This is a guest post written by Michelle. Michelle is a blogger & freelancer who's written about almost every topic under the sun. She loves constantly learning about new subjects and industries while she’s writing. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.
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People feel God’s
call upon their lives in many different ways. If you’ve been prayerfully
considering the Lord’s purpose for your life and think He may be leading you to
do something that sees you helping others and getting boldly outside of your
comfort zone, long-term mission work may be a good fit. Keep reading to learn
four important things to think about before you embrace this possibility.
By nature, long-term
mission work often requires a person to sacrifice things and delay plans. If
you pursue it, don’t be surprised to engage in things your non-Christian
friends may view as foolish and irresponsible, especially when it comes to
leaning on faith to guide you through what’s ahead.
For example, if you have a successful career in
Philadelphia selling granite countertops, PA may seem like a practical place
to remain, at least to an outsider. If you feel called to Cambodia to engage in
children’s missions instead, rely on guidance from the Bible and expect your
faith to be put on trial, perhaps because of the influence of family members,
or your own personal doubts.
While working as a missionary, there’s a good chance
you’ll need to adjust to a new lifestyle, including living on an income that’s
less than what you’re used to earning. To compensate, think about methods you
could use to raise support for the new path you’re taking in life. A
crowdfunding website like Kickstarter may be a great solution, or, if you’re
already established in a home church, try appealing for help from your fellow
congregation members.
In the fifth chapter
of Matthew beginning in the thirteenth verse, the words describe how Christians
are called to be salt of the earth and light to the world. That means if your
heart and actions are focused on serving God, you can spread His love whether
you do so in Africa, or right in your own community.
If you feel certain you’re being called to participate
in a long-term mission that’s far away from home, by all means do so. However,
don’t get misled by the idea that a person who travels especially far away from
what’s familiar is doing more to serve the Kingdom than you would by taking
part in a long-term program near where you live.
In many cases, a
desire to go on a long-term mission trip will allow you to use some inborn
gifts, whether that means playing music during a worship meeting or lending
your writing prowess to making a church’s mission statement more engaging and
relatable.
There’s nothing wrong with seeking out possibilities that match your
capabilities. Try doing even more by courageously allowing yourself to display
the heart of a servant by being willing to pitch in however is necessary. That
commitment to flexibility will make you a valuable asset to any long-term mission
team.
There are several things to consider before choosing
to go on a long-term mission trip, but the principles above should be
especially helpful as you respond to God’s efforts to show you what He intends
for your future. Good luck!
