Discerning and pursuing your calling can be a confusing process.
It may be long or short. However our hope is that, by the time you leave, both you and your support team will be prepared to keep you there for the long haul!
Calling
If you feel any kind of calling to work cross-culturally, we suggest seeking early endorsement from the leadership in your local church. Our calling mini-course will help you!
Confirming
Take time to process and test the calling. Don’t do this alone! Look to your church, loved ones, and other trusted voices.
Equipping
Practically prepare for the road ahead. We strongly advise taking cross-cultural training. Our own Crossing Cultures 101 courses will give you key foundations.
Resourcing
Commissioning
Leaving is a process, not a single event. How are you preparing for a smooth transition? We’d advise building a RAFT and ensuring everything practical is ticked off.
On-Field
A Sender’s Role
Any fieldworker needs a great team of friends, family and colleagues supporting them. You have a huge part to play in ensuring their success. Check out what you can do to ensure your fieldworkers thrive!
- A church should establish a discernment process for anybody who may feel a call to work cross-culturally.
- The call needs to be tested, and the candidate’s maturity and readiness need to be assessed
- The church’s role is critical – sadly many missionaries who end up leaving prematurely for preventable reasons should never have gone in the first place!
- Give opportunities for the candidate to learn by serving and leading in the church.
- Ensure good mentoring is in place for the candidate. Make use of people with prior cross-cultural or mission experience.
- Consider mentoring for practical skills such as financial management or pastoral care.
- This is a season of practically preparing for the road ahead
- Choices need to be made about an agency or a process for training and equipping. Ideally, the church leaders would walk alongside the candidate through this.
- We strongly recommend the raising of personal support teams by the candidate and the church’s backing in that endeavour would be important.
- If the church endorses, hopefully they will also partner with the pre-field missionary in the matter of financial support.
- Clarify the level of support required with the field worker and consider how the church can support through the process of fundraising beyond providing money.
- Remember it is much easier for others, particularly those in authority in the church, to advocate for their financial support than for the candidate to do that on their own behalf!
- Read Acts 13. You will see that this is more than just a rousing send-off, with a ‘goodbye’, at the end. The sense of still belonging, even when serving at the other end of the world, is so important.
- Maintaining that connection through thick and thin might make all the difference between success and failure.
- Encourage the field worker to maintain the connection to the church – and make sure you do too!
- See our on-field resources for more details on what is next.
Start Your Journey
Here are some useful materials for you
Developing Leadership for Cross-Cultural Ministry
Mission thrives on cultivating leaders who embody the life and character of Jesus, the most effective figure in history who…
Building a Support Ecosystem
In this course, we examine the different dimensions of support that are needed for a successful cross-cultural experience or lifestyle….
Cross-cultural marriage
Caring for Third Culture Kids
Currently in development, this exciting new course is created by our Dean of Studies, Ben Gilbert. British by birth, raised in India, with time living in Sri Lanka and the Middle East – the TCK experience is familiar to Ben, who is excited to share personal experiences, research and helpful insights for both TCKs, and those caring for them to thrive across cultures. Sign up to be notified when the course is released!
Know Thyself
This course explores the concept of understanding ourselves within the context of our own cultures. Before delving into how we…
The Antioch Factor
The Antioch Factor
Ross Paterson presents a stark choice that no Christian or church can avoid making – whether we become a Jerusalem…
Growing in Cultural Intelligence
JO Fraser’s Challenge to us today
Listen to these lessons from the life of one of Ross’ missionary heroes, JO Fraser. An excerpt from Ross’ blog…
Transitions and China with Amy Young
Amy Young spent many years as a cross-cultural worker in China, and now works to support cross-cultural workers through various…
Zechariah gets a second chance | Luke 1
Ross shares from in Luke 1 about Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and stresses that our God is…
Where the Holy Spirit is Free to Work
Ross explores the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, posing the question; ‘is there any area of our…
Addressing the Gaps with Henry & Betsy
Henry and Betsy are key partners with us in FieldPartner. In this interview they share their experiences of coming to…
Equipping Burundi with Onesphore Manirakiza
Onesphore is the Burundian National Director of Great Lakes Outreach: greatlakesoutreach.org In this interview, Onesphore shares the story of his birth into…
The importance of learning the local language – Barry and Rowena McNight
Rowena and Barry McKnight have been missionaries for many years in Thailand. In this insightful interview into their years of…
Love, Loss and Laughter in Asia
We’ve been longing to share the story of the amazing Rod and Ruthie Gilbert with you. From meeting whilst Rod…
Mission Kid to Pioneer with Brad Thurston
Check out Globe Mission here. See our other partners. A fascinating interview with Brad Thurston, one of the early collaborators…
Joseph #6: Joseph and His Choices
In this 6th talk on the life of Joseph, Ross discusses the relationship between Joseph’s choice to avoid immorality and…
The Accidental Missionaries
Aquila and Priscilla did not plan to be missionaries. They didn’t get there by the usual route – a call…
George Müller – A Second Wind For Mission
Many readers of these brief missionary biographies will know something of the remarkable life of George Müller (1805-1898), how he showed amazing…
David Bogue – A Forgotten Father Of Cross-Cultural Mission.
David Bogue (1750-1825) is “one of the greatest of the forgotten figures of Church History”, especially in the history of…
Do You Agree? – Easter Week Pt 11
This is part of our Easter week series from Ross Paterson’s daily devotional Facebook post. Like our page to keep up with…
Why Did J.O Fraser Leave England To Do Cross-Cultural Mission In Remotest China?
Read Ross’ first blog on J.O. Fraser here >> In my first blog about J.O. Fraser, I expressed my surprise…
J.O. Fraser – “Perpetually Inconvenienced.”
James Fraser now faced a period of unwelcome practical responsibilities and frequent interruptions. The lessons he learnt are worth studying….
Helen Roseveare Part 2: Price and Privilege
Recently, I wrote about Helen Roseveare, an outstanding missionary to Africa. Her achievements were amazing in terms of hospitals built and…
What does it take to send a missionary?
How can we support a person who has a burden for cross-cultural mission? The Called Individual The Pastor What Should…
Your Choice – The Comparison Game Or A Unique Destiny – Easter Week Pt 12
This is part of our Easter week series from Ross Paterson’s daily devotional Facebook post. Like our page to keep up with…
J. O. Fraser – Fraser Was A Spy?
At this point accusations spread that Fraser was a spy working for the British government. The accusations hindered his…