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Question about missions... - 12/11/2008 4:31:58 AM
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rstaylo
Posts: 18
Joined: 12/11/2008
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I wasn't so sure of where to post this but... I often hear about medical missionaries, mission work dealing with construction and also water purification. My question is what types of jobs can you use towards missions. In other words what all professions go along with missions. I know that being a doctor is a big one, working in construction, nursing. What are some others that can be used? Just wandering if there is something that I could study in college (no in seminary) that could be beneficial if I wanted to apply it towards missions. Thanks.
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/12/2008 9:16:14 PM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
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If you're serious about missions, avoid, like the plague, a useless degree in "Bible." That's a kiss of death for influence in many of the neediest places on earth. Such as Hindu or Muslim nations, that really don't welcome paid propagandists for a foreign religion. If you feel called to ANY kind of ministry, learn to do something useful. Paul could make tents, after all.
Best advice I can offer? Pursue a calling you find interesting for its own sake, and God will show you how to put it all together. Do not waste your college years by taking the easy subjects. It's the folks who engage their brains who are employable upon graduation. Who are valued here, or abroad.
A man I greatly respect yearned to reach Tibet. SO -- he spent 14 years establishing his credentials as an engineer, before moving to Northern China.
Native English speakers are in demand around the world, so there's even hope for us technical writers and English majors.
If God has laid a specific nation on your heart, look into a language partners program. A native speaker of that nation's language may want tutoring in English -- and would be delighted to help you with his language. (When I had a free ride for my MS, I could have easily taken some classes in Russian, but I wanted to slide through as easily as possible, alas.)
_____________________________
Blogging my way through the Turkish New Testament
Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/12/2008 9:29:38 PM
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irbKuku
Posts: 913
Joined: 5/20/2005
From: Somewhere out there
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As a missionary, you name it, we can use it...
I have a friends with a masters in Biblical areas, and they are not as 'directly' helpful as my friends with degrees in education, nursing, plumbing, dentistry, music, etc. If they are willing to 'become a native' and take the time to develop relationships, the Bible degrees will be helpful, but 'immediate' ministry, not so much.
Missions, theology, Bible, etc. can be helpful if you have a TEACHABLE spirit. I know more missionaries who have such degrees and are simply in their 'ministries' to show the 'locals' how very wrong they are in everything and how the only 'true religion' is the US version  .
If you have a truly teachable spirit, however, and take time to get to know the people with whom you are working, eventually the apologetics sunday school class you offer to teach will be welcome, or the pastor will accept your councel on baptism, or any other knowledge you have to impart will be useful to you as well, but the hands on practical areas will open doors a lot sooner, allowing you to use the Biblical training as well.
_____________________________
My siggy's gone into hiding
or else it's gone looking for me... 
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/13/2008 8:50:23 PM
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stimulus
Posts: 90
Joined: 6/4/2005
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I have a degree in technical writing and work full-time in missions. 
I agree with KuKu - you name it, we can use it. At first, I studied electrical engineering in college. I knew I was called to missions, yet I wanted to study electrical engineering. As a teen, I was really torn, uncertain what to do for college. One day, a missionary came to speak at my church. He led an international media ministry, and he mentioned in passing how, one time, a group of electrical engineers installed solar panels at a remote satellites location so that the Gospel could be shared in that region. I knew then that I was supposed to study engineering.
I thought I might do that kind of work, but other options - like just working in Japan as an engineer - were appealing, too. In time, I changed my major to technical writing. Again, I planned to use it in missions. I thought I might work in India or something, and I also researched openings with missions agencies, and learned that they needed people to document software systems, help develop missionary training materials, and so on. For now, I work in the US, overseeing the marketing and communications for a group of missionaries. I've able to use the communications skills and some of the technical skills I gained in college; my knowledge of the Bible, theology, and missiology is also important to my work.
I've kicked around the idea of getting a masters in missions with my ministry's directors, and hands down, they have all told me to get a masters in a professional field instead. They say that missions majors are a dime-a-dozen; it's the people with practical skills and a call to missions who are the most in demand. I'm taking coursework now to get a ministerial license through my denomination to better equip myself for the ministry side of things, but I plan to get the masters degree in a professional field (probably marketing).
