starts in your backyard. When Jesus sent out his disciples, he sent them first to the people on their own home turf and the surrounding communities as well as into all the world. Develop and nurture the passion God is giving you by praying and getting involved.
In your neighborhood
Begin with those you see on a regular basis. Ask God to show you how he wants you to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations – starting with your own. Pray for the unsaved people you see every day and that God would give you the ability to share the gospel so that it is meaningful to them. As you pray, ask God to show you opportunities to be involved in ministry now – both in your church and hometown as well as around the world. Then, take action and cross the street to share what Christ has done in your life.
Across your culture
You don’t have to wait until you get to the mission field to gain cross-cultural experience – in fact, we encourage you not to! Depending on where you live, you may be able to gain cross-cultural experience without leaving home:
- Befriend an international student or someone of a different culture.
- Check with a local university or college to see if they need English partners for non-native English speakers – you may be able to request someone from a specific country.
- If you live in a city with ethnic communities, frequent businesses in these neighborhoods and build relationships with those you meet.
- Meet regularly with missions-minded friends to pray for the countries that are on your hearts and the missionaries that serve there.
Make it a practice to regularly lift up the least-reached around the world who have never heard the good news in a way they can understand, and for the missionaries who are working to communicate the message of Christ in their language and culture. Ask God to bring about Christ-honoring transformation in communities that have yet to hear the name of Jesus.
Specific ways to pray:
- Check out “Operation World” by Patrick Johnstone, and the daily “Pray Today” page (http://operationworld.org/today.html).
- Look at the Christar prayer requests.
- Stay up-to-date on current issues that affect the people group you believe God is leading you toward, so that you can pray more specifically for their needs.
- Become a daily prayer partner for a missionary who is working among the least-reached, particularly one who is working among the people that God is laying on your heart. Email us to learn more about becoming a daily prayer partner.
Cross the globe by contributing to the work of missionaries who are already working among least-reached people. Be creative – think outside the box of just giving financial or prayer support:
- Invest your time and talent to help produce a missionary's prayer letter
- Become an advocate in your church to help a missionary appointee get to the field.
- Consider serving on your church’s missions committee
- Coordinate a care package ministry to your church’s missionaries.
Then, consider making a first-hand difference in ministry among the least-reached. Christar short-term trips, internships and training programs in evangelism among the least-reached all offer excellent opportunities to gain experience in cross-cultural ministry. A short-term missions trip with Christar can give you a taste of what life on the mission field is really like, as well as give you a chance to contribute to the long-term ministry that is already taking place.
Cultivate your relationship with God
In Luke 10:38-42, we read about Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and soaked in his words, but Martha “was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” It’s easy to get distracted by all the “steps” you still need to take and let quality time with our Savior get pushed to the end of your list. Jesus addresses that in Martha: "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." That one thing was time with Jesus.
Spending time in Scripture and in prayer is essential to living a life that worships him. It builds a solid foundation for a ministry that is in step with what God is doing, and is rooted in his desires. Getting into Scripture daily and spending consistent time in prayer will help you to become more like Christ, and more in tune with God’s heart for least-reached people -- the same heart that gave his son to die for them. Set aside time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. Go beyond learning the scripture to living and breathing it.
Ask God to open your eyes to how he sees least-reached people. A great tool is the Bible study “Through God’s Eyes,” by Pat Cate, which every Christar missionary is required to complete. Taking the “Perspectives” course, given by the U.S. Center for World Mission will also help to give you a better understanding of what God is doing around the world, and how you can join him. All Christar missionaries are required to take this course before leaving for the field.
Above all seek the Lord personally, not just his will for your life. Strive to walk in step with Jesus, and in doing so you will bring him glory.
God can use information about people and needs to direct us and move us forward. Many mission boards require at least 30 credit hours of Bible and theology, but your educational options are far broader than those you can receive in the classroom. Christar cares more about what you actually know and can apply than any degree you might have. We require the equivalent knowledge of 30 hours of Biblical and theological education and we recognize that there are more ways to get to know God’s Word than just through a formal institution.
Read missionary biographies, such as “Called to Die: The Story of American Linguist Chet Bitterman, Slain by Terrorists,” by Steve Estes and, informational sources, such as “From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya” by Ruth A. Tucker. Become aware of world needs, particularly those of the area where you think the Lord may be leading you. The Internet is full of information on missions and least-reached peoples, for example, check out Operation World and The Joshua Project to find information on the needs of countries and people groups.
Cultivate discipleship relationships
When you arrive on the field, you won’t be alone in front of a computer in a classroom. Don’t prepare for the field alone either. You need a community of believers to walk beside you. Get others involved – those who can give you godly insight and encourage you when the process of getting to the field takes unexpected turns. Allow yourself to be influenced by their character, experience and insights, and strive to impact others by your own.
When Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19), the primary thing that Jesus told His disciples to do was to make disciples – not just to go. That means that you can start fulfilling the Great Commission now – and allow others to fulfill it through you. It also means that your focus, both now and in the future should be discipleship – your own and of others.
Find a mentor or accountability partner who will continually challenge you and who is not afraid to ask you hard questions. Look for someone whose walk with the Lord you admire and respect and listen with both ears and an open heart. If you’re not being discipled now, you probably won’t suddenly start seeking out mentors once you arrive overseas. The flip side is also true – if you’re not discipling someone else now, you probably won’t start just by getting on a plane and flying to another country. So, get started now! Don’t be like the Dead Sea – always receiving but never giving. Pour out what you’re learning into the life of someone else who is newer in their faith. Pray that God will transform your life and the lives of others through you, in ways that glorify him.
Since missions is about growing the body of Christ, your interaction with a local body of Christ is important to the expansion of the church around the world. If you don’t already have a home church, seek one out. Develop relationships with your pastor and missions leaders and share with them about how you think God is calling you. Allow God to use them to help you become more like him. Seek their counsel about your future in missions. Your local church will most likely be your biggest supporter, investing in you both financially and in prayer, so take the time to invest in them now. Getting involved in the church’s ministry will also give you valuable experience in evangelism, discipleship, teaching and service. Actively look for ways to “practice” for the field long before you arrive there.
Financial obligations often delay a missionary’s arrival on the field. Prevent this from happening to you by developing and sticking to a budget, and making plans to settle any obligations such as school loans by a designated time. Several websites, such as the Crown Financial website, offer free budgeting and financial planning tools to help you get a handle on your money.
Be proactive with managing your finances. If you struggle with credit card debt, get out your scissors and chop up your cards. Find a financial accountability partner who can give you good advice and help keep you on track. If you are in school, look into programs which may allow you to eliminate or reduce your tuition in exchange for working as a student employee. Consider not taking out any new loans and taking a semester off to work instead. In the long run, this could save you both time and money.
Choosing a sending agency is a big decision and many factors are involved. Ask lots of questions, such as:
- Who, what and where do you serve?
- What do you believe?
- What are your objectives and strategies?
- How do you handle finances?
- How do you approach leadership?
- How would you prepare me for the field?
- What is expected of missionary candidates?
- What are your missionaries like?
- How do you work with other missions agencies?
- What kind of relationship do you have with churches?
- How are missionaries placed on the field?
To learn more about choosing a mission board, read “Choosing a Mission Board,” edited by John A. Stewart and Dorsey Welliver. Also, check out “The Mission Handbook,” which provides an extensive list of U.S. and Canadian missions and where they place personnel.
Attending New Personnel Orientation
Attending New Personnel Orientation is a big step in solidifying your future plans in missions. Approach it as a learner, and be open to what you may discover about the mission and about yourself. You’ll meet with experienced men and women who will assess your readiness for long-term, cross-cultural ministry, and you’ll get a chance to interact with leaders in the organization and learn about their vision and focus, first-hand. You’ll also receive information and guidance to help you narrow down where the Lord is leading you to minister, if you have not already decided.
Cultivate your Home Support Team
Bringing light to the least-reached is a team effort. Even the apostle Paul needed a support team. He built relationships with believers in many churches and often asked them to stand behind him in prayer - “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). He also frequently mentions their giving, thanking them for their generosity and emphasizing the importance of their gifts – “Through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (II Corinthians 9:11b-12).
Building a support teams is about building relationships with individuals and entire bodies of believers who will stand behind you. It’s about sharing what God has done for you and how he is leading you for the future. It’s about helping to educate believers about least-reached people and their need for Christ. Most importantly, it’s about trusting God to move in the hearts of people and churches to join your support team. Most mission boards, including Christar, will offer guidance and materials to help you in this process.
Christar intentionally focuses on prayer, – we require that every missionary have 100 daily prayer partners before leaving for the field. Although there is nothing special about having a certain number of prayer partners, we require 100 to demonstrate our dependence on God to do the work of missions.
Do you have a sense that Christar might be where God is calling you? If so, start the application process today, by filling out the no-cost, no-obligation preliminary information form. Or give us a call at 1-800-755-7955 or email us. We’re excited to answer your questions and tell you more about specific opportunities through which God could use your skills and abilities to worship him and to bring him worship among people who don’t yet know him. Also, check out Getting There with Christar to find out about practical next steps you can take toward serving with us.
We’re eager to join you on your journey as you pursue how God is leading you to worship and serve him. The journey itself is an opportunity for worship and we’re committed to walking with you as you seek to bring him the honor he deserves.
First and foremost, pursue the Lord – then pursue his will. We’d love for you to serve with Christar – if, and only if God leads you to join us. It is our prayer that God will be glorified—in you and among the nations!