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[73sharps]

   Missions and missionaries. Now THERE are two words that conjure up visions of pith helmets, exotic lands, naked savages with bones in their nose and deep secret callings from God that no mere lay Christian can possibly experience. (I exagerate, but only a little.)
     But is this the teaching of the Bible? What IS a missionary? How does a missionary differ from any other obedient, active Christian? And if there is a differance, who gets to be a missionary, HOW do they get to be a missionary, and what are the extra levels of higher, formal education or preparation required once you are one?

     Any thoughts?

[Forever Girl]

Weeeeellll,

I alway thought the difference between a regular Christian and a Missionary is the polyester plaids from the mission-barrel, the slide-show of a million picts, socially awkward manner, and the ability to speak more than one language.... and no I'm not describing you.  Am I?

 

[73sharps]

     Only the socially awkward manner

[amazonmama2five]

Weeeeellll,

I alway thought the difference between a regular Christian and a Missionary is the polyester plaids from the mission-barrel, the slide-show of a million picts, socially awkward manner, and the ability to speak more than one language.... and no I'm not describing you.  Am I?

 

Actually in the last few years the uniform has changed, at least for the women.     Now we are seen in not so stylish jean skirts to our ankles and/or khaki skirts with loose tops.
Our husbands are very up to date with their Power Point Presentations and authentic artifacts!  We, unfortunately  STILL have the  socially awkward manner!  As I tell my kids all the time, they have a great privilege to learn their foreign language from the fluent nationals rather than just 2 years during highschool with someone who probably doesn't have the pronunciation correct anyway! 
I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

As my Man is so fond of pointing out, we are all commanded to go.......... the destination is your choice!

[txseawater]

Maybe this question goes along with this topic?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "SENT"?

..."Here am I Lord, send me!"

[mishy]

I think  "Missionary" should equal "Believer".  I think it is the common opinion that a missionary is someone going around telling others of their belief (think of the mormon missionaries).   
If you are a Christian than you should be a missionary- your home town, your country, to the ends of the earth! 

[SagorFamily1611]

I agree with Mishy, everyone who has been saved has been given the command to "go and teach (or is it preach ) to all nations. America, your state, your town, your neighborhood, and your children, need Jesus as much as the natives in Africa, some maybe even more. You don't have to be an evangelist to be a missionary either, the housewife who talks to her neighbor and tells her about Christ is as much as a missionary as someone who gave up their comforts and moved halfway across the world.

[mishy]

Maybe this question goes along with this topic?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "SENT"?

..."Here am I Lord, send me!"

To add on to His Heirloom Rose, we are also teaching in our home. 
And txseawater, for many of us moms, your quote means we have been SENT HOME.   LOL

[txseawater]

  Yes...  It's that we are "sent out" everyday, in our own homes, our neighborhoods, our workplaces; and so our daily ordinary lives are becoming extraordinary because with a right heart attitude and motive, we become willing to be used by The Lord however He wills! And the amazing thing is that because of our willingness to abide in God and share Him with others around our seemingly mundane life, others may heed the call to "Go!" Possibly even our little children will one day heed the call to "Go" ...and so we can be encouraged in this, knowing that "our labor in The Lord is not in vain!" and  "He that has begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ."

Wherever you are...be there.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

[JoyfullyHis]

Food for thought...As a missionary- meaning someone who gave up the comforts of home, family and all things familiar in order to learn a foreign language to share the gospel with a certain people group......

I would have to say I disagree that everyone is a missionary.  HOWEVER I do agree that we are all to be witnesses and I think there is a shortage of people who take up their responsibility to be a witness for Christ.  But saying everyone is a missionary  is kind of like saying everyone's a pastor, IMHO.


Just my two cents....

[txseawater]

Here's what Oswald Chambers has to say on this exact subject...but there's more! Much more!!  http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php?day=26&month=10[/b]

Our family reads My Utmost For His Highest every morning for many years now.  The boys have grown in the Lord along with us as Dad reads from  this classic devotional, and explains how the Lord is speaking into our daily lives. It is amazing how many days it exactly lines up with something we are going through.  Like The Living Word of God, Utmost never gets old.   

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

I grew up thinking that most all missionaries had to live far away in a poor war infested starving country and only preach and teach about Jesus. And that's it.

I now know that ppl can be a variety of types of missionaries depending on what and where God is calling them to do. Like:

-Medical missions. 

-Spiritual missions ( the popular one I mentioned above)

-Short term missions where a variety of things can be done.

-Work missions ( construction, building, repairing etc.)

