When you hear the words “Mission Impossible,” what comes to mind? The classic television series? The motion picture franchise? The catchy theme song? Or maybe it’s the seemingly impossible challenges that are posed by each mission. Yet somehow, despite the odds, the specially assembled team was always equipped to meet the challenges and achieve success in the end.
Similarly, in world missions, there is a need for missionaries who are equipped to undertake the missionary endeavor in their respective contexts. While victory in many fields may be deemed impossible from a human standpoint, success becomes possible through the divine provision and assistance of our Lord.
God Equips at Every Stage in Life
As we journey through life, God often uses us in unexpected ways. One example we find in Scripture is the life of Moses. Consider how God equipped Moses in significant ways during his upbringing in Egypt, through his middle age in the Midian, and then as he led the nation of Israel out of captivity and through the wilderness to the promised land. Stephen’s account of Moses’ life in Acts 7:20-44 summarizes how the Lord chose Moses, equipped him, and used him mightily. Clearly, at each subsequent life stage, Moses was able to draw on his experience, his successes, and even his failures, to ultimately become one of the greatest leaders in history.
We are familiar with the model of God calling people into ministry early in their career or adult life. However, more and more missionaries are being called mid- to late-career. The Lord is using their career years to equip His servants with skills and experiences that will eventually be applied in a ministry context, often in unique and unexpected ways. While this scenario was the exception in the past, it has become a viable alternative path to full-time ministry. Regardless of the stage in life God calls someone, one thing they must have is an underlying desire to serve others while actively spreading the Gospel.
Take Practical Steps Toward Missions
With this background, consider this practical advice if you are seeking to enter missions or potentially change ministries.
1. Think Beyond Your Current Abilities
While we all tend to gravitate toward the familiar, don’t simply limit yourself to what you can currently do or what you are most experienced doing. While you should apply skills or areas where you may have previously served, be open to the Lord’s leading in unexpected ways as you pray for His will to be accomplished through you and your service. For instance, missions can benefit greatly from the knowledge and experience of those from the private industry. Technical training or a background in management, communications, finance, or technology, to name a few, can play a vital part in missions just as they do in industry. Bottom line: don’t be deterred if you come from a non-ministry background.
2. Apply Your Experience in New Ways
Be willing to try new things. Challenge yourself to learn new skills. Don’t let complacency rob you of fulfilling God’s will for your life. God continues to work in unique ways as we remain faithful to Him, and He will reveal His plan little by little as you demonstrate a desire to serve Him. He will use you in new and unexpected roles as you depend on Him and strive to walk by faith rather than in your own wisdom and strength.
3. Overcome the Reluctance to Go
God may be calling you to leave what you know, leave what is comfortable, to go and serve Him elsewhere. As we age, it is natural to want to stay put—to remain where we are already established and no change is required. However, we must all be open to the possibility that God may want us to move, and not just when we are young. Don’t limit God to what you can understand based on your current circumstances or situation. God is far greater than that!
Prior to entering full-time ministry, my wife and I had professional careers that became the foundation for entering ministry, mid-career, as church planters in Romania with Baptist Mid-Missions (BMM). After serving there for nearly 15 years, the Lord led us to join BMM’s Bible Society, Bibles International (BI), in 2024. Making the decision to leave Romania, which had become our new “home,” was nearly as challenging as going to Romania. However, our time overseas and daily missionary life changed us positively while strengthening our faith. Since joining BI, the Lord is using all that we learned in Romania, plus the experiences, training, and education we developed before we went to the field.
Has God Been Equipping You for Missions?
Consider God’s call in your life. Has God been nudging you to move, or you have been contemplating a new ministry or career? Heed that call and take tangible steps to investigate avenues toward ministry. Likewise, pray for God’s leading and wisdom to discern His will as you navigate these decisions. If you would like to talk with us about where you might fit, email [email protected] or call 616-942-7712.
-D.K.