Send Me! Your Journal to the Nations
Getting Ready - Stretching
This introduction will define what a missionary is and give you
a clear profile of the distinct missionary/cross-cultural roles still
needed today. It will also provide a yardstick by which to measure and
evaluate your present position.
Step
1: Personal spiritual formation.
Who you are - your character and spiritual formation as a disciple of
Jesus Christ - is essential to the role you will play and to what you
do in missions. Clarifying your basic commitment, your “call,” and
your spiritual gifts and making sure your spiritual foundation is solid
are necessary first steps to ensure an effective journey. Finding
a personal mentor early on in this journey is foundational to starting
well.
Personal
Spiritual Formation
by Steve Hoke
Thoughts
on the Missionary “Call”
by
Bill Taylor
Step
2: Body boost: Getting on-the-job experience at home.
Understanding your church’s unique missions vision and finding your
place and gifted role in it are critical to your ultimate effectiveness
in extending the church into other cultures. Making disciples in your
home culture will hone your ministry skills and help sharpen your spiritual
giftedness before serving in a cross-cultural setting. Investing financially
in missions will accelerate your own education and establish a lifelong
habit.
Body Boost:
Getting on-the-Job Experience at Home
by
Steve Hoke
For Best
Results
by Steve Hoke
Why Wait
Till You Get There?
by Mala Malmstead
Four Building
Blocks for Lifetime Service
by Robertson McQuilkin
Step
3: Exposure to other cultures.
Growing up in only one culture limits our ability to understand others,
appreciate diversity, and learn other languages. Frankly, being mono-cultural
is really boring for today’s global citizen in a pluralistic society.
So gain some early cross-cultural exposure. It will stretch your mental,
physical, and spiritual muscles and will help you understand and accept
people of other cultures. It’s also an invaluable crucible for testing
your gifts, your passions, your dreams, and your capacity for a longer-term
commitment.
Exposure
to Other Countries
by Steve Hoke
My Story:
Take the Short Step
by Gene Smillie
My Story:
Wake Up, Let’s Grow!
by Linda Olson
Discover
the Best Short-Term Mission for You
by Steve Hawthorne
Flying With
Two Wings
by Bill Taylor
Putting It
All Together
by Steve Hoke
Step
4: Basic education.
Academic preparation for a short- or long-term ministry needs to be customized
to your experience, skills, and gifts. What kind of formal training and
education do you need for missions today, whether at the level of vocational
or professional equipping? What steps can you take at this point that
will broaden your worldview and enrich your basic educational background?
Basic Education
by Steve Hoke
Options for
Learning
by Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor
Return to Preparation and Training Path
Print
Email
