Continuing Your Education

In order to be an effective missionary, it is helpful to have an understanding of cultural anthropology, missions history, missions strategy, and the theology of missions. There are several places where you can get a good foundation in these areas:

Urbana 15 Exhibitors includes a list of various colleges, seminaries, and educational or campus ministries.

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

A good starting point for learning the basics of world missions is a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement which is offered in various locations by the Frontier Ventures. The course gives an overview of missions through readings, missions speakers, and tests and papers (if you take it for credit). You can get certificate, college, or seminary credit for the course, or you can simply audit it. The work you put into the course is definitely worth it.

Christian College

If you have not yet completed college, you should consider attending a Christian college. Such a school integrates foundational courses in Bible study, theology, and Christian living into the academic program. These schools offer a variety of majors, and you could even choose to major in World Missions, Intercultural Studies, or Global Studies to prepare you for the mission field. CollegeView provides a searchable database of Christian colleges.

Secular colleges or universities can also be a good option, and you may find state schools to be more affordable than private colleges. Studying in a secular environment can challenge your faith, but it also provides you with the opportunity to be a witness among your peers while earning a degree. Most colleges and universities have Christian groups such as InterVarsity (IVCF), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Navigators, or Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) on campus. Be sure to seek them out! These groups help provide you with a Biblical foundation in the university setting and offer training in evangelism.

I attended a secular liberal arts college and became involved in InterVarsity there. While in college I realized that God really was calling me to involvement in missions, so I made plans to attend seminary. I was able to get advance preparation for seminary and missions by taking biblical Greek, Linguistics, and foreign language courses at school while also attending Bible studies and training events through IVCF.

Seminary

If you have completed college, you might want to consider attending seminary. Some missions agencies require you to have at least a year of Bible courses under your belt before you sign go overseas, and seminary is a good place to take this coursework. Seminaries vary in the courses of study they offer. Nearly all offer a (3-year) Master of Divinity degree which most churches require for ordination. If you wish to be a pastor on the mission field, this is probably the degree for you. Some seminaries offer a (1-2 year) Masters degree in Missions, Global Studies, or Intercultural Studies. Such a program usually combines theology, Bible, and missions coursework with a missions internship of some kind.

Specialized Training

A great option for missions training and experience immediately after high school (or even later in life) is Discipleship Training School (DTS), offered through YWAM. Two of my sisters-in-law have attended these schools. The first half of the program (3 months or so) is spent in discipleship and training. During the final 3 months or so, you actually travel to a different location to participate in missions work. College credit is offered for this program through Christ for the Nations Institute. Christ for the Nations offers further training that specializes in preparing you for missions. Their program emphasizes Christian discipleship and missions training and can be completed in 3 years

Financial Concerns

As you examine your options, keep your financial situation in mind. Try not to go too far into debt because enormous student loans can delay your trip to the mission field. Find out what scholarships are available and apply for every one that you can. Will your church help you with tuition? Find out. Some missions organizations may allow you to raise money to pay for student loans as a part of your support, depending on how far into debt you are. Others will not.

I was fortunate that my parents covered my college expenses. When I attended seminary I applied for scholarships, work study, and financial aid, and I took out a Perkins loan with a 5% interest rate. My church also helped pay for my tuition. Studying online is another affordable option many schools now offer. Be sure to pray about the financial considerations of training in missions, and keep them in mind throughout the decision-making process.