Discovering Your Mission Field

EVANGELISM & MISSIONS

Dr. Alexander Kurian

Objective: To implement the Great Commission on a personal level and to find the answers for the practical questions in relation to discovering your specific mission field.

The Context of Our Mission/Ministry

The World (Jn.17:18; Matt.5:13,14)
The Church (Eph.4:11-16)
The Home (Jn.19:27; 1 Tim.5:8; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

1 Cori.15:58: Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Some Vital Missions Principles

Minister in all the contexts which God has placed you.
The Church is missionary in nature
Missions are what make our Christian life relevant
Missions are what make our theology relevant.
Missions keep our churches from becoming inward-looking and self-absorbed.
Jesus told us to go. All Christians are to go and be witnesses (Acts 1:8) in their specific mission fields. In other words, all Christians are called to be missionaries in the broad sense of that word. “Missionary” means one sent on a mission. Every Christian is sent into the world on a mission (Jn.20:21).
Since cross-cultural expansion is the emphasis in Acts, every Christian has an obligation to personally consider this aspect of missions.
There is no biblical basis for elevating or glamorizing the foreign missionary to a superior status. The value of our work is not based on whether or not we have crossed geographic or cultural boundaries; it is based on our love for Christ and our obedience to Him.

Some Basic Guidelines in Discovering Your Mission Field

Information (About the area of ministry/potential mission field)
Intercession (Pray continually for God’s guidance and leadership)
Interest (This will create more interest in specific mission fields)
Involvement (You will be ready to get involved)

Generally speaking, wherever the Lord has placed you is your mission field. As you are faithful in your stewardship of your talents, treasures, time and truth, God will lead you further into His will and plan.

The Call

Every Christian is a witness; every Christian has a ministry; every Christian has to be involved in the mission; but every Christian is NOT a missionary by the strict definition of the term. A Missionary is any Christian who crosses cultural boundaries to further the building of Christ’s Church and the expansion of His kingdom, in obedience to God’s specific call.

Our general call for service comes primarily from the general principles in Scripture (Matt.11:28-30; Jn.12:26; Luke 14:25-35).
Our specific call comes primarily from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit uses Scripture and other means to confirm and refine our specific call (the individual’s confirmation, assurance, confidence, conviction, joy and peace about it). It is profound, specific (though the details and specifics may only emerge gradually) and life-changing (Gen.12:1; Heb.11;8; Exod.3; Isa.6; 1 Samuel 3; Luke 5;1-11; Acts 13:1-4; 16:6-10; 22:6-16). At the same time, we must avoid the danger of over-emphasizing a specific call, waiting for a dramatic/special/miraculous experience or special confirmation. Just keep moving ahead as far as you can see. The Lord knows the end and He will direct our path (Prov.3:5-6). We must distinguish between the specific call and the daily, step-by-step guidance.
Once a missionary call is sensed, one must do everything possible to nurture it and stimulate it. Do not allow the devil to snuff it out.
Any call must be confirmed by others, including one’s local church.
Never abandon a call because of hindrances, opposition and discouragements (2 Tim.1:15; 4:16; James 3:17).
The specific call can change. It does not need to be for a fixed time. The call to leave the field and move out can be as definite as the original call to go.

Some Specifics of Discovering Your Mission Field

Your own vision and passion (burden for a specific mission field)
Waiting upon the Lord in prayer
Preparation (field-specific orientation, general missionary training and vocational training)
Spying the land in a team work situation
Discussion, communication, consultation and preparation along with your spouse and children
Identify the potential avenues of ministry in the field
Utilize the service of other missionaries and mission organizations for more information and education on the field
Always make sure of the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the process
In the case of practical difficulties for long-term commitment, start with short-term missions
Check your motives before you go
Totally depend upon the Lord at all times
Consider what or who is holding you back
Deal specifically with personal challenges and fears - safety, health issues, concern about children, financial security, opposition from parents/relatives, discouragement from others, the alluring attraction of the world
Combine with these specifics the normal principles of discerning the will of God and decision making - Read your Bible, Develop a heart for God, Seek wise counsel, Look for God’s providence, Use your good judgment, the Peace of God in your heart.

A Case Study on Philip’s Mission on the Gaza Road (Acts 8:26-40)

Availability
Clarity
Mobility
Stability/Stickability
Teachability
Adaptability
Accountability
Absorbability

The biggest hindrance to the missionary task is SELF. Self that refuses to die. Self that refuses to sacrifice. Self that refuses to give. Self that refuses to go.

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