This is a quick summary list. We encourage you to get the HERE to THERE paperback or PDF book in the Resources section below, for the "How to" book.
- Get your church involved with our training and development, including the selection of a fitting sending agency and ministry.
- Get a solid foundation of Bible and theology, which are key to your understanding, effectiveness, and discernment in a cross-cultural setting.
- Study missions, through biographies, history, and missiology. Be inspired and learn from the example and mishaps of those who have gone before you.
- Get practical experience in a variety of ministries at your church, especially emphasizing evangelism, discipleship, teaching, and training ministries.
- Begin to get involved in cross-cultural exposure and training. Learn what ethnic people and communities live near you. Seek them out. Begin to get a feel for differences and distinctive of different cultures and traditions. Augment your language learning toward conversational proficiency.
- Try to join or intern with a church planting team near you. Find out about the nitty-gritty of planning and the effort involved in establishing a new church.
- Explore and discover the ways that church leaders are qualified and recognized. Follow that pathway yourself. As a missionary, you most certainly should qualify as an Elder or Deacon (see 1 Tim. 3) before going to the field.
- Walk through the applications and credentialing process with your chosen mission agency to go to your chosen field and ministry.
- Raise your needed support and gather a team of prayer partners for the long haul.
- Take care of legal and personal business issues to prepare for the field. Things like co-signatory on your bank account, a Will, establishing your permanent residence address, passport, etc.
- Celebrate and go!