Graduate and Go to the Nations

The possible pathways for a college senior this time of year can be head-spinning: Should I move to this new city? What job offer should I accept? Should I continue with more education?

The lines of directions run across each other and back around like a New York City subway map. Graduates often truly wonder: What is God’s will for me?

While these are all valid questions, there’s another question worth considering. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Seminary, put it this way: “Lord, not why should I go, but why should I stay?”

Could God be calling you to spend the first year or two after college on the mission field? And how would you know?

THE WAY FORWARD ISN’T ALWAYS A STRAIGHT LINE 

Speaking of that New York City subway map, the Lord led me on my own circuitous journey to place me in full-time missions mobilization. In 2004, I was studying for a degree in youth ministry, and I thought I would soon serve in a local church.

But that summer, I was offered a missionary opportunity through the North American Mission Board as a part of their Strategic Focus Cities initiative. New York City was one of their key mission outposts after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

I spent 14 weeks that summer serving the NAMB staff, mobilizing student short-term mission teams across all five boroughs of the city, and interacting with ethnic churches.

The Lord used that summer to open my eyes to the nations and expand my view of the gifts and talents he had given me to serve him. I debriefed with my parents, and they encouraged me to explore how the Lord was using this experience to shape my ministry calling.

With my college graduation slated for the next spring, I set my sights on pursuing a master’s degree in missions. But I didn’t let my studies be my sole focus: I spent the next three summers going on short-term mission trips in New York and served as a summer intern and project coordinator for a church. I traveled to Indonesia for three weeks with fellow seminary students and faculty, and worked in evangelism and discipleship.

I would have told you leading into my final of seminary studies I was headed back on an express line to New York. But God had yet another direction: I ended up landing in Northwest Arkansas serving in a local church as missions pastor. For the past five years, I’ve served in a residential discipleship ministry that disciples students and funds church planting work in the 10/40 window. 

I tell this story to show how God often uses experiences we haven’t anticipated to lead us in directions we don’t expect. When we’re willing to leverage a season of singleness or post-grad life to let God direct our steps to serve the nations, we never know how he might work.

LOOKING AHEAD AND STAYING OPEN 

So before you step into that first profession or internship after graduation, here are three pieces of advice before you take the next step:

• Seek the Lord through his Word, prayer, and wise, godly counsel. As Proverbs 3:5–6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” God will not speak apart from his Word, but he does use the gifts of good godly counsel alongside the Scriptures, as instruments to help steer us in the path he wants us to take.

• Be available to the Lord’s direction. Just as Isaiah responded with, “Here I am Lord, send me,” even before knowing his assignment, so we should keep our ‘yes’ on the table to go wherever he calls us to go, and do whatever he calls us to do. 

• Look for opportunities to serve the Lord using your gifts, talents, and time. God used my experiences in New York City, and even those before and after, to bring to the surface many gifts I didn’t realize he had given me. Sometimes God equips us in the moment or uses experiences to refine our skills and calling. We can’t just be spectators, but must get in the game and serve.

• Take advantage of this season of life and steward it with purpose. This season of life is a sweet gift from the Lord. He has given you energy, interests, and opportunities to avail yourself towards. Take advantage now, because as life moves along, other things tend to take greater priority. Use your youthful years, as Ecclesiastes reminds us, to remember the Lord and be used by him to take his glorious gospel to people that need to hear this message and receive it. 

Whether you feel certain about your next step, or your journey takes you in a more circuitous route, know that we are all sent-ones, on-mission among the nations. Remember, “the heart of a man plans his ways, but the LORD establishes his steps,” whether that’s to Brooklyn or Borneo.