Preparation for Missions

Reflection question: “In view of the missional call that God has given to you to make disciples of all nations, how would you reorient your life/prepare yourself to fulfil God’s call for your life to do missions and be a disciple-maker not just locally but globally?”

When asked about preparation for missions, we often share about skills, networks, family, team and spiritual preparation. However in all these discussions, the underlying assumption is that we will eventually end up going for missions. 

That got me thinking.

There is an oft-quoted maxim: "the heart of missions is the heart of God". This can be interpreted in two ways which are both biblical. Firstly, it describes the reason for missions- the Great Commission and other biblical references to God's call for the world to know Him. Secondly, it describes the heart of the missionary- to take up the Cross, and to be filled with the compassion of God for the lost. 

Personally I found the former to be a launchpad, the reason that anchors missionary efforts and challenges people to take up the call. However the latter is not something that can be attained instantly- it requires spiritual formation, testing and clarity in hearing and submitting to the voice of God. Immense preparation is required.

The first thing a person should do before even considering missions is to be sold out for Christ. It may seem intimidating, but there is nothing further from the Truth. The passions, desires, motivations and identity of that individual should be founded upon Christ even before he/she is considering missions. After all, few can discern the voice of God until they present themselves as living sacrifices, humbled and unblemished before His throne. And no one should go for missions without being convicted of God's sovereignty over their lives.  

This is especially significant because many people see missions according to their elapsed timeline (say, two to five years) rather than their whole life which are offered up to Him. Considering the temporal dimension, missions which last two to five years are actually a scratch on the timescale- it is a small portion (8.3%) of 60 years and minuscule in the light of eternity. 

We should not go for missions with the mentality that we are giving xxx years of our lives to God. Rather as living sacrifices, our lives belong to God from now till our very last breath. This Truth is essential both to anchor the missionary through the first year on the field (where gaining mileage is a draining affair that tends to discourage many) and the years after leaving the field. It is possible to return from five years on a missions field, only to face midlife crisis and adjustment issues back in the home country. Without a firm foundation in Christ, it is easy to be disillusioned or embittered by life's challenges before, during and after missions.

This is essential considering my generation. I am from Gen Y (those born after 1980s. 

In my generation, the rules applied to the older generation tend to be disentangled. There are less asian strictures and traditions to follow. Unlike previous generations, our parents also tend to be relatively better off and are able to financially support themselves and even retire comfortably. With better education and technological savvy, our parents also tend to be more globally conscious and open towards their children pursuing overseas opportunities. The once exclusively-western culture of having multiple definitions to living a "good life", taking gap years to explore and "find yourself" is also making headways into asian mindsets (or maybe it's because my generation is more westernized). The barriers to uproot and venture overseas had fallen drastically across generations. 

In fact, missions may be repackaged and romanticized as an adventure, an outlet for independence and a daunting challenge that yield rewards in terms of cultural exposure, character building, life experiences and decorate one's resume to make an impression on prospect employers. This is the new generation. 

But the lower barriers also means that it is easy for peers in my generation to miss out the heart of missions for the glamour it generates. Ultimately it is always about our identity in Christ- we live for His glory because He first loved us and died for us. Perhaps some soul searching and tough questions about discipleship, submission and living sacrifices ought to be examined before even considering missions.