This postal service is for people who are praying seriously about the possibility of serving overseas in long-term cantankerous-cultural missions. It may assistance y'all assess where y'all shortly stand in terms of "readiness" for such a ministry assignment.

Look through the questions I've drawn up here and try to honestly assess where you presently stand regarding preparation for long-term missionary work. These questions reflect the types of questions often posed to candidates past mission agencies.

Biblical / theological readiness:

  • Has the candidate had at least one total yr of formal biblical and theological training (or equivalent)? (More could be necessary depending upon the type of ministry toward which 1 is heading.)
  • Tin can the candidate articulate what he or she believes about biblical doctrine, and is such an joint in line with both the bureau's and their sending church's doctrinal statements?

Spiritual readiness:

  • Does the candidate testify consistency in studying the Bible? (Is there evidence that the Bible is foundational in the candidate's life?)
  • Does the candidate exhibit a design of prayerfulness?
  • Is the candidate committed to fellowship with and learning from other believers in the local church?
  • Is there bear witness of growth in the fruit of the Spirit and other Christian qualities (such as humility and teachability, both of which are vital on the field)?
  • Is there prove of growth in wisdom?
  • Is there evidence of an mental attitude of service toward others?

Emotional / relational readiness:

  • Does the candidate show show of emotional health?
  • Is the candidate self-disciplined; that is, will he or she pursue his or her calling in a setting where there might be fewer external requirements?
  • How flexible is this candidate?
  • Is there testify of willingness to submit to God-given authorities?
  • How likely is it that this candidate will work well on a squad?

Vocational readiness:

  • Is the candidate adequately prepared vocationally for the particular area of service toward which he or she is heading? (Recognizing that there volition exist a wide variety of preparatory needs here, a listing will have to be drawn up individually for each candidate. Examples: linguistics, nursing, education, mechanics…)
  • Is the candidate ready for linguistic communication learning and cultural adjustments? (In that location are a diversity of ways to acquire readiness in this area also.)

Research readiness:

  • Has the candidate carefully looked at and prayed through options for locations and spheres of ministry and become fairly educated nigh those locations and spheres?
  • Has the candidate carefully looked through possible missions organizations with which to serve?

Marital / family unit readiness:

  • Does the candidate show evidence of a good for you union (if married)?
  • Does the candidate show evidence of being at a place of peace in his or her present calling (if single)?
  • Does the family (if children are involved) seem to be both spiritually and physically healthy enough for living under the stresses of a cross-cultural environment?
  • Does the candidate have family responsibilities in the USA that will hinder his or her ministry building overseas?

Ministry readiness:

  • Has the candidate shown faithfulness and effectiveness in ministry in the local church?
  • Has the candidate pursued opportunities to serve in cross-cultural environments in order to abound in this expanse (examples: brusque-term mission trips, tutoring in English language to immigrants, urban ministry building)?
  • Does the candidate share his or her religion with unbelievers?
  • Are there other ministry experiences that take helped gear up the candidate for overseas service?

Church connectedness readiness:

  • Is the candidate adequately connected to the worship, fellowship, and ministries of the church and then that there are enough people in the church to pray for this person while overseas?

Stewardship readiness:

  • Is the candidate debt-free (or on a clear trajectory to being debt-costless)?
  • In full general, is the candidate'due south fiscal business firm in guild? That is, does he or she live within a upkeep, demonstrate regular habits of generous giving, reveal modest spending habits, and otherwise exhibit prudence in this expanse of life?

Christian grapheme readiness:Does the candidate exhibit the characteristics expected of overseers in one Timothy 3?

  • To a higher place reproach
  • Husband of one wife (or vice versa)
  • Temperate
  • Self-controlled
  • Respectable
  • Hospitable
  • Able to teach
  • Not given to drunkenness
  • Not violent, only gentle
  • Non quarrelsome
  • Not a lover of money
  • Manages his ain family well
  • Sees that his children obey him with proper respect
  • Not a recent convert
  • Having a good reputation with outsiders

Are there whatsoever areas of "readiness" that you think should exist on this list that are not?