When God Tells You to Wait on Missions

Jessica Hulbert • Mar 03, 2016

I recently spoke with a woman who, after returning from a yearlong mission trip, was ready to turn around and head right back to the mission field. She was transitioning between college and career, her job in the States wasn’t what she wanted to do forever and, most of all, she genuinely felt called to be a missionary. So, what’s the holdup? Time to pack the bags and go!

Well, not quite yet.

Pausing Can Be Part of the Plan

First, we had to ask some pretty key questions:

And when these are resolved, there is the language barrier. Many missionaries spend the first two years on the field not in ministry but in intensive language and cultural study.

In short, the list of things to consider before serving overseas is not so short after all.

It took a few months, but over time, my friend found that this unwished-for season of waiting was actually purposeful in pursuing her long-term goals. This wasn’t an end to the dream but in fact a key part in making that dream a reality. Sometimes nurturing your call to missions and following your call to missions is all part of the same plan.

How to Wait Well

So, what has you waiting to go to the field? A few more years left in school? A baby on the way? Your house taking longer to sell than expected?

Or maybe you’re like my friend, and you’re realizing that you just need more practical development before you can buy that plane ticket out of the country. Whatever it is, know that this time matters. This time can actually be one of the most rewarding times in your ministry overseas if you truly use it to cultivate the call God has put inside you.

Here are some effective ways you can be nurturing your call to missions even when it isn’t happening right this second:

1. Keep talking about your heart for missions.

Continue talking with your missions pastor , missions coach or other missionaries you know. Nothing fuels a fire for missions more than sharing it with other missions-minded people. Continue developing your heart for the nations by learning from others who can mentor you in the process. Maybe they have stories to share or insight to give or helpful studies you can be working on while you wait. Try setting up a weekly or bi-weekly meeting with them to continue that mentorship.

2. Pray for missions and ask for prayer.

This may be a given, but sometimes it’s easy to feel called and leave it at that. Continue to seek God’s purpose for your life in regard to missions . Be intentional. Pray for all parts of the world , not just where you would like to serve. Ask God to bring new connections in your life with people who share a passion for missions. Study what Scripture says about ministry and missions, and pray it over yourself.

Ask for prayer as well. Have people close to you — like your small group, best friends or family — pray over you and your desire to go. Send them monthly or weekly prayer requests so they can know your specific needs.

3. Be an active learner.

There is no limit to the amount of missions resources at our disposal. While you can check out books , follow blogs or listen to podcasts , it also might be worth looking into classes and conferences near you. Perspectives is a semester-long course devoted to missions training. There are also conferences such as the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) , Urbana and other globally-focused conferences hosted by universities and churches. See what may be available to you in the next year.

Many missions conferences have moved online and lowered admissions prices due to COVID-19, creating even greater accessibility!

4. Write your story, and share it.

A great way to nurture your call and remind yourself of this calling is to share your story. Maybe start a blog that details all you are learning through waiting or gives friends information on how they can be involved. Maybe your church will let you speak to the congregation or small groups.

If you don’t have an audience, journal it and just keep track of all God is doing in this season of waiting. No doubt you’ll be thankful you have a record of His faithfulness .

5. Embrace and trust the process.

The list doesn’t end there. Listen to worship songs that give you a mindset for the global church. Make meals from different countries to bring different cultures into your life. Start a Pinterest board of all things missions.

Whatever you choose to do, know that the choice itself is a part of the process. You’re a missionary now, whether overseas or not, because of how your heart is committed to the call. This waiting time has purpose. So remain faithful and trust that “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Loving Like Jesus Cross-Culturally (Part 1)

