My husband and I both sensed a call toward missionary work as young people. We weren’t sure exactly where or to whom God would send us, but we longed to be part of bringing good news to the nations. Before we eventually moved to serve with MTW in Peru, God used many different experiences and relationships to prepare us for what lay ahead in addition to our formal training. Overall, our transition to the field went quite well. But in hindsight, there were some additional ways that we could have prepared in the years before moving to the field.

No one is ever 100% ready or equipped for the ministry God calls them to. He calls us to walk by faith, stepping into the unknown so that we must lean on Him for strength and guidance. There is still, however, great wisdom in acquiring some basic knowledge and skills that can only strengthen and bolster any missionary’s work in a foreign culture. For those who sense a calling toward missionary work, I strongly recommend intentionally learning and growing in the following ways prior to moving overseas.

1. Connect deeply with a church.

There are so many reasons to connect deeply with a church family in your home country before stepping into missionary work. A local church is the ideal context to pursue spiritual maturity, grow in relational skills with other people, practice responding graciously to spiritual authority, and cultivate the integral rapport and support that missionaries depend on from their sending churches. All of that investment in a local church can yield a beautiful future partnership that spans the globe. A strong sending church provides missionaries with discipleship, shepherding care, regular encouragement, help discerning the Lord’s guidance, and also physical and logistical support.

2. Pursue methodical spiritual growth.

Regardless of the type of ministry you ultimately pursue, spiritual maturity is a crucial quality worth running after well in advance. Nationals on the mission field as well as people back home rightly look to missionaries as model disciples of Christ, so just as Paul exhorted Timothy to train for the race ahead (1 Timothy 4), future missionaries would do well to pursue the cultivation of spiritual practices that will sustain Christ-like character and spiritual growth. Consider finding a more mature believer to disciple you. Identify habitual sins to target for growth with the prayer and guidance of comrades in the faith. And practice sharing your faith and spiritual journey with others. These types of pursuits will yield wonderful kingdom fruit both personally and ministerially in the near and distant future.

3. Develop a habit of regular communication with God throughout your day, and learn to notice how He’s at work around you.

Those who would seek to lead others to Christ must cultivate the skill of receiving direction from the Lord on a regular basis. It is an incredible temptation to minister out of your own strength and plans, especially for those who have acquired a degree of ministry skill. Cultivating a habit of communing with God to quiet yourself, recognize the striving of your own heart, and seek wisdom and direction from the Lord is a habit that can make all the difference for gospel ministers. Jesus Himself practiced regular communion with God as well as watchfulness for where His Father was at work. Those anticipating future missionary work would do well to learn this way of life ahead of time.

4. Grow in intercessory prayer.

As A. B. Simpson famously stated, “Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work.” Just as soldiers benefit greatly from training for combat, would-be spiritual warriors can train for effectiveness via their prayer life. We serve a King who chooses to expand His kingdom in response to the prayers of His people, and we advance against an enemy who is only overcome by prayer. If God is calling you to missionary service, seek to develop a strong prayer muscle in some of the following ways:

• Pray in a variety of settings and for a variety of needs.
• Pray out loud with other believers.
• Read books on intercessory prayer.
• Attend prayer workshops or seminars.
• Set aside a full day or weekend dedicated to prayer for your city.
• Troubleshoot your prayer life with someone with more experience than you in intercessory prayer.

5. Cultivate your gifts and practice leading in the church.

Our Lord has graciously given unique gifts and talents to all His children for the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:16). As you prepare for missionary service, take steps of faith to develop and expand those gifts, exercising them in a variety of ways ministering to different types of people. Also, work at developing a variety of abilities in the church since missionaries are often called upon to serve in ways that may not be their strongest gift. Lead a Bible study, help with music or the sound system, serve on the missions committee, teach a Sunday school class, or host a small group meeting. Bathe your acts of service in prayer and invite the Lord to bring new and varied opportunities for you to use them. Doing so will grow your kingdom impact and equip you for effective ministry in the years to come!

6. Learn about missions, languages, cultures, and missionary work.

Knowledge alone cannot outfit someone for missionary service, but it sure can help! Read about different cultures and language groups. Take a foreign language or linguistics class. Research the history or political situation in a country that interests you. Learn about different approaches to missionary work and discover which mission agency might be a good fit . Learning about these types of things can help you discern your next steps toward missions and will prove useful as you step into that calling.

7. Take steps of faith into ministry opportunities.

Serving as a missionary internationally demands many significant steps of faith, not just at the outset, but throughout the duration of service. Some people rule out missionary service completely due to this reality, but faith is something that the Lord can grow through small, measured, yet successive steps of trust and obedience. Try stepping outside your comfort zone and invite the Lord to use you in a new way that requires you to lean on Him for guidance and strength. Join a friend in an unfamiliar ministry opportunity, encouraging them to mentor you, or reach out to someone who you wouldn’t generally warm up to. As always, bathe it in prayer, and see what God will do to grow your faith!

8. Help your family cultivate a passion for missions.

Those who are married or have children can’t begin too early to share their passion for missionary work to help the rest of the family catch that vision as well. Learn about missions together. Take a family mission trip. Host a missionary family. Learn together about the missionary need in a particular country and pray corporately that the Lord would work in that place. This preparation will help your family to be united in your calling when the Lord leads you into your next step of faith.

9. Form a relationship with a current missionary.

Getting to know a current missionary is a wonderful way to grow in your understanding about missionary work. Invite them to share their story of getting involved in missions. Ask as many questions as you can think of. Receive their prayer letters and pray for them regularly. Invite them into your home when they are on home assignment, and consider visiting them on the field to observe, help, pray, and encourage them in their ministry context. Many a missionary have been set on their current trajectory through such a relationship.

Agencies like Mission to the World have created intentional pathways of exploration, learning, and discernment for people interested in pursuing missionary service, but even before you connect with a mission agency there are many ways that prospective missionaries can prepare for fruitful ministry. (Learn more in 9 Practical Ways to Prepare for Missions). Consider choosing one or two of these nine ways to pursue growth in preparation for future ministry this week, and watch to see how the Lord will use it!