So You Wanna Be a Missionary - Get a Job!

This article is just so on the money, in so many ways, I can't begin to express my thoughts on it. But, I recommend you share it with people looking abroad. People need life experience, not just "mission experience" to succeed here. There are certain cultural issues to working in such a place. However, sometimes we chalk too much up to "Cultural" issues or adjustments. A lot of what we deal with, what we attribute to "culture", is often just people like us needing to grow up in general. Lessons we need to learn EVERYWHERE, and anywhere we will land in life.

I see the same push in our church movement for ministry training. We are taking young men out of high school, putting them in an artificial environment of an Institutional training school, graduating them after four years only to have church leaders complain that the "kids" don't know anything. Why would they? They are still kids. They have a head full of theological doctrine, and life life of few experiences. They have not experienced the real world since they day they entered the theology institution. They lack life skills, relational skills,,,, not theology.....

Yet, there is this push to keep the kids in school longer, and push them through to a masters level as the new standard. All in the hopes they are "better trained" when they get out. So, now we have kids who are another $30,000  in school dept, being paid a pittance, who have added yet another two years of life in an artificial environment of a Theology school, and who STILL lack the people and relational skills. Things no school can teach, and no amount of time in school can compensate for the lack of. They need to be out there.

Sure, push for the Masters level as the new standard if you wish. All information is good. However, it will not fix the fact that these kids need help growing up and learning conflict resolution, and dealing with disgruntled coworkers, and difficult bosses. etc. They are not experts in life... so why treat them like they should be. That comes with life, time, and experience ONLY.  I would rather see the kids put out doing life after their BA. Let them learn life skills, and then come back ten years later for more schooling.  But they will then deserve better compensation too.

So, you wanna be a missionary...

Despite the fact that I have made my failings at being a missionary quite clear, younger folks still ask me for advice pretty often. It's like they go, “I have questions about being a missionary. Hmmm... I know! I'll ask the very worst one!” …. Ooookaay.

So here's the Very Worst Missionary's Very Best Advice for Missionarying:

Are you ready for it? 

Get a job!

Then? Work the hell out of that job for three years.

Honestly, this is the best advice I can give you.

I know. So disappointing.

But here's why:

A “real job” - yes, that's what people in ministry call work outside of the church. Scary! - anyway, a real job will teach you things you'll need to know in the mission field. Important stuff, like work ethic, sustainability, productivity, and value.

A real job can expose you to real conflict management (and not the shitty “Christian” kind they'll teach in missionary training. Honestly. Our track record at dealing with conflict is pretty horrible).

A real job will teach you to live on a real budget. Because if you say to your real boss, “Hey, can I have some more money for a new car this week?” They'll say “Um...No.” And then you'll have to save your money, like a normal person, and buy the car later. Or not buy the car. … I know. It's cRaZy!

A real job will help you learn not to be an entitled, self-righteous bunghole. Because if you act like that at a real job, they will kick your ass to the curb.

A real job will help you understand time management. Because, your real schedule will not likely allow you to spend three hours every Friday afternoon with your friends or your kids, - even if you call it “discipleship” on Facebook. Actually, that reminds me, your real job won't let you call any time you spend on Facebook “work”. Not “support development”, not “communication”, not “team building”... Nope. No matter how you say it, Real Job does not approve.

A real job will allow you to support a missionary. Yeah. You should know how that feels.

But, most important?... A real job is a real mission field. So learn some freakin' respect.

And the other thing I tell people is this (and it's a doozie!):

Understand the difference between wanderlust and

 wanting to be a missionary.

The world is AMAZING! God's creation is simply ASTOUNDING! It should be seen and respected. But there is a big difference between seeing and serving. And the Church does not exist to fulfill your desire to see the world.

I totally believe that this planet, this place God spoke into being, deserves our reverence. If it's calling out to you, then go, and revere it with all your heart! But don't use the Church to pay your way. And don't use your participation in weak or broken ministry as a means to collect stamps in your passport.

Get a job. Save your money. And then take a trip to somewhere incredible. Trust me, your tourist dollars will be greatly appreciated!

And this is where I bail, because, beyond what I've just said, I think the journey to becoming a missionary is highly unique and personal. It's spirit-led, prayer dependent, driven by hard work and perseverance, and it's not always awesome or easy.

If you still want to be a missionary, then maybe it's time for you to find a healthy ministry (which means asking lots of good questions and being mindful of the answers) and ask them how you can get on board with what they're doing.

That's my advice. ....What?! I never said it would be good advice. 

So, Blessings as you go. 

To work.

Aaaat a real job.  ;)