What Do Missionaries Do?

Mission trips change lives. Whether it's a few days or a few weeks, time invested on a foreign field can increase your faith and give you a heart for missions that lasts a lifetime. Even if you can't go yourself, you can encourage others with some thoughtful mission trip gift ideas. After all, mission trips mean leaving what's comfortable and normal. But while flexibility is the first rule of missions, you can make sure some of the basics are covered.     7 Mission Trip Gift Ideas It's awesome to consider the needs of missionaries. And sending a care package to someone who's serving on a foreign field is absolutely awesome! Of course, a lot of missionary needs will depend on the length and location of the journey. Spend time doing some research and talking with your missionary about what needs might come up. That also might help you avoid getting a mission trip gift that won't work at all. Having said that, a few go-to items stand out on most lists of mission trip gift ideas. Below, we've listed seven possibilities. None of them are fancy, and most can be found in minutes through a simple online search. But they all will enhance the experience—and faith—of your missionary! 1. Journal. One of the greatest ways to make a mission trip "stick" is to record the events and experiences as they happen. That makes a journal a great mission trip gift idea. Whether used as a daily diary or to reflect on spiritual milestones, a journal can keep the most important parts of the trip alive long after your missionary is back home. (Tip: Add a pack of nice pens or highlighters to the gift!)   2. Electrical adapters. It's no secret that most of the world delivers power differently than the United States. That makes adapters and converters a must. They'll need something to keep their cell phones, computers, and other electronics up and running. It's an extremely practical mission trip gift and one that your missionary—especially a first-time international traveler—will find invaluable.    3. A book about the nation they are visiting. Honestly, your missionary might already know a lot about their host nation. They may even have a heart for that particular culture or people group. But it also helps to know more about their destination. Plus, it reveals shows humility to keep learning.    4. Encouraging notes. This is an inexpensive mission trip gift idea, but its value cannot be overstated. Write a note for each day that your missionary will be gone, and place each note in a different envelope. That way, they will have a touchpoint from home every day of the trip. If the short-term trip involves weeks instead days, just write enough for one or two per week. (Tip: Make sure to include plenty of encouraging Bible verses to provide a lift on days that are tough.)   5. A backpack with supplies. Every world traveler needs a backpack, so that makes it a great mission trip gift. But you can go the extra mile by including some special items. On the practical side, you could pack a flashlight or a first aid kit. You could also add a water bottle with a built-in purifying system. But, most importantly, don't forget to include some of your missionary's favorite snacks and candy!   6. A foreign-language dictionary. Career missionaries take language classes to get ready for their assignment. While your short-term missionary won't have that kind of time or training, they can take advantage of a dictionary that helps them communicate with locals on the field. You can even highlight some of the most common phrases they'll need to know, like "thank you" and "good morning."   7. Something to leave behind. While your missionary may want to return with some souvenirs, it could also be great to leave something behind. This is especially true if they are living with a local family during the trip. It doesn't have to be fancy—maybe a game or a book or a toy—but it can open doors and make a lasting impression on the folks they are helping. It's a simple way to say "thank you" and to show love in Jesus's name.   Give the power of prayer Before He went back to heaven, Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). You can do that in three basic ways. First, you can go on a trip yourself. That would be a great opportunity to be Jesus's hands and feet, and it could help you see your faith differently even after you get home. Second, you can give. That could include financial support or words of encouragement to someone else on the field—like your short-term missionary. The mission trip gift ideas listed above are a piece of that puzzle! Beyond those, you can pray—and that may be the greatest tool in your mission's toolbox. Along with your mission trip gifts, promise to pray daily for your missionary while they're gone—and follow through on that promise. They will need it, and it can be a blessing to you as well. Prayer is something everyone can do, so make sure to give that gift to your short-term missionary.   Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.

