How Should a Missionary Prepare for Ministry? - Mrs. Valiante

Thinking of the word “preparation” I thought of Paul, the first missionary that we often refer to in the Bible. Many others before him are missionaries, but Paul is the first one we see from his conversion and preparation (where he is mentioned as Saul) to his leadership position and ministry (where he is spoken of as Paul). So, how did he prepare for ministry? Should it be a pattern for us?

Acts 9 is Saul’s conversion account and mentions that after he came to know the LORD and was baptized (the first steps to following Christ), he began to preach Christ. Though Saul was immediately ministering by preaching and proving that Jesus was Christ it seems as though he was over-zealous and in desperate need of training. Barnabas takes him in allowing him to be under the leadership of the apostles and eventually ministering in the local church at Antioch (Acts 11:25, 26). Saul began to use his gift of teaching while in this church and being faithful to the assembly there. It was then that the church saw that they could trust Saul and use him in ministering to other believers outside the church. After returning from this first “mission’s trip,” Barnabas and Saul take on Mark and began mentoring him (Acts 12:25). In this Saul has the opportunity to stretch out in leadership opportunities of teaching and passing on what he has learned to others. He does not enter the leadership position until after God calls him through the Holy Spirit and the leadership of the local church (Acts 13:2, 3).

I believe this is a good pattern for us to follow today as we prepare for missions. Faithfulness to the local church, ministering within that church and being under the leadership of others in ministry helps to prepare us for the work God has planned. Faithfulness helps with growth in our own walk with God and in our relationship with others. Ministering within the local church develops our gifts and talents (even helping us to identify them and see how God can use us more specifically). And being under the leadership of others gives us opportunities to smooth out the rough edges making us more effective in serving. Without these necessary steps of preparation, our ministry may end up like Saul’s in the beginning, causing havoc for others and danger to ourselves. Taking it step by step allows God to be glorified through us and be able to use us as He intended.