Sitting in my car I felt the butterflies in my stomach madly beating their wings.
“Why does Steve have to work today so that I am here on my own? God, please let there be other young people at this meeting!”
This was my experience of attending my first OMF event. Steve and I had started learning about different mission organisations. It was nerve-wracking walking into a group of people where I didn’t know anyone, and when I knew nothing about them all. . . . and I was the only person there under the age of 50.
This group of people did not appear to fit my ideal of what a mission event should be. There were no young passionate people ready to take massive steps of faith to change the world. The singing was awful. The people seemed to be kind of quirky, like a Great Aunt.
But after the program was over and we all had our cups of tea and biscuits, I started chatting with some of these “Great Aunts” and asked them what their connections were to mission.
One had served for many years in Japan, a place where I had several connections and friends. Another had been a missionary entering China in 1948 just before they were driven out by the communists. Her stories were just like the old mission biographies that I wanted to emulate.
Very soon I realised that despite the bad singing, I was surrounded by some amazing people who had committed their whole lives to following God. This was where I wanted to be.
Many mission events are not like my first experience, but whatever they are like, it is important that you look beyond first impressions when you choose a mission agency. It is worth taking your time, asking questions and checking out several agencies.
Below is a list of things you need to ask about as you try to understand what an agency is like.
- Do they work in the part of the world that interests you?
- Do they do a type of ministry that will use your skills and gifts?
- Do they have a process of discernment or selection to ensure you are ready?
- What sort of training is provided or expected?
- What support or care is provided for new missionaries? In crisis situations? For kids?
- How do the finances work and what is/isn’t included in your budget?
- What sort of team structures do they have? What happens within a team if things aren’t going well?
Many other questions could be asked and generally, you will find that people working in mission agencies enjoy being asked -even if you don’t join us!
Next steps
Ask yourself:
What would your ideal mission agency look like? Are these realistic expectations?
What questions do you need to ask that you haven’t considered asking before?
