Missionary questions

Tough to answer that with one website, every denomination, church, mission board, etc would have different answers. Maybe looking at the various mission boards would be a place to start.

My mission board is found CLICK HERE

 

Why not try the Bible ? Paul ?Paul and Silas ? The Holy Spirit and Paul and Philip ? Study the so-called Great Commission in the gospels. Was it given to the church ? Or was it given to those in the ministry.

Did the Bible say Go and find yourselves a mission board, go and make sure first you have pledges of support, go but study in the seminaries first, or did the Lord just say "Go....and I will be with you alway".

 

I am in agreement with Pinyobaptist, the best mission board is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and the church and called missionary all in fellowship with this board and all things worked according to Acts 13.1-4.

I believe this because I believe the Bible teaches for those sent to be sent out from the local church and because of a faith they have of their calling. Anywhere, anytime the Lord will send them.

I use to be a prospective missionary for BFM you can find them online at

BFM

Just be certain God doesn't call you to Africa, or some place that has been 'over-evangelized' in the 10 or so years...

The more I learned of mission boards, the more I (note the I, because that is important and some people love to ignore that personalization of some statements) cannot serve through one.

Not condemning any who do, just stating what I believe.

Bro. Dallas

 

In Paul's day you did not need visas, proof of financial ability, and sponsorship to enter countries. Today you can't just show up at the airport and say "Hi, I am coming here to live and be a missionary. I have no proof that I am not going to sponge off your government, just trust me." Virtually every country in the world expects some type of official certification for why you want to enter their country.

I am grateful for the services of my mission board. Saying that, the question about this thread was just a general one about missionaries, not the merits or faults of mission boards.

 

Dear Christ4Kildare,
This thread is simply asking for information. Perhaps I did give more than was required. The poster is welcome to check out any and all mission boards.

There are several several reasons I have come to my conclusion.

Sorry to have offended you. I did not mean to do that.

Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

No offence Bro Dallas I understand your point. Many use their churches as their sponsoring agency and I have no problem with that.

My reference was the to just "pick up and go" attitude expressed in another post. It is no longer feasible to just get on a boat for a foreign country.

 

Christ4Kildare said:

 

My church supports national and international missions by giving to the Cooperative Program. We also support several missionaries and churches individually, with direct support. Personally, I don't have a problem with the requirement that a missionary be "doctrinally sound" with the doctrine that we believe.

My church is able to support these missionaries through our tithes and offerings. My church (and denomination) does not believe in infant baptism. (This is NOT intended to be a theological debate; this is used for example ONLY.) So since my church (and denomination) financially support these missionaries, would it not be logical to require some sort of accountability that the missionaries we support with our money are not in a foreign country teaching infant baptism and baptizing babies?

So, back to the OP, the answers to john6:63's question could be found at individual mission boards' websites. Or I would guess there is nothing to preclude an individual going to the mission field on his/her own and soliciting their own support. (And yes, a missionary does need some means of support.) But I would ASSUME any missionary, whether going on their own, or within the scope of a denominational mission board, would be operating under the God-given directive of the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20.

CJ

 

I don't think pinyobaptist disagrees with the fact that men sent must be doctrinally sound.

Bro. Dallas

 

Sorry, I guess I misunderstand what he was saying.

CJ

 

computerjunkie said:

There you go. (italics mine). Every true child of God who says he has been called to preach the Gospel by God is accountable to his God and his God alone. If he is truly sent by God, then God will be his teacher, and guide to right doctrine.

If he preaches error, then God will require that from him.

This is the very same principle why Baptists practice separation of church and state, which means no to being state endorsed, or state supported, or even being a state religion, so that no government may be dictated on by, or dictate to, the church.

Thank you, Bro. Dallas. No, I do not disagree to the fact that men must be doctrinally sound.

 

And God will provide his support, whether it be from individuals he solicits, or from his getting a job in his particular mission field.

CJ

 

True CJ, but the vast majority of countries won't even let you in unless you have proof that have an income. This is the law and we are Biblically called to obey the law.

Also Pinoy, I don't know about all mission boards, but my board does not send me ANY support. It is sent by individual churches though the board. This makes taxes, insurance, etc MUCH easier. I see mission boards as a service, like any other service.

As far as doctrine is concerned I agree with CJ. If a church supports me who does not accept infant baptism, then I change to support the same they should no longer support me with the money those people give to their missionary effort. Missionaries must be in doctrinal agreement with those people who support them financially.

Of course not. But the Bible does not talk about how missions practically operate in 2004. As in my response, all Paul had to do was go get on a boat, receive the support that was sent him, and make tents when he needed to. The perfect plan of course, but thats not the way nations work today.
Mission board, local church, cooperative effort, whatever. Except for a very small number of countries today missionaries must have support to even cross the border, unless they are going to do so illegally.

I appreciate the OP's query. Examine the Bible (I thought that went without saying, apologies), then check out how missionaries are sent out today through whatever source you can find, including local churches, mission boards, and cooperative efforts.

 

In my case this change I have experienced is due to being assured that I would be able to go where ever in the world I felt led to go.

Then when making a statement of what I believed to be a leading for me, encouraged to look at a world map, see a place not so evangelized and go there.

I even did this!!!! and then the response was, we never heard of that place, there is a small population there.

Then I studied this nation on my own. I learned they are teaching English as a necessary language and for business they are permitting their young people to come to America to receive an education, and these young people are carrying the gospel (as we would say) back home.

They are going back home, because their being sent here stipulates they return and work as civil servants in the government in accordance to the degree they persued.

Then, I began to hear more and more an emotional plea, of what I believe denied scripture teaching, that IF you (being the church, church members etc) do not support missions, God cannot save his elect.

This became more and more unsettling to me as I understood what I believe concerning sovereign grace and therefore I found I could not stand in agreement as such and I separated myself from this type of endeavor.

Not saying everyone has to do this, but I know I believed I had to in order to preach what I believe with a clear conscience.

May God Bless all
Bro. Dallas Eaton