-Rescue missions ( like after natural disasters and so on)

-Local missions. ( helping with in our own country and locations)

-Sending missions ( send materials, money or whatever else to missionaries and organizations that use them to help, educate, feed and teach ppl)

-Support missions ( supporting those who are called by God to go and do missions)

-Written missionaries ( In type, writing, book, Christian pamphlets and materials or whatever) I have a friend who does this quit well. He leaves good simple easy to read Christian scripture booklets and pamphlets around for ppl to get a hold of.


( Those are terms I use to discribe the different types of missions)

I'm sure there are more but I cant think of them right now. IMO there are so many ways we can do missions. Many ways we can show the love of Jesus to others.

[txseawater]

Thank you BJ. I totally agree. I hope that as people read this and open their heart to The Lord to use them in some way, that they will find a way to become a missionary. Whether it is in one of these categories, or whether it is raising our own children, we all have a mission as Christians. Will our children "Go"? Will our grandchildren "Go"? "Lo, children are the heritage of The Lord."  Who can know how far reaching are our efforts to be an example of Christ and reach out with Jesus love? In our everyday lives, each day we GO OUT and preach the good news! ( or we don't  )  I just want to encourage anyone who has the desire for missions, but God has you at home. Be where you are.  Be at peace with The Lord right where you are , and in whatever state you are in, be content in Him. Abide in Christ who is The TRUE VINE. Understand that in Christ, you are connected to those who are in Christ, in missions and ministries and Kingdom services. Ask The Lord to use you right where you are for His purposes, and seek to be a blessing first to Him, and then to those around you. Ask for opportunities for souls, and look for opportunities to reach out.  There is an opportunity that we so often pass by, ignore, and overlook. One category of missions I would like to add is PRAYER. The praying missionary is in a closet. No one sees. No one hears. Only The Lord sees and hears. And He rewards that. One day we will be so blessed to see the fruit of those prayers!      

[jukic.zr]

What fun it has been to read this thread.  It is commical to read about the "missionary barrel" look....Ummm...I don't fit that profile, neither am I too caught up in fashion (although living here in Croatia you are faced with the whole "glamour" image everyday as we are so close to Italy) - but neither do I look like Maria Von Trapp when she first arrived at the Von Trapp home the first time.  LOL!!!

I guess I'd say that there are two types of missionaries.  Those who are full-time like JoyfullyHis and me (and maybe others here on this site).  Imagine being PAID to tell people about Jesus. What better job?  Then, there are those who "unofficial" missionaries.  Like my husband.  The milk industry "pays" him to be a missionary everyday at his job.  I would say that all others not in full-time mission work fall in this category.  You carry the gospel with you wherever you go - whether you are paid to or  not.  I agree that everyone is called to be a missionary, but there are those who do it full time as well. 

[kamom]

  Although I've been teased about being a missionary in the nursing home where I visit.  But in no way can I claim that title, having loved ones who are suffering in a 120* climate , immersed ina strange language they are trying to grasp, without the comforts of home and food and family that we have, without a local church for fellowship (at the point), where even seeing another white face is something to get excited about. No, I am not that kind of missionary, though if God calls me there, I am ready to go.
 
 Although they are doing it willingly, joyfully for the Lord, I do not want to make light of their sacrifices.

[jukic.zr]

Kamom - I love what you wrote here.  It reminded me of my first year in Croatia.  I was on a street car (we call them trams) and I heard someone speaking English with an American accent.  Oh the joy!!!!  Without thinking I ran up to him and said, "You're American!!" Of course, he said he was and we began conversing.  But, the conversation abruptly ended when he asked if I'd invite him over for lunch!  haha!!  I may be sanguine but I'm nots stupid.

I still get a big grin on my face when I walk around town and hear Americans speaking - it's so wonderful to hear English!!!

  Although I've been teased about being a missionary in the nursing home where I visit.  But in no way can I claim that title, having loved ones who are suffering in a 120* climate , immersed ina strange language they are trying to grasp, without the comforts of home and food and family that we have, without a local church for fellowship (at the point), where even seeing another white face is something to get excited about. No, I am not that kind of missionary, though if God calls me there, I am ready to go.
 
 Although they are doing it willingly, joyfully for the Lord, I do not want to make light of their sacrifices.

[Joyfulmomto9]

It would be impossible to cause someone to understand what it is like to give up their lives and everything they have ever known, right down to family and relatives and their own language not to mention comforts of this modern world and go live in foreign place  and become one of them for the sole reason of the gospel, unless they have done it themselves. 

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