6 Phases Of Being A Missionary

Let's be honest, as missionaries we go through "phases," if you will. We decided to name the ones we've experienced during our journey to save the world. Let's have a little fun, shall we? 

1. I'm Lost and Going To Missions

So we all start somewhere. Usually at a party with a beer in hand, we have a come or (comeback) to Jesus moment. It dawns on you - you want to make a difference in the world. Church isn't enough. Work isn't enough. You search the internet and find what you're looking for:

It's time to build houses in Mexico because that's unique and adventurous. Yes. You take your last paycheck and embark on a 4 day missions trip ready to surrender your life to Jesus and be his hands and feet...for 4 days. 4 days is enough right? Mexico will be changed, you think to yourself. You update your profile with your favorite catch phrase: "it's about Him not about me."

2. You Quit Your Job For Full-Time Missions

You now realize you were meant to save the world. It's time to travel to far away places, like Africa or Brazil, anything but your homeland. That's too close. You were made for the most expensive plane tickets. You go with one mission - to spread the message of hope... and Kendrick Lamar: Sit down and be humble. The people need to, not you. Obviously. You go for 7 days at at time, posting updates on how the kingdom of God is invading the nations through your work of posting pictures. You quit your job and feel really fulfilled as a low key superhero. Soon to come is the art of raising support. 

3. The Journey of Raising Support

So you don't have a job. And now it's time to raise support so you can travel full time because you're not just called, you're CHOSEN. Let's bust out the newsletter. You start going through the photos from your last missions trip, one beach photo at a time, and choose the one that looks the most missional...clearly it's the one hand raised on top of a cliff perfectly angled and shot 17 times to get it just right. There. You caption the photo - "Jesus came to save the lost, I am saving the lost in this photo you just can't see it". Will you support my next trip to Bora Bora, it's only $7800 but I really need your prayer support...so you would you please pray but only about financially supporting me? *Click here to be added to my email update list and see what God's doing through my travels.* 

4. Raising Money is Too Hard - What Can I do From Home?

After 7 rounds of raising support and traveling to the nations (remember only far away nations not in your own country), you start to miss your old life of working and having a paycheck and drinking beer. And Starbucks. And sushi. And shopping. And just like... living. But you think to yourself, "Do I really want to get a job and live a mediocre life not saving people?". You're called, CHOSEN. Don't forget. You heard about something that seems to fit. "Lifestyle Missionary". They get you. 

5. The Missionary Who Lives At Home

Now that you're over saving the nations, it's time to buckle down and save your hometown, while living at home. "Come join the mission of missions, the mission of Jesus, it's all about missions. In your own home. Or my home. Come over. Let's talk missions. Yes, we are missionaries without leaving home". You throw meetings and local outreaches but the outreaches are more like parties at your house where people bring food and drinks and you talk about what you want to see change. But meeting people is hard and it feels even harder to get people to come. How will you get people to come? You still can't afford sushi either. A new idea comes to you, it's brilliant....

6. You Find a Church and Get a Job

Wow, what a genius idea! You start looking for local churches and find the one that fits your needs most. It's trendy. It has distressed wood. Everyone's hottness level is at least a 7. This is where you're called. CHOSEN. Someone helps you find a job. Low and behold, it's exactly what you were doing before you embarked on missions. It feels different this time. Now that you're called. You still need to fill that heart for missions you have, so you come up with an even more brilliant idea...

You become a blogger and write about being a Christian. Even joking about it sometimes. Yes. That's it. ;)