Ask a Missionary - Catch The Fire

Q:
Should I skip a degree and go into
missions now?
A: Probably not.
Don’t decide too quickly to skip getting a degree. It’s one thing
for the Lord to direct you. It’s quite another to drop everything and
rush off into ministry. The great majority of effective, cross-cultural
missionaries I’ve met have a solid education that both shaped them
as people and trained them for a specific task. You will also want
to get some formal Bible and theological training. In the meantime,
it’s important for you to seek ministry opportunities right where you
are.
Answer from Jack Voelkel.
A:
Instead of a degree, learn from the Holy
Spirit.
I would say that not all people going into ministry need four years
of training. We as an agency have seen people go into missions with
only basic evangelistic training, and God trains them further while in
service. Having said that, some people go to seminary, and God can
still use them. But many times he has to deprogram them.
As a missionary for the past thirty years, I’ve come to rely completely
on the Holy Spirit for my wisdom, my counsel to others, and
my outreach to the lost. Even though I have Bible school degrees, I
find that the best teacher is the Holy Spirit.
Answer from Rocco, who served for thirty years in South Africa, Nigeria, and
Mexico.
TRAINING: Getting It Right | 81