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What types of training should I consider?
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Global Frontier Missionary Training School


Thinking about going into full time work overseas but not sure where to start or even how to get equipped? 

"Studies show that many missionaries planning to go to the mission field long-term are only lasting about two years, and experts agree that quality pre-field missionary training can help workers bear more fruit and last longer on the field."

Find out if Global Frontier Mission is the right training school for you!

May 2018 Issue

In this Issue

NEW ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS

  1. What are tentmaking, business as mission, and business for transformation all about? Are they all the same thing?
  2. What types of training should I consider?
  3. What questions should I ask a mission organization I am considering joining?

ANSWERS NEEDED FOR THESE QUESTIONS

  1. Can a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) practice medical missions internationally? Or only a MD? Is there much room for medical missions as an osteopathic physician?
  2. Can a counselor or psychologist use those skills in missions?

RESOURCES AND EVENTS

  1. Poverty Cure
  2. The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission

Q: What are tentmaking, business as mission, and business for transformation all about? Are they all the same thing?

A: Expect Confusion!

Answer from Elizabeth in Michigan, who has served with SEND International all over Asia for 40 years.

Missions is changing fast. In fact, in many cases you won’t be called a missionary, even in your own home church. You will be a global worker, or a global partner, or a cross-cultural worker. The internet has introduced a new level of security issues. As you talk to church missions committees, to friends and family, you may have to explain again and again what you are doing if it does not fit a traditional "missionary" model.

Don’t let this turn you off and don’t get upset with those who don’t understand. Be patient. Explain as best you can, and ask them for grace as you learn more. To be honest, NO missionary (cross-cultural worker, global partner...) ever knows exactly what they will do or face when their hit their target country. 

You may get asked, "Why are you raising support if you are doing business?" (if you are). While you may at some point be able to self-support yourself in an overseas transformational ministry, there are initial costs like language training and household set-up. And even when a business is up and running, it may not completely support you as you also raise funds for medical, retirement, schooling for children, etc. Try to help your donors understand that support raised is "total employment package" and not just your "salary." 

Expect confusion. And deal with it as it comes.

» Read another answer to this question or submit your own

» See also other questions about funding and missions

Q: What types of training should I consider?

A: Learn to share the gospel at home through four-fields training

Answer from Kristin in North Carolina, who has served with in Haiti, Costa Rica, Peru, and Guyana for five years.

The best training you can have is sharing the gospel in your own Jerusalem before ever entering a cross-cultural context. God has called us to share his word with ALL people, including our own. The movement, #NoPlaceLeft focuses on the four fields model developed by Nathan Shank which comes from Mark 4. Throughout Jesus’s ministry and Paul’s missionary journeys, we see a pattern followed after the four fields. The tools are reproducible and this church plant model costs $0. It’s been effective in Haiti, India, South Asia, and Latin America. 

Four Fields encompasses the idea of a farmer entering a field, spreading seed broadly, waiting for that seed to grow and helping it mature, gathering the crop into bundles, and then using the best seed to be sent out into new fields. Mark 4. The first field is the entry, your mission field. How do we engage lostness? The second, is spreading the seed. AKA, sharing the gospel. We use tools such as the three-circles since it is reproducible. Our goal is to not only make disciples, but to multiply them as well. The third field is discipleship. Meeting with the new believer, and teaching him to obey such as what is commanded in the Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20, and the last field, is church. Gathering believers to create a healthy church. From there, leaders are raised up out of these churches and sent into new fields, thus creating a reproducible cycle. 

Jesus never said you needed a Bible degree to do ministry. Most of the disciples were laymen with a heart of obedience and a God-sized vision to see nations come to Christ. Be a good steward of your money which is truly God’s money, and practice what you hope to accomplish somewhere else, at home.

» Read additional answers or browse other questions about proper missionary training

Q: What questions should I ask a mission organization I am considering joining?

A: Five questions to ask yourself

Answer from Marti, who has served in missions for twenty years and currently serves with Pioneers.

