Getting Started with Shepherd's Staff
It's Personal
Having a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Some people in "Christian" work are not even Christians. Are you sure that
Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of your life? Has there been substantial
change in your behavior, interests, priorities, etc., since accepting
Him as Lord and Savior? Would those who know you best testify to the reality
of those changes and to the ongoing spiritual growth and maturity?
Be a healthy, integral part of a local church.
The observable changes and spiritual growth spoken about above will be manifested in
your relationship with your local church.
The teaching you receive, the opportunities to serve, the discovery and use of your
God-given gifts, and the intimate, godly relationships you have developed
in your local church are an essential component of the call to the mission
field. Are you a healthy, integral member of a local church?
Be clear about what the “foundation” of missions is.
Is your God worthy to be known? Is He worthy to be proclaimed for who He is? If you
said yes to both of those questions, you have a grasp of the foundation
of missions. Missions is primarily about the worthiness and goodness of
our Lord, not the condition of the people you want to serve. The “lostness”
of those who are living without Christ, although very important, is not
our primary motivation, the worthiness of our God is.
At some point, all missionaries come to the realization that the reason they stay on
the field when things get tough is God’s worthiness to be known
and obeyed, not the condition of the people among whom they live. It is
far better to understand this before you go rather than wrestle to understand
it in the midst of the mission-field trials.
What you expect to do there, be doing HERE!
The old missions maxim is still true – if you’re not doing it here, you won’t
do it there! Are you sharing your faith on a regular basis? Are people
coming to Christ through your personal witness and your explaining the
gospel to them? If not, then pray for the courage and the ability to do
so, and then go for it! Your ministry in the mission field should be a
continuation of what you’ve already been doing in your own country!
Stay out, or get out, of debt.
The number of potential missionaries derailed by our American “buy now, pay
later” attitude is surprising. Now is a good time to come up with
a plan and then implement it in order to be “debt free” before
you leave for the field.
Monetary obligations hang like an ominous black cloud over the head of those who need to see
clearly the work at hand while they are in the field. Using the monetary
resources that God gives you through His people for debt that you incurred
before becoming a missionary isn’t wise or honorable.
Learn about missionaries.
Finding out how God has used other people can encourage us to realize that He can
use us too. Read biographies of missionaries. Take the time to meet and
get to know missionaries who are visiting your local area, (especially
if they are from your church!) Ask around and find out if there are former missionaries living in your
area and get together with them.
You’ll discover that many times, He has used people with weaknesses and disabilities,
as well as those who seem especially gifted or talented. You’ll
also discover that missionaries are common people, just like you!
Be a man/woman of prayer.
Although this is listed last, it certainly isn’t least. Have you sought God diligently
in prayer regarding serving Him in the mission field? Have you sought
prayer on this subject from the brothers and sisters in your local church?
From the leaders in your local church? Before proceeding, make diligent
prayer your number one priority.
The Process
Getting Started
Take the time to read and understand the Shepherd’s Staff Mission Facilitators,
Inc. mission statement. As you do so, you will recognize that your first
step is to talk with your pastor or church leaders and share with them
the things God is stirring in your heart. Inform them of Shepherd's Staff,
what we have to offer, and that we will only proceed with assisting you
in unison with them.
Application
Contact us to obtain an application. This is a very thorough application, which includes
reference forms to be filled out by four appropriate people. Upon receipt
of your application and reference forms, we will contact your pastor or
key leader in order to begin a relationship that we believe will be a
great blessing to you as a missionary.
Staff Interview
At an appointed time, our director and one of our staff will meet with you for a question
and answer session. We ask most of the questions, but you will have opportunity
to ask questions too. During this interview your preparedness for actually
going will be considered. If training is needed, we will discuss our six-week
Field-environment Intensive Training, or other training options.
Various Details
If you are accepted, many details must be taken care of in preparation for your actually
leaving for the field. We will guide you through those details at the
appropriate time, and always in close union with your home church.
