Tom was a single member of our church, and he was known as a faithful evangelist. Each week, Tom came to our small group and asked for us to pray for non-Christians that he knew. But, one day, he asked us to start praying for his growing desire to serve cross-culturally in a closed country. Over time, he grew in his character and ability to teach God’s Word. After a few years and many discussions, our church sent him to the Middle East as a missionary.
Whether your church is already sending mid-term and long-term missionaries or is beginning to consider it, it’s important to look for the right characteristics in an aspiring missionary.
Character
My wife and I have been reading through the pastoral epistles slowly each morning. The importance of godly character is overwhelmingly clear in Paul’s qualifications for overseers and deacons.
Paul says that overseers should be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, gentle, and able to teach. These men must not be drunkards, quarrelsome, violent, lovers of money, or recent converts. Instead, they should manage their household, be well thought of by outsiders, and be known for holding firm to the trustworthy Word (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9).
Likewise, the qualifications for deacons, and deacon-like roles, such as missionaries, are primarily focused on godly character (1 Timothy 3:8–12). Unfortunately, I’ve heard more stories than I can count about missionaries who were sent overseas without godly character and caused immense damage to the people whom they were serving.
Before you send an aspiring missionary overseas, make sure that they are known for their godly character. Practically, take time to slowly give men and women in your church opportunities to demonstrate their character over time. Be thoughtful and intentional as you evaluate them. Instead of rushing them through a process, encourage them to invite church members into their lives.
Competency
We don’t only need people with godly character to go overseas. We also need people who have taken the time to prepare faithfully. We need missionaries who have devoted themselves to language acquisition, theological studies, and developing practical skills.
We don’t only need godly missionaries. We also need missionaries who have taken the time to prepare faithfully.
We want churches to send men and women competent in teaching the Scriptures and counseling other Christians. In other words, we ought to send missionaries who are the kind of people you’d want on your church staff.
Before you send a missionary overseas, encourage them to develop practical skills that will allow them to serve faithfully and effectively in their new context.
Church-Centered
I’m grateful for many of my friends who have a deep desire and urgency to go overseas. Unfortunately, many of them have neglected to invest their lives in the local church because they are so focused on reaching the nations.
However, this is immensely important because the missionaries work to see local churches planted among the nations. As missionaries are sent out––whether they go as pastors, doctors, or businessmen––they ought to commit themselves to local churches. If someone isn’t willing to commit themselves to a church in their home country, why would we assume that they’ll join a church in their new country?
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Are they doing cross-cultural ministry where they are right now? Each week, my wife and I serve in international ministry, building relationships with mostly Indian and Nigerian students who have come to the United States for their master’s degrees. I love seeing how so many of my aspiring missionary friends are already involved in the lives of these students. I’ve watched as we’ve all become more comfortable building friendships and sharing the gospel with people from different cultures.
This may not be possible in all circumstances, but the desire has to be present. Do they seem invested in other cultures? Are they seeking to learn another language? You begin to reach out to other nations right where you are.
Consistency
Is this person known for sticking with their commitments? Can they endure through difficulty and persevere? Are they willing to work hard to prepare? These are all important questions before you send someone overseas as a missionary.
If someone isn’t willing to commit themselves to a church in their home country, why would we assume that they’ll join a church in their new country?
I remember a husband and wife from a church in my city who were known for their consistency in evangelism. They’re serving as missionaries in the 10/40 window now, but when they lived in Birmingham, they were passionate evangelists with deep compassion for internationals in our city. For years, they were involved in daily cross-cultural ministry, and they brought others along with them. Week after week, they shared their life with those who had never heard the gospel.
Their example isn’t commendable because it was flashy, but because it was consistently faithful. They demonstrated resilience and endured hardship without losing their focus. In many ways, they’re the reason why I’m involved in international ministry today.
Cole Shiflet and his wife Courtney are members of Redeemer Community Church, where Cole serves as Director of Global Missions. He is also an M.Div. student at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.
