Missionaries Need A Certain Skill Set For Longevity On the Mission Field.

 By Kevin E. Jesmer                                                                                                         5-22-15

 Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (ESV)

      Christians on a mission need to possess certain skill sets that can help them thrive on the mission field, long term. When we think about skill sets we first think about our the skills we have a acquired for a job, interpersonal skills, personal talents,  gifts given to us from God to build up the church, and there is one other, the most important skill set. Yes, job skills, talents, relational abilities and gifts from God can be used by God on the mission field. But the skill set that is the most valuable for a cross cultural missionary, in a remote setting, is the ability to “self feed” on the word of God. This involves meditating on the Bible and mining the precious gems nestled deep within the sacred text.

     This paper will search out the different skill sets that a missionary can possess. They will include the following:

First, skills acquired from our jobs.

Second, the early Christian possessed interpersonal skills.

Third, there were spiritual skills that God could use to build up the church.

Fourth, the ability to feed one’s self on the word of God.

The final skill set, the ability to feed one’s self on the word of God, is the most important skill set to ensure longevity in a remote, cross-cultural mission field. Let’s reflect on what it means to have skill sets that sustain us on the mission.

First, skills acquired from our jobs.  The early Christians had many different jobs and skills. Peter and other disciples were fisherman. John ran a fishing business. They could feed themselves and other people. They could manage the new church. Paul was trained as a Pharisee. He was a great speaker. He was highly educated and he knew how to work with his hands. He made tents. Luke was a doctor. Pricilla and Aquila were dealers in textiles.  God worked through the job skills that these people had to build up the church and spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

 Second, the early Christian possessed interpersonal skills. Paul was trained to speak. He was able to navigate intellectual and political circles. (Acts 26:2) Believers were blessed with humility born out of their faith. They know that they needed to love their neighbor as themselves (Matt 22:39). They were to lay down their lives for their friends (John 15:13). They were to be humble, gentle and submissive (Eph 4:2) They needed to be ready to wash one another’s feet. That is, bear with one another and forgiving each other endlessly. (John 13:1-17) They knew that they were to be slow to speak and quick to listen. (James 1:19). There were abundant skill sets given to the people of God so that they could strengthen one another and reach out to the unbelieving world.

Third, there were spiritual skills that God could use to build up the church. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, talk about some of the gifts that people receive from the Lord in order to build up the church. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” (ESV)  These are skill sets, given by God to build up and expand the church. Each Christian is given unique gifts. These gifts are great to have and use for the glory of God, but they do not necessarily ensure longevity on the remote, cross cultural mission field.

Fourth, the ability to feed one’s self on the word of God.  This is probably the most valuable skill set to ensure longevity in mission field. A missionary can have two PhD’s, be the friendliest person, be trained in several important jobs, but if they can not remain in Jesus, on a day to day basis, they can not last long on the mission field. Don’t get me wrong… we are forgiven sinners, prone to sin and falling away. We stand because Jesus makes us stand. We stand totally by the grace of God. But on the other side of the coin, there are certain spiritual disciplines that we can practice that help to strengthen our relationship with Jesus. Think of them as acts of righteous. Think of them as a means to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. (Matt 6:33) They are acts like prayer, mediation on the word of God in the Bible, writing about Christian things, coming together with other missionaries to study God’s word, share their struggles and to pray.

As we fix our eyes on Jesus, God will make the mediation of the Word of God to be like honey to our souls. (Psalm 19:7-10) We can dwell in a vine and branch relationship with Jesus, for he is our life source. (John 15:1-17) The day will dawn and the Morning Star will rise in our hearts. (2 Peter 1:19)

When a missionary finds themselves in a remote, cross cultural mission field, can the missionary feed themselves on Word of God? Can missionaries nurture and encourage one another spiritually? Can they be self directed, so when there is no other person around them, can they still move forward with Jesus? Are they able to take the initiative in spiritual matters? Can they find strength from the Lord, when the only other Christians around them may be 100 miles away or a few young believers? If the missionaries have a vine and branch relationship with Jesus, daily, they will survive long term and even thrive in the remote, cross cultural setting. Jesus will help us to keep that relationship alive and will and secure. Jesus will help us to have longevity in the mission.

There are many verses in the Bible that show what it means to have some inner skill sets that will help the missionary feed themselves on the word of God.  They are from the ESV of the Bible.

John 6:35, “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

Daniel 6:10, “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”

Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 119:9-16, “How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules[c] of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”

Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.”

Psalm 119:97, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Psalm 119: “145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.

146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. 148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. 149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.”

Psalm 119: 169-174, “Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! 170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. 171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. 173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, O Lord,  and your law is my delight.”

We spend our entire lives acquiring skill sets. We want to be able to survive and thrive in this world. Along our journey we acquire skills in at least four areas. First, skills acquired from our jobs; second, interpersonal skills; third, spiritual skills that God could use to build up the church and fourth, the ability to feed one’s self on the word of God. The first three sets of skills do not ensure longevity on the remote, cross cultural mission field. But the ability to feed oneself on the word of God from the Bible, until the words of God are like honey to your soul, is the most valuable skill set to the missionary. It is nothing you can procure on your own. It is a skill set given by God to strengthen his servants. But you apply spiritual disciplines to your life, like Bible study and prayer. God will bless you and one day you can be like the person in Psalm 1 and “…delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”