Preparing for mission

3 minute 12 second read

In our last edition, we talked about how we can explore a call to cross-cultural mission; today we’re considering what the next steps could be. How can you prepare for ministry?

Despite the inherent unpredictability of mission, there are practical and realistic steps that we can take to give ourselves the best opportunity of arriving well, adjusting to a new culture, making local connections, and sharing our faith.

Here are a few important areas to consider:

Forming godly habits

Becoming a missionary does not automatically improve our prayer life or how often we read our Bible! It is essential that we form daily habits that help us to walk closely with Jesus. How these are done may well have to change when in another context, but those foundational practices should be – and remain – a key part of our routines. How are your spiritual disciplines?

Cultivating character

Closely related to our habits, forming godly character is another vital piece of preparation. Whether working with diaspora or overseas, our character will be tested by ministry. Relationships with teammates and family members are likely to come under pressure, and the character that we build in advance will determine how we act in those moments. Are you building character now for the tasks God has for you?

Building resilience

Resilience is multifaceted: it encompasses our spiritual lives, our physical health, our mental state, and everything else which will enable us to persevere through difficult times. Building resilience and forming wellbeing strategies are hard to do in the moment of trial, and much better to be working on in advance. Where are you likely to struggle when challenges arise?

Growing theological understanding

No matter where we do ministry, it is important to have a deep theological foundation. If doing ministry in the Arab world, most people around us will be Muslim – many of them will have been taught key arguments against the Christian faith. Can you handle Scripture with insight and knowledge? Are you able to clearly articulate what you believe and why?

Practising cultural humility

A major challenge of cross-cultural mission is recognising that so many of our attitudes, our deeply held values, and even our religious practices are rooted in our culture. Whilst we believe that there are godly attitudes and practices which are good and true across every culture, on secondary issues we should prepare to be humble in the face of a different way of doing things. In preparing for ministry, having a familiarity with these cultural elements, and an open attitude, will go a long way to increasing our effectiveness. Are you willing to be a careful student of culture?

Partnering with others

Mission is the task of the whole Church: each of us has a role to play. A key part of preparing to go is building a team to come alongside us. Let’s find those people willing to join us in financial support, prayer support, emotional support, and practical support. Are you giving other people the opportunity to partner in what the Lord is doing among the nations?

A word of encouragement

If you are considering going on mission, you may be excited by the prospect of preparing, but you may also see this sort of list as daunting. Perhaps it is a reminder that you are not yet ready to go. And of course, there are many other elements of preparation that we haven’t touched on.

It is a stark truth that no one who engages in cross-cultural mission can be fully prepared for all that they will encounter. We can try our hardest to be equipped, but ministry can often be a humbling experience, particularly in those early days. However, take heart in the promises of God! We trust the Lord for His faithful presence with us through each step of the journey. We trust that He uses us for His glory even in our weakness. We trust that He has placed His treasure in these jars of clay.

As you prepare to go, hold close to the One who sends us.