Spiritual Growth

Personal spiritual growth is a necessary prerequisite for ministry. Unless you are growing spiritually, how can you expect to help others grow? You cannot effectively witness for Christ if you don't take time to get to know Him.

When I miss spending time with God, I really cannot stand myself. Life seems harder. I'm grumpier. I get easily overwhelmed. At those times, I wonder what those around me are thinking of my actions, which certainly have not risen out of my faith so much as from my own selfishness.

Two activities are essential for your personal spiritual growth:

Every Christian needs to attend church regularly and spend time with God each day. These activities are especially crucial for those who desire to serve God as missionaries.

Your daily time with God should include a time of reading the Bible and praying. Your time in the Word may include reading through the Bible. It is also helpful to keep a prayer journal. In it, write down the things God teaches you and the things you are praying for. It can be exciting to look back through it in the future and realize how many of those prayers have been answered!

Operation World is a great resource to help you pray for world missions. The book provides prayer points for every people group in the world at your fingertips. The website has additional resources such as prayer calendars and videos. There is also a mobile app for your smartphone.

Spending time in fellowship with the church each week and with God each day are truly essentials. The following options provide additional opportunities for growth:

In a small group Bible study, you grow from your own interaction with God's Word and from the insights of others in the group. Many campus ministries offer Bible studies for students. Churches often have Sunday School classes, home groups, or other Bible study opportunities. Other organizations such as Community Bible Study (CBS) and Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) provide nondenominational Bible study for all ages.

In a one-to-one discipleship, an older or more mature Christian (i.e. Youth group leader, pastor, elder, or professor) shares personal insights and faith with you. Such a person can guide you specifically in growth toward becoming a missionary.

There are many types of prayer groups. One might focus on prayer for personal needs; another might pray for needs of the church. Some are focused toward praying for a community or a specific area of the world. Others pray for missionaries and the cause of missions. Some groups combine all of these. If you decide to be a part of a prayer group, choose from your options prayerfully.

A prayer partnership can be formed between any two people. Find a friend who is interested in becoming a missionary or who is especially concerned to pray for you as you seek God's will in becoming one. Meet regularly to pray for one another and for the issues God puts on your hearts. I had a prayer partner for a year in seminary, and we prayed for each other, our families, and our futures. This partnership brought the two of us closer together and encouraged us in our spiritual growth.

Prayerfully consider the different options available to you as you seek to grow in your faith. Talk to other Christians and ask for their advice. Your pastor or other church leader would be glad to help direct you. Regardless of what else you may decide to do, be sure to spend time with God each day.