Many dedicated Christians struggle to determine if they personally are called to leave home and go to a cross-cultural ministry. Here are some guidelines to help answer the question, “Am I called?” 

 

The Call Differs with Individuals

The missionary call can differ dramatically from one person to another. Adoniram Judson said that his burden began from contact with others who had a vision for foreign missions. Isobel Kuhn responded to James Fraser’s pleas for a man’s help in reaching the people of Southeast Asia with the silent prayer: “Lord, I am not a man, but I’ll go.” Dr. John Dreisbach’s brother had dedicated himself to becoming a missionary but died when struck by lightning on the family farm. Dr. Dreisbach said, “I felt that God wanted me to take my brother’s place in the missionary ranks.” The Apostle Paul had a personal call directly from God (see Acts 26:12-20). However, Paul’s protégé, Timothy, seems to have responded, not to a direct vision from God, but to Paul’s strong urging to join him (see Acts 16:3). I personally felt an obligation to go to the hard places almost immediately from the day of my conversion. A couple of summer mission teams confirmed that, but the location was not clear until a few years (and a wife) later.

 

The Call is More Than Seeing a Need

The missionary call is not determined simply by need, for that is difficult to assess. Some perceive and respond to what they believe is a great need in New York City, or New England, or the Northwest of America. But others realize that anywhere in America has access to great light (e.g., countless Bible versions and helpful web resources, Christian literature, Christian camps, schools, colleges, and seminaries), and they feel compelled to go to other nations. Need is a factor in the call but hard to quantify. For example, does Mauritania or India have the greater need? India’s Christian population (25 million) is about six times the total population of Mauritania (four million), but India also has over one billion lost people.

 

The Call is for Life but the Specific Location May Change

Although the missionary call is for life, it does not require staying in one location for life. C.T. Studd served in China, India, and Africa. Hudson Taylor gave his life for the Chinese people, but he spent as much time out of China as in it. David Livingstone originally had hoped to go to China, but he met Robert Moffat and ended up spending his life in Africa. GFA director, Dr. Mark Batory, was called to Mexico, but a life-threatening bout with hepatitis brought him back to the States, and he has served at the GFA home office ever since.

 

The Call is Focused More on Spiritual Compassion Than Emotion

The missionary call is more than guilt or emotion. Compassion is Christlike, but it must be focused primarily on the spiritual destitution of people without a shepherd (see Matthew 9:36) rather than on their physical suffering or relative poverty. Many people visit poverty-stricken countries and come away with sympathy for the people and some guilt for having a more affluent lifestyle, but those feelings of privilege and compassion are not a missionary call. Feelings and emotions can change dramatically as the challenges of cross-cultural ministry begin. Compassion and a sense of guilt can quickly morph into dismay and resentment when those for whom we feel burdened show utter indifference or even obvious hostility to our message of hope.

 

The Call Has Both Personal and Corporate Elements

The missionary call has a subjective aspect, but it also requires the input of the local body of Christ. The personal part is a subjective element of burden, fire, and passion to meet the perceived need. No one should be talked into missionary life; the drive must come from within the believer. The corporate aspect is agreement and approval from the body of Christ, especially spiritual leaders. The local church should be convinced that the missionary prospect is already a fervent, faithful servant of God. They should gladly attest that God seems to be enabling and leading a particular believer into missionary service. 

 

Encourage the Called and Don't Fear to be One

A word to parents, friends, and spiritual leaders—be sure you are not like Isobel Kuhn’s mother, who upon learning of Isobel’s missionary burden for China exclaimed, “Over my dead body! Over my dead body will you ever go to China!” Her mother was the leader of the ladies’ missionary group, but she died of cancer while Isobel was at Moody Bible Institute, so Isobel was free to follow God’s call. Also, a word to readers who are wondering if you are called. Do not get hung up in doubt and dilly-dallying, but rather take the next step and see if God continues to open the door and confirm His leading. You cannot go wrong if you get busy obeying the command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” It is uncanny how many who do that end up being called!