How can I become a missionary?

At TEAM, our missions coaches help people as they discern how God wants to use them in cross-cultural ministry. Here are the first five steps toward becoming a missionary.

So, you want to become a missionary? If you feel a call on your heart to share the Gospel with the nations but don’t know how to begin, read on to learn about the process and options for becoming a missionary.

Talk with Your Church

It’s easy to feel like cross-cultural mission work is an individual calling. But in the Bible, we see that this is actually a calling placed on the Church. Christ’s command to go into all the world was spoken to a body of believers who wanted to advance God’s mission. As the Church continues to live out that mission, they will be the primary sender of missionaries. 

For this reason, I always ask hopeful missionaries to talk with their church before applying to become a missionary. This allows the church to be involved at the front end.

Talking with your church:

• Brings them into your story
• Gives them permission to speak into your process
• Allows space for your church to support you every step of the way

Many churches also have their own sending process for those pursuing mission work. So communicate expectations early for the smoothest and healthiest process.

Find Your Fit

Missionary life is often romanticized. Sometimes, people might say something like, “I just want to go to another country and help people.” It’s important to remember the quote “Wherever you go, there you are.” The principal here being that you bring yourself—your areas of growth, biases, and hurts—wherever you go. 

Missionary work is hard. The culture is foreign. The people are new. So, while it’s important to hold plans loosely, it’s good to have clear expectations and boundaries as you pursue this transition. 

This is where casting vision comes in. Ask yourself these questions:

• What am I good at?
• What do I like to do?
• What country/people group/culture do I sense God calling me to?

You may not have all the answers, but you’ll begin to narrow down your focus. This will be valuable as you take next steps in missions. And they’re great questions to have your church, missions coach or friends speak into! That, in turn, helps settle ambiguity and gives more confidence moving forward.

Check out TEAM’s opportunities board to find mission roles that fit your skills and passions. The perfect role for you may be one you’ve never considered!

Select a Missions Agency

A missions agency like TEAM, while not your church, can offer resources in partnership with your local church to send you out well. Resources to consider: health insurance, help with support raising, cross-cultural adaptation training, helping your kids transition, finding schools and apartments in-country, etc. 

Resources to consider:

• Health insurance
• Help with support raising
• Training for cross-cultural adaptation
• Resources for transitioning children
• Finding housing and schools in-country
• Mental and emotional health support (Member Care)

Don’t take these things lightly. You’ll need all the emotional and physical support you can get as you transition to another country. As you research missions agencies, check their theological beliefs against your own. See how they align with your vision for cross-cultural ministry work. Then, press into other questions about long-term care.

Need help coming up with questions? Check out this guide from TEAM. Make an effort to get to know multiple organizations during your search. This will be a long-term relationship, and you want to make sure that it’s a good fit.

Get Proper Training for Your Role

At this point in the process, you may just feel like celebrating. And you should! There’s been a lot of discernment and personal growth in this season. 

But now that you’ve answered the questions of where you’re going, what you’re doing and who you’re going to do it with, it’s time for more specific training. TEAM holds hold two week-long orientations for new missionaries. These orientations introduce missionaries to departments within TEAM. They also help you set a budget, discuss support raising, talk about safety and more. This is the time to really press in! 

Your organization will most likely have trainings for you to attend. However, it may even be worth looking at outside sources, as well. Consider volunteering with a ministry that’s similar to what you’ll be doing abroad. Or take training on how to minister to certain religious groups, such as Muslims. These additional resources will serve you well as you prepare for the next season.

Raise Support

Missionaries most often have to raise their own support, or salary. This process can be daunting. However, there is a lot of biblical support for the value of support raising. And some of the most humbling and inspiring stories come out of people’s fundraising process. 

While it is an intimidating task, your organization should have support in place to help you. And it’s good to understand that money is one tangible way people can show their care and love for you. If mission work is a calling placed on the church, that means some people will go and some people will support! 

One of those means of support is financial contributions. Giving financial support lets people take part in your work on the field. Plus, it gives them the chance to show their care for you.

You don’t have to walk through these steps alone. Talk with a TEAM missions coach for help exploring your passions and finding your perfect role on the mission field. Wherever you are, wherever you may go, God is calling you to spread the Gospel. We want to help you do it.

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