So, I completely agree with RJR_fan:
quote:
Best advice I can offer? Pursue a calling you find interesting for its own sake, and God will show you how to put it all together.
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/17/2008 9:32:14 AM
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rgod
Posts: 1930
Joined: 4/25/2005
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I think that another place for you to explore this and get your questions answered would be to contact Wycliffe, YWAM or some other missions organization that has a good youth program. That way, you can get a sense for what is needed - you can probably go on a mission trip or two - and you can assess where it is that God is calling you - not so much in terms of the part of the world, although you'll get that too - but what gifts and talents he has given you to use. You can use just about any gift or talent for missions - the thing to keep in mind is - what has he called you to do?
Make the phone calls - check out several organizations. I don't know where you live, but there is a huge missions conference that is held every couple of years in the U.S. where you can find lots and lots of organizations - that can give you a good picture of what is needed. The conference is called urbana. The next one is a year away, but you can easily get information about missions orgs, and lots of other information from their website: http://www.urbana.org/_today.cfm.
I'd also talk with people who are out on the field, like stimulus, or see if you can talk to people who are involved with missions in your area. You might also want to try posting a similar question in the ministry folder - you might get more nibbles there.
All the best!
rgod
_____________________________
We are His portion and He is our prize, drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes! If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking ...
- Kim Walker "How He Loves Us"
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/17/2008 10:08:02 AM
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floydette
Posts: 697
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I suggest that you go for what you love - and then see how God will use it in missions. :)
As far as what is helpful - if you are going to translate scripture - then original languages is helpful. You could look at a masters in Global and Contextual Studies - which helps you deal with culture, religions you may encounter, how to effect change, etc. That would be helpful no matter where you go.
_____________________________
“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” Henri Bergson
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/20/2008 5:11:58 AM
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novitiate
Posts: 66
Joined: 3/9/2008
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God will equip you and direct your path. If you are meant to work in the mission field you will find your niche. However, just because you feel a tug doesn't mean this will happen right "now." Don't get ahead of yourself. Do what you enjoy as others have suggested. Also, take time to discover and explore your spiritual gifts. A call to the mission field does not always imply one is heading overseas. You may be asked to work with a group locally or serve in some capacity you haven't considered. I think the real important thing for you to do is to remain prayerful and open to where God desires to use you.
_____________________________
God took my deficits and made them my offering.
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/23/2008 11:44:28 AM
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ajidil
Posts: 90
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the deep cold of Baltic Europe
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I have been a full-time foreign missionary since 1994, in 2 different organizations. Let me tell you 2 things from my experience. 1. There are never enough workers out here & 2. Anything you can do can & will be put to use. Heck, even if you can't do something, you might be asked to do it! LOL
I agree that a Bible major might not be helpful to get you into Tibet or China, but knowing the Bible out here is SO IMPORTANT! How can you share the word and love of God if you don't know the Word? Situations arise that may seem clear cut while sitting in a pew in America, but it get complicated out here... the Word will help you make good decisions, keep your character, and feed you when you go to a church where you don't know the language well enough to be fed or there is no church. So, Bible major or not, study the Word.
DH is has a degree in IT/programming. He uses it constantly... and has also developed skills in everything media, from desk top publishing to web design to video production. I teach English. I do not have a degree, but have a TESOL certificate and a ton of experience & have more would-be students than I can handle.
It's true, with a passion for missions you may not be heading off to a new country sometime soon... or maybe you will. Please don't let complacency or other people's opinions steal your passion from you. I've seen that way too many times and it's so sad. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few... and we pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. He sends, but often it seem like they tell him, "no." So feed your passion! Stay focused on Him and let him direct you, even if it seems absurd. God often uses the foolish things in this world to confound the wise. :)
_____________________________
'God doesn't build skyscrapers; men [do]...and they have the touch of human genius. But you can't find a man who can make a star. And when God steps in, [it's] like the difference between a skyscraper and a star.'
http://bischoff.ywamlatvia.com/lydia/
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/23/2008 12:50:44 PM
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FreeEagle
Posts: 46
Joined: 7/2/2008
From: Minnesota
Status: offline
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Take the skills you currently have and let God lead you to use them. Recently having completed an intense course on the book of ACTS, and then later visiting with a couple of over seas missionaries. I would recommend that you first study Acts, and study the letters of Paul. As you study Acts, you'll note that your real mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ - and 2nd to apply your skills. Look at Stephen a simple servant, but he knew the Gospel in his heart.