As a student, I was active in campus ministry and learned to love leading Bible studies, planning events, and emceeing meetings. So when I got involved in missions, I already knew I wanted an environment where someone like me would have the chance to coordinate projects, do some public speaking, and train others. I looked for a ministry that was growing, not very hierarchical, and included and empowered young people in leadership roles. A good friend of mine who had a greater need for structure and supervision found the same environment a little dangerous and unstable; our agency was not the best fit for her, long-term.

What about you? How well do you know yourself, your values, and the kind of work environment in which you are most likely to thrive (especially at your current stage of life?) As you talk to mission agencies, spend some time reflecting on the work and ministry environments in which you have served thus far - even if you are young. 

Also ask yourself:

1. How would I describe the kind of sending organization I am looking for? Is this picture realistic?
2. What are my assumptions about how mission agencies work and what they do for their field workers?
3. What areas are most important to me? List a few things that could be "deal breakers."
4. What areas are less important to me? 
5. In what kind of agencies or roles are other people with similar backgrounds, gifts, interests, and requirements serving? Look for people you can identify with.

» Read other answers to this question
» See also other questions on the topic of agencies

Answers needed for these questions (and others):

If you are a missionary, consider answering one or more of these questions. (See answer guidelines below!) If you know a missionary who may be willing to help, forward this newsletter with a personal note.

Q: Can a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) practice medical missions internationally? Or only a MD? Is there much room for medical missions as an osteopathic physician?

» Answer this question

Q: Can a counselor or psychologist use those skills in missions?

» Answer this question

Answers may be submitted through the website or simply sent to editor@askamissionary.com


ANSWER GUIDELINES
  • Desired length is two to four paragraphs.
  • Published references to individuals will typically be on a first-name basis.
  • Email addresses will not be published.
  • Please include years of experience and country served where applicable.
  • Restricted access countries will not be named, but referred to by region.
  • Links to other missions websites are encouraged.
  • Selected answers will be edited and published electronically or in print.
  • Submitted answers are copyright AskaMissionary.com / M-DAT.

Resource Highlight

Poverty Cure

Poverty Cure is a great resource as we re-think poverty and our role in bringing about change. There are several resources including videos and DVDs as well as articles. Learn more about microfinance and how seeing people as "Imago Dei," made in the image of God should be the basis from which we should be seeking to help and empower those affected by poverty. 
      
                         

Book Highlight

The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission

The Missional Entrepreneur takes an in-depth look at business as missions in action with an eye to expose the most effective principles and practices of this movement.   

          

Upcoming Mission Conferences and Events

Note: Starred courses offered multiple times a year; only the next occurrence is listed.

Tentmaking and Business as Mission

September 21-23, BAM Conference (Philadelphia, PA)

Support Raising

May 18, People Raising Conference (Major Donors) (Oak Brook, IL)
May 21-22, Support Raising Bootcamp (Brea (Los Angeles), CA)
June 1-2, People Raising Conference, (Oak Brook, IL)
June 5-6, Support Raising Bootcamp (Orlando, FL)

Ministry Training

May 20 to June 15, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry, (Union Mills, NC)*
June 4 to August 12, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Intensive, (online)*
June 4 to September 2, Encountering the World of Islam (online)*
June 11 to July 7, COMPASS language/culture acquisition training (Palmer Lake, CO)*
June 17, Second Language Acquisition, (Union Mills, NC)*
June 19-23, Sahara Challenge training for ministry to Muslims (St. Paul, MN)
July 2 to November 4, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, (online)*
July 8-27, Manarah Muslim evangelism training (Detroit, MI)

Missions Conferences

June 21-23, National African-American Missions Conference (Vienna, VA)
June 19-20, Radius Missiology Conference (Minneapolis, MN)
September 21-22, The Justice Conference (Chicago, IL)
November 8-10, Global Missions Health Conference (Louisville, KY)
November 15-18, International Conference on Missions (Cincinnati, OH)

» More mission events and courses

600+ Answers Online...

Get answers from experienced missionaries on agencies, support, skills, and more.

» Visit AskaMissionary.com
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Address: PO Box 16446, St. Louis, MO 63125
Editor: Marti Wade

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Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"The harvest is plentiful
but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
to send out workers into
his harvest field."
~ Matthew 9:37-38