Every believer is called to fulfill the Great Commission, sharing the gospel and helping make disciples. But not everyone is called to do it for a living. Full-time missionary jobs take a special kind of person, not to mention a special kind of calling from God.  Thankfully, if you feel called to serve in a full-time missionary setting, you can find the resources you need to move in the right direction. Among the greatest tools at your disposal are job boards or job listings that help you know where the needs are greatest and where you can plug in. But before digging too deeply into the where of full-time missionary jobs, you need to take a look at the who. Specifically, you need to examine what it will mean for you to become the best version of yourself as you step into this incredible adventure.   "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" —Matthew 28:19   Finding Your Missionary Position As you do some self-evaluation and reflect on your potential as a career missionary, it’s helpful to examine things through two basic lenses: personal and practical. The personal side considers whether you have the make-up and character qualities necessary for success on the mission field. The practical matters help you sort through the struggles and questions you might face. Personally, career missionaries tend to possess some basic character qualities that allow them to adapt and thrive on the field. For example, full-time missionary jobs require individuals who have a personal and growing faith in addition to their firm call from the Lord. After all, you can’t lead people where you have never been, and you don’t want to chase a call that God has not placed on your life—especially one like missions. It's also helpful if missionaries are lifelong learners, always seeking to discover more about the people they reach and improving their skills. And since missionaries typically don’t work in a vacuum, being a team player is a must. Of course, some of these personal qualities can be developed and strengthened over time, but those pursuing full-time missionary jobs have to be willing to do the hard work to integrate these qualities and more into their lives and work. Practically, the biggest challenge career missionaries face is sacrifice. Even though the sense of call may be strong, you can’t escape the fact that you will be giving things up to work on a foreign mission field. You’ll leave behind family and friends, as well as many conveniences. You will also face some struggles with language and culture. You may feel vulnerable at first because your communication could be limited. What’s more, your very presence could represent a stigma for locals who view you through a particular economic or even political lens. You also may have questions about money and whether or not you can survive on a full-time missionary’s salary. In addition, many career missionaries have the challenge of identifying a suitable sending agency and a support network.  None of these challenges—either personal or practical—should discourage you from pursuing your call to missions. Instead, they should remind you of the incredible responsibility you have as you pursue a full-time missionary job. God has given you the privilege of taking His Word to the world. You must do all you can to prepare well.   Full Time Missionary Jobs that are Personal—and Practical Once you’ve gone through the self-evaluation process and you’re sure God has called you to missions, it’s time to see what’s available. Again, you’ll find plenty of resources that can help you find the right fit, whether it involves a part of the world or a particular skill (like medical missions or education).  Missionary job boards are a great place to start, and we’ve identified four that can get you moving in the right direction. • Word of Life. The Word of Life organization has been ministering in the United States and across the globe for nearly 80 years. Through its international ministries arm, it now has more than 1,500 missionaries serving in 70 different countries. The career opportunities are diverse, including clubs, education, and camps.   • Medical Missions. The Medical Missions job board is associated with the Global Missions Health Conference, held each year in Louisville, Kentucky. The goal of the job board is to connect medical missionaries with the best opportunities for making a difference around the world. The board allows you to customize your search based on factors like income, specialization, and location.    • Christian Job Fair. While part of a larger network to help Christians identify places of service, the Christian Job Fair has a section designated for full time missionary jobs. The site connects individuals with a variety of missionary-sending organizations. It also has a feature that allows interested parties to post their resumes. • Team. Tracing its roots to 1891, the organization that became Team was formed in response to calls for missionaries in Europe and Asia, including Hudson Taylor’s famous plea for 1,000 people to become missionaries in China. Over time, the movement has expanded around the world. Today, Team works with more than 500 missionaries and a network of some 2,000 churches. Its job board allows users to explore a wide selection of opportunities, including many related to medical and health care missions.   Taking the next step Even after working through your personal and practical concerns and researching missionary job boards, you still might have questions. One helpful tool could be the Ask a Missionary website. This site’s Q&A section includes dozens of questions that people like you are asking—along with honest, common-sense questions. Honestly, you may never get all your questions answered before you land on your mission field. But that’s where faith comes in. The God who called you to career missions will also equip you and direct you. He never sets His people up to fail when they are obeying His plans and purposes.   Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.