In my last article (“The wrong question”), I tried to address a misconception about missions. I said that every follower of Christ – not just certain ones – is called to missions. Of course, it naturally follows that our physically going to another part of the world is not the only way to fulfill this call on our lives.
Having said that, let’s suppose you sense that God may be calling you to crosscultural missions (to live and serve full-time in another country or region), but you are uncertain about the call to go. How can you know if you have been called? Does God call everyone in the same manner?
Although much more could be said than space allows here, I hope a couple of stories will be helpful.
Sherry: a voice out of nowhere
Sherry, a 38-year-old medical worker with no missions experience, went to a local gym one day and hopped onto the treadmill. She put on her earphones and listened to some music. A few minutes later, she heard a voice: “Go to West Africa to teach the Bible to the Arab Muslims in their language.” Sherry took off her earphones and looked around, thinking that someone in the gym was talking to her. Not seeing anyone, she stepped off the treadmill and started praying. The voice instructed her to pray for Mali, even though Sherry didn’t know where Mali was. Later she looked in a missions handbook and found that Mali was a 98.5 percent Islamic republic in West Africa. Sherry spoke with the missions director at her church, signed up with a missions agency, received some training, and served a four-year term in Liberia, West Africa (seeing this as a stepping stone to where she would eventually serve). Ten years later, after being redirected to Ghana and after a bout with cancer, Sherry is now preparing to serve in Mali.
Jim: an interest that surfaced
Jim had never met a missionary while he was growing up. It wasn’t until he attended a family reunion at the age of 21 that he heard about mission service. It was at this reunion that he learned several of his older relatives had been missionaries. Already having a strong liking for other cultures and languages, and now having learned about missions, he knew he wanted to be a missionary. Jim couldn’t articulate a “theology of missions,” nor did he, at that time, have an intense passion for reaching people. However, these both developed through his relationship with InterVarsity and his graduate school studies. Finally, at the age of 36, Jim, a father of four, joined
a mission agency, received training, and went with his family to Central Asia, where he would serve for 10 years.
Figuring it all out
God does not call all missionaries in the same manner. Some, like Sherry, are called through supernatural events. Some, like Jim, are compelled to go by a simple interest that develops into something more. Still others are inspired to go because of suffering and needs they see in the world.
Whatever the case, if you are wondering whether you are called to serve as a cross-cultural missionary, there are some practical things you can do: (1) pray and ask God to confirm your calling; (2) talk with a church leader or a godly friend; (3) talk with a missionary or a missions agency representative, and (4) take a missions class or read a book about missions. If we here at The Mission Society can help you to discern your call, please contact us!
Richard Coleman is The Mission Society’s director of mobilization and candidacy.