By Megan Lunsford • 23 Apr, 2024
When seeking to serve cross-culturally with an authentic love for others, there’s no better example for us than Jesus. If we sat around a table and threw out the question, “How do we love like Jesus?” I think we would have several commonalities as we respond. For example, Jesus loved all people right where they were. He loved those who were deemed the least, those hardest to love, or those who were His enemies. These are all beautiful realities of the heart of Jesus. When we step into relationships, it can be easier to take on the warmer, more gracious gestures of Jesus’ love, especially in cross-cultural relationships. Think about it––when doing life with those who look and act differently than us, we are already out of our comfort zones and would rather keep things as simple and familiar as possible. But there are other facets of Jesus’ heart we often overlook that can transform us and others even more into His likeness. Jesus is love because God is love. Everything Jesus did was out of love; it’s the mere definition of who He is. As followers of Jesus, He calls us to the same: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John:7-12) Every display of love we offer to others is an opportunity for them to encounter the ultimate love of the Father. That’s a pretty big deal! In this article, we’ll look at three expressions of Jesus’ love that we tend to overlook when engaging others cross-culturally. (Next month, we’ll look at three more.) 1. Jesus loved sacrificially. Everywhere Jesus went, crowds followed Him. We even see times in Scripture where Jesus had plans to step away for time alone but those who were hurting found Him and He had compassion on them and stayed with them. Can you imagine rarely having any time to yourself but, instead, constantly being surrounded by crowds of people wanting help from you? Jesus loved sacrificially. He welcomed all who came to Him with love and compassion, never turning anyone away. “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) In the same way, we can make room in our lives for Jesus to bring sacrificial interruptions which, in His eyes, are orchestrated encounters to transfer His love to others. It can be tempting to be so “on mission” that we are full steam ahead and find ourselves frustrated when the Holy Spirit sends an interruption into our path that we feel we don’t have time for. Or, perhaps, we have scheduled a meet-up but it’s the norm in another culture to be 30 minutes or an hour late. We anxiously think through how it will affect whatever we have planned next. While it’s normal to feel a little stressed, what if the very "interruption” standing in front of you was really a divine appointment sent by God? Or what if that person running late experiences how peaceful and gracious you are in adapting to their culture and therefore, they can encounter a beautiful display of Jesus’ love? To truly represent Christ, we should remain ready and willing for each assignment the Lord sends into our path, no matter the cost or how much we will have to re-route our day. He is always a hundred steps ahead and will work all things for His glory and our good. 2. Jesus loved by discerning each situation well. Think about how many situations Jesus had to respond to on a daily basis. We read in Scripture that there were lines of people waiting to be healed by Him, talk to Him, hear His teachings, or simply touch the hem of His robe. Jesus was fully dependent on His Father to discern each situation before addressing it. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19) Another temptation we can have when in a relationship with those God has sent us to is to think we already know the solution or what God wants to do before we’ve even asked Him. We believe we are full of knowledge, so we just pull from the bank we have stored within and go with it. However, when we access what is familiar to us as our default, we risk missing out on a God-given solution that might truly be the key to unlocking whatever challenge is in front of us. What does this look like when interacting with others? We can simply ask, “God, what is on Your heart for the person standing in front of me?” Then we listen and respond as He speaks. When we make it a daily habit to pause and hear God’s heart for each situation before responding, we are guaranteed to be effective in loving those around us. He knows the heart of every person that will cross our paths. Imagine how impactful we can be if we first lean on His wisdom and discernment before moving forward. 3. Jesus loved by speaking truth. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. If we are honest, this conversation makes us a bit nervous as none of us would be comfortable with Jesus calling out intimate details of our lives that we would prefer to hide. But Jesus went further than just airing her dirty laundry. He offered her the hope of the Gospel and a relationship with Him - a divine fulfillment that could never be found in an earthly relationship. Jesus modeled a powerful example of loving others well cross-culturally. He took the low place and spoke truth, truly out of love––speaking to her heart from His. Like Jesus, our goal in sharing the truths about Him and His Word is to bring hope and satisfaction through Him alone. When we speak truth from Scripture, we are calling others higher into all God has for them. The tricky part here is we should avoid speaking truth if it isn’t first fueled by compassion. If it merely comes from a place of judgment, condemnation, or self-righteousness, it will fall flat 100% of the time. But if it truly comes from love, you are likely to not only win a heart back to the Father but, like the story of the Samaritan woman, even an entire village! If you see someone living outside of God’s best for their lives, ask God to show you your heart before engaging theirs. Once your heart is properly postured, you can speak truth out of an overflow of God’s love and trust Him for a transformation in their lives.

Hospitality, Help, and the Hope of the Gospel

By Suzanne Pearson • 16 Apr, 2024
TEAM Canada provides warm welcome and trusted friendships for diaspora populations living far from their native countries. As TEAM Canada workers Peter and Ruth (names changed) drive from their home to a nearby community center, they pass numerous apartment buildings and townhouses. Most of the families who live there are immigrants. They’ve left their countries of origin due to political unrest, trauma, and other difficulties. They’ve left family, friends, homes, jobs, and personal wealth behind. They search for peace, justice for the oppressed, and rest from fear and weariness. And as they adjust to a new country and a new language, they are often very isolated from others around them. “The sad reality is most immigrants are never even invited inside a Canadian home,” says Ruth. Peter and Ruth and their team try to change that reality. For the last nine years, the team, which includes workers from partner organizations as well as volunteers, has held English classes at the community center. Three days a week, over 60 students from more than 20 countries come together to learn English as well as to fellowship together and receive practical help in assimilating to a new normal. Meeting Needs and Building Trust That practical help may come in the form of procuring furniture, clothes, or dishes for newcomers, assistance with creating a resume and finding a job, or teaching people how to navigate Canadian laws and the medical system. As these tangible needs are met, relationships are built. “We invite them into our homes for meals and games,” Ruth shares. “We take them on hiking trips, picnics, outings, and out for coffee.” This is particularly important in this type of ministry because most immigrants come to Canada from cultures that value hospitality. Conversely, Canadians do not typically prioritize hospitality and consequently many newcomers feel lonely and isolated. Inviting folks to various gatherings and outings allows the team to spend extended time hearing people’s stories, struggles, hopes, and dreams. When she speaks about building friendships, Ruth’s heart for the people she serves is evident. “Hearing their stories, it’s easy to love them, and many have become close friends,” Ruth says. “We recognize the value of steady one-on-one relationships.”
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