Before You Become a Missionary, Read This
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are unable to finish, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” — Luke 14:28-30
Isn’t the mission field glorious? People getting out of wheelchairs, doctors falling to the floor in awe, and then confessing Jesus as the true King? Or receiving a dream to preach in stadiums filled with people, only to find fields packed with eager listeners ready to hear the Gospel proclaimed from the stage by international evangelists.
These are the highlights, and we often hear about the powerful moves of God at our meetings. I’m all about it. This fuels my passion and drives me to keep going. The transformed life of a young boy who chooses to follow Christ motivates me to continue working in the vast mission fields of Africa.
But what about the sleepless nights, the tears shed, the lonely evenings, the unappreciative attitudes of some pastors and leaders, and the sheer rejection that can accompany day-to-day ministry?
If you’re a missionary or someone who partners with one, you understand this pain. I want to shed light on what Jesus said:
“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” — Luke 14:33
A shout-out to my brothers and sisters in the mission field who have sacrificed family time, the comforts of Western culture, and the good ‘ol McDonald’s drive-through meals to instead go to great lengths to proclaim liberty to the captives.
My goal with this article is to give Jesus the glory He deserves and to inform partners about the real work behind the smiling children we see on Instagram receiving a Bible for the first time.
My first mission trip was at 16 years old. I witnessed unbuilt houses, torn clothes, and trash lying on the streets of rural Mexico. This experience touched my heart. After that trip, I wanted to go on another, then more, and I was hooked. I can’t go back. It’s rewarding to see lives transformed. I want more. I’m a missionary addict.
Then there’s the flip side.
During my 11.5-month journey to Africa and Asia, I reached over 311,000 youth face-to-face about Christ through more than 1,000 speaking engagements—an average of three per day.
When my partner Jimmy and I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, we didn’t know anyone except for an evangelist missionary from South Africa. We immediately sought to connect with pastors to begin our ministry to children. In 95°F weather, we walked around in suits, hauling a speaker and two microphones, pleading with pastors to provide us with an interpreter. Like two starving kids begging for bread, we received nothing.
Despite our efforts, we eventually secured a translator who flew with us to Chiang Mai to serve as our interpreter for one month. What a blessing!
However, most people didn’t speak English, making us feel like outcasts in the country. Although we had an interpreter during the day, at night, our team of three was left to connect with each other until another gentleman joined us. We were growing.
Fast forward a couple of months: my partner flew to Africa for a mission trip while I found myself in Cambodia, determined to open the door to youth crusades in the country. I connected with an interpreter, but on my second day there, I caught dengue fever and was hospitalized for four days.
My interpreter’s dad preparing his meal on the hospital floor while I’m sick with dengue fever
My mom was worried about me, and I felt powerless in a country where I had few contacts beyond a few pastors and the interpreter I had just met. Blessed by God’s grace, He provided for me and watched over me as I recovered. Soon, I was back on my feet, blasting "One Way Jesus" to the village kids in the fields of Cambodia.
Imagine being in a new country where you hardly know anyone. It can get lonely, and I was far from my friends and family. I called my sweet mom in the early mornings to connect with her, as she was scared for my safety. Navigating a culture and language I didn’t understand was challenging.
However, over time, I connected with the locals, and by God’s grace, a team of 20-50 evangelists is now in Cambodia holding outreach events in unreached villages with the saving Gospel of Jesus.
What a reward! I’d do it again if I had to. Praise God for the opportunities He gives me to glorify His name, even amid challenges.
“We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” — Romans 5:3
We build relationships from scratch in most of the places we visit. We stay in one location for an average of two weeks before moving to a new city, as the Holy Spirit wants to give people the opportunity to experience the Good News as they did in the previous city.
As Jesus said,
“Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” — Mark 1:38
Jesus moved from town to town, and we are following His example, relying on the Holy Spirit for divine appointments and connections.
Jet lag, fatigue, mental breakdown, emotional needs, being misunderstood, running out of finances, and trusting the Lord to provide—all of these challenges, along with rejection, pain, and stress, are a regular part of missions.
That’s right; I’m not as holy as you might think. But the Holy Spirit is, and that’s why I am in desperate need of Him. He is my guide and my light in the darkness.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105
Am I trying to complain about ministry? Certainly not!
Paul confirmed,
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” — 2 Corinthians 12:10
Weakness is a good thing; it keeps me humble. In fact, if I were strong, I would not need Jesus. My weakness is when I turn to God the most.
Andrew Wommack mentioned that “God help me” is a great prayer. I desperately need God, especially in my service and love for Him.
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” — 1 Peter 4:12
Job expressed it this way:
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” — Job 23:10
Are you a missionary? Are you a child of God? Are you headed where God has called you to be?
If so, you’re on the right path.
Let’s expect challenges along the way, and there will be hardships. But Christ experienced all these things and more in this life and on the cross.
You cannot surprise God with your difficulties, but we can amaze Him with our faith.
“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’” — Matthew 8:10
There’s no task too big, no mountain high enough, and no valley low enough that is too great to conquer or too low to climb.
God is with you; He is cheering you on.
Whether in your family life, your mission, your church, or your relationships, He will guide you through it all.
God is the source of your strength.
