Paul Seger, Biblical Ministries WorldwideOur last post covered “Preparing for Ministry When You are Unsure of Your Calling.” Paul Seger continues our series, “Preparing for the Ministry,” by focusing on overseas work. He is part of a global mission agency that is “dedicated to advancing the glory of God through the gospel by enabling North American churches to send out their finest to establish reproducing churches around the world.”
Do you have what it takes? Jesus said that you should not build a tower or go to war unless you first figure out whether you have what it takes (Luke 14). Therefore, before considering missions, it is important to ask the question: “Do I have what it takes.” The answer to that question should be answered in 3 different ways: (1) who you are, (2) what you know, (3) what you can do? Who You Are The qualifications of a missionary are the same as an elder (1 Timothy 3). These are all internal character qualities of godliness. This means that the missionary must have a level of spiritual maturity that is above and beyond the average Christian. In addition to this, there are also some other heart issues that are important. Resilience: You must be able to bounce back. Being a missionary is a tough job. Flexibility: Things will not be the same on a mission field as they are at home. You will not be able to control your environment or circumstances. Tenacity: This is simply the ability to stay the course and endure difficult situations. The biblical word is “patience.” Passion: You should have an enthusiasm that is obvious to others when it comes to both serving God and being a missionary. Spousal Commitment: Do not consider becoming a missionary if your spouse does not have your devotion to missions. Focus: You must have a clear understanding of your purpose or mission in life and then be able to stay focused on that calling. Internally Motivated: Missionaries must be self-starters. There is no one looking over your shoulder telling you what to do hour-by-hour. Humility: Missionaries are not empire builders, they are coaches who need a true spirit of humility to help others to succeed. What You Know It is critical that missionaries understand and have a clear grasp of theology. Unless you clearly understand the message, don’t try to deliver it. During Candidate Orientation you’ll take an exhaustive written exam to help evaluate your biblical and theological knowledge on all of the major doctrines. What You Can Do It is critical to be able to do ministry, not just know about it. The following 16 areas are important: Evangelism: Can you relate to non-Christians, building relationships and explain the path to salvation? Discipleship: Do you have experience in helping a new believer grow to spiritual maturity? Exegetical Skills: Do you have the ability to apply hermeneutics and understand the text? People Skills: Can you relate well to people on a personal level? Counseling: Can you help people solve personal problems using the Bible? Administration: Can you organize your life, prioritize your time, and manage the workload of ministry? Strategic Planning: Can you chart a course and get “there?” Writing Skills: Communication with supporters is your lifeline for prayer and finances. Speaking: Can you to stand in front of a group and explain to others God’s calling in your life and teach scripture? Time Management: Can you prioritize time, manage a daily schedule, and stay on track with the day-by-day commitments without supervision? Financial Skills: Missionaries must manage their own finances well. Language Learning: While a low aptitude for language learning does not disqualify anyone, most missionaries need to learn a language. Cultural Awareness: Good missionaries are sensitive to the culture in which they work and can adapt to the positive sides of those cultures. Computer Skills: It is the world we live in. Conflict Resolution: Missionaries must have the skill of being able to manage difficult relationships and come to a biblical resolution of conflicts. Teamwork: A missionary should have demonstrated the ability to work in a team and provide leadership for others. At first glance it may appear very intimidating to think that you have to qualify in all of the areas above, but a mission agency can help you gain the adequate experience, knowledge, and character that is needed to succeed as a missionary. Even if you are not presently ready to meet all the qualifications, we can begin walking with you on this journey.
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Mark Vowels, CGO DirectorThis is the first of five posts in the series “Preparing for Ministry.” These posts will cover practical ways that you can develop yourself for ministry down the road. This series is based on the need to be intentional with your time, not wasting a summer or a day, but using your time wisely for the glory of God.
Neglecting the time and effort it takes to best cultivate yourself will eventually rob those you will be ministering to. May this series motivate and guide you in your preparation! How do you prepare yourself for ministry, especially if you are not certain what that may look like in the future? Over the years, I have been a pastor in a cross-cultural environment, a missions agency administrator, and a university professor. In each situation, I have considered myself to be in the ministry. But I did not pursue these ministries; they came in the pathway of serving. I say that, not because there is anything wrong with pursuing a specific ministry, but because no one really knows what the future holds. It may be that you have a general passion for ministry; you believe that God’s will for you definitely involves some kind of ministry engagement, but you are not sure how or where that will come together. So what can you be doing now to get ready? Here are some general ways to prepare for ministry that will help you remain focused as you wait for God’s specific leading for the future. First, guard your heart. The single biggest enemy you face every day is yourself. Learn to live out the gospel by faith. Learn what it is to walk in the Spirit and to be filled with grace. Make your own spiritual development your single highest priority. You may not have as much talent or charisma or education or refinement as others around you, but only you can affect the depth of your walk with God. He has promised that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). All ministry is merely an extension of your personal relationship with God, so make that the most important focus of your life. There’s no secret to spiritual maturity – die to self, study the Scriptures, pray without ceasing, memorize and meditate on Bible passages, and share your faith. Do these things and you will grow spiritually. Cast yourself every day on the Lord with joy because He deigns to love and use you. Learn to exercise faith that His grace is sufficient in every circumstance. Make His presence your constant delight! Second, be consistent with the first point. Most of us are like yo-yo toys. We’re up and down. We get excited about God and about ministry and then we grow cold. Spiritual vitality simply takes work. Seek the Lord especially on those days when you don’t feel like it. Third, be a learner. Ask lots of questions from others who are doing ministry. Ask them why and how questions. Learn from biographies, podcasts, and every other avenue that you can find to gain perspective from others who are around you or who have come before you. Fourth, embrace every opportunity to minister. Don’t think of ministry as only those activities that are public and appreciated. Most ministry occurs when we are just being Christ-like in our day-to-day routine. I made it a practice in my formative years to say yes to every ministry opportunity, whether it was helping a senior citizen with work around his house, teaching Sunday school for three year olds, or preaching in a church service. I said yes when I was 15 to ride along with an ancient man from my church as he drove a few miles away to read a Sunday school lesson in a tiny church that had not had regular services for years. A group of dear old saints gathered every Sunday, and Brother Mike C. would read a lesson for them. After that they would go home. When I asked them why they didn’t have singing and preaching, they said, “We have no one to lead us; will you lead us?” Remember, I was 15 and couldn’t even drive, but I said yes. That led to two years of preaching and leading services at the little Jonesville Gospel Tabernacle. I still can’t sing. And I hate to imagine what some of those sermons were like, but saying yes opened doors to great ministry experiences. Learn to say yes first and then figure out how in the world you will do the requested ministry later, at least at this stage of your development. This will give you a variety of ministry experiences, many of which may be failures, but you will learn about yourself, about God, and about people. You will learn how to minister and how God can use you. |
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www.bjucgo.com/blog/feed The CGO BlogWritten by the CGO staff, with guest posts from students and other faculty/staff at BJU to provide thought leadership for missions in a new millennium. Categories
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