Hey, friends! We've noticed you asking, "What really is a missionary?"

At Global Frontier Missions, we love training missionaries. But here's the thing: they don't all go out to do the same job. We’ve trained business owners, church planters, marketing geniuses, and those who aid refugees.

Your mission context? Oh, it can vary! You could be in a country where Christians face persecution, requiring you to hold down a regular job, or even run a business, to stay legal. In other circumstances, a missionary may choose to utilize their professional skills to provide for “felt needs” in their community such as medical, agricultural, or teaching positions. 

But whatever the scenario, what makes you a missionary is your passion to ignite the Gospel in the hearts of those around you. You’ll likely find a local church or mission team cheering you on, helping you strategize and stand strong as you share Jesus with everyone you meet.

Despite a shift in focus in recent decades towards this “business as missions” approach, more traditional mission models are still in play. Both are absolutely vital strategies in the work to see the gospel taken to every tribe, people, and tongue. In places where religious workers are welcome, it is a common and worthwhile avenue to engage in full-time church planting, discipleship, and evangelism.

Wondering what these roles look like? Let's paint a picture:

Depending on the country, missions organization, and local context, full-time Christian workers utilize a variety of strategies to sow the gospel where they live.

Missionaries I know have spent time in coffee shops and recreational sports clubs, building natural friendships with their neighbors through proximity.

Others have knocked on every door in their neighborhood, introducing themselves with the immediate intention of sharing the gospel. A friend of mine spent years as a church planter in a refugee camp, gathering believers together and shepherding their walk with Christ with patience and humility.

For missionaries whose full-time focus is Gospel-related (rather than a separate vocation), relational work is almost always the primary avenue for furthering the good news of Christ. Where “business as missions” strategies are organized around a task with the intent of forming relationships through a shared purpose, traditional missions work puts gospel-centered relational investment at the forefront. That degree of explicit focus isn’t possible (or even productive) in every situation, but it can be incredibly valuable in contexts where those being served are open to full-time investment.

Let's not forget, the gospel is all about relationships. It doesn't matter whether these are built at your job, knocking on doors, or just chatting after work. These are all routes missionaries take to invest in their communities. There's no one-size-fits-all missionary look or approach. At the end of the day, it's not how we work that matters, it's whom we work for and whom we serve. God's given us all an amazing mix of gifts to use, so let's use them! Whether you're great at HR, a whizz at theology, or a born conversationalist, there's a place for you in fulfilling the Great Commission.

"There's a place for you in fulfilling the Great Commission."

Reach out below to find your place.