After speaking to the missionaries in the field they said the biggest mistake churches / individuals make is that they spend huge amounts to send one or two missionaries to ten-buck-two, the missionaries then have to learn the culture and language, and then start to transform so the people will accept you and your beliefs, before you began to spread the word. Those I spoke to gave examples of people coming and doing this and only planting 2 or 3 churches in 5 to 25 years time.
The best thing you can do is give of your time, talents, and money, then go to an area that already has a missionary that speaks both languages, even if you spread the gospel through an interrupter, you'll do more good and plant more churches faster. Then use what skills you have to help the community. $1000 spent this way will reach 100 - 1000 people in a very short time. The missionaries we spoke to have the people starting a new church every 3-4 months, and have built over a 1000 churches in 3 - 8 years. Your main purpose is not to build a community where every one has the conveniences of the western world (water, electric, etc.) but to spread the Gospel. If you teach, then teach them to teach and move to the next community you'll help them help themselves faster, in both missions.
_____________________________
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
Psalms 32 8-
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/27/2008 3:52:45 PM
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manwe
Posts: 156
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rstaylo
I wasn't so sure of where to post this but... I often hear about medical missionaries, mission work dealing with construction and also water purification. My question is what types of jobs can you use towards missions. In other words what all professions go along with missions. I know that being a doctor is a big one, working in construction, nursing. What are some others that can be used? Just wandering if there is something that I could study in college (no in seminary) that could be beneficial if I wanted to apply it towards missions. Thanks.
I agree with others you should go practical if at all possible but even so if you feel the Lord telling you to get that Bible degree, then don't listen to RJR_Fan. You could alwasy get an associates in Bible for a basic foundation then go on to the bachelors degree. There are still places where Bible teachers are needed to come alongside and train pastors in biblical studies, pastoral ministries and the like. It just depends. What is the Lord directing YOU to do?
As to the practical - Teaching ESL is always needed (though fast becoming a dime a dozen too). Another popular one too is something along the lines of Urban Planning and/or Community Development - an Education degree can never hurt - lots of International schools out there needing teachers. If you are the analytical type and like culture and language studies the Wycliff suggestion is a good one - there are still many many many people groups out there with no written languages of their own or a Bible in their own language (this would need to be a life long pursuit, not a temporary thing). The list can go on and on.
I think too it largely depends on what kinds of missions you sense the Lord calling you to - do you want to be a "paraclete" and come along side in support of places where the church is already working or do you want to break new ground? Do you plan to just do some traveling and spend a few years on the field then come back home and settle down, or do you want to take a coffin with you because you plan to sty for life, like in the old days?
Sadly, very few folks get excited about going and staying put somewhere to reach an unreached people group anymore. Staying put meaning putting in 30-40 years among the people, whatever it takes to reach them and establish a church among them.
If this is the case, think about going the anthropology/cultural studies route (maybe a Bachelors in Anthropology and Cultural studies (cultural analysis) or Intercultural Studies and a Masters in community development? Then go and start planting churches.
One possibility to think about is working with the ELIC teaching English in North Asia and then after a couple years you can get a Masters in TESOL or Intercultural Studies tution free at Wheaton College and be paid for it all at the same time.
Lots of possibilites.
_____________________________
Zephaniah 3:17 reads, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
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RE: Question about missions... - 12/30/2008 6:41:29 AM
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bigfrank
Posts: 76
Joined: 12/2/2005
From: Battle Ground, WA
Status: offline
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It's a great question. I've been wanting to be a missionary either as a sort of hobby or a career, but I suppose I'm probably doing it the hard way. I am studying Civil Engineering and it is completely dominating me. I'm trying to get more involved with a club called "Engineers Without Borders." It's an international organization with local chapters that do various engineering projects for underprivileged communities all over the world. Engineering is one way to do it, but you have to want it really badly.
Another thing that I'm not sure if anyone here has mentioned is aviation. I'm sure that somewhere there are people in need of a pilot to deliver people or supplies to who knows where.
Just some thoughts.
Kevin
_____________________________
A man should never let a salad beat him.
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