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Stephen: (03/20/01) I am about to graduate next Fall with a Bachelors in Psychology. When I attended Urbana 2000, a hot topic was how to use your degree in missions. I am strongly considering taking Graduate level classes as soon as next Fall even before I graduate; however, I am still torn as to which Graduate degree may be most useful to me as a lifelong missionary. I am considering the MSW (masters social work), which I can begin next fall, and I have not been able to find much info on how this degree can be used in the missions field. I feel my calling may be working as an advocate for childrens rights or helping those less fortunate in general (hunger for example).

Thank You very much for your time and God bless,
Stephen

Jack: Dear Stephen:

Thanks for your question. I congratulate you on your academic success so far and your desire to use your education to serve the Lord by helping those in need.

As I read your query, the question that arises in my mind is whether this is the most appropriate time for you to decide on graduate work, as I note below. Also, you have not mentioned the option of formal study in Bible and Theology, which may be an essential element in preparing you for ministry as "a lifelong missionary."

My suggestion would be that you make contact with the agency you plan to work with and talk to them at length about your interests, academic work, and personal experience. In my own case, I did my graduate work in missiology after my first term overseas (3 years). By then I had a much clearer idea of what I needed to work on. In fact my thesis at that time basically projected by activities for the next few years. I never could have done this before I went to Latin America.

Try these ideas on for size, pray about them, and ask the Lord to lead you. Don't forget - He is more interested in you finding your way next year than even you are!

In His Grace,

Jack

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