Discerning God’s call to missions is both exhilarating and challenging. For those who have felt the nudge toward missions, this question can bring feelings of excitement, doubt, and countless “what ifs.” Whether you’re a new believer or have walked with the Lord for many years, wondering if you’re called to be a missionary is a sign that you’re seeking to live for God’s purposes.
So, how do you know if this call is real? How can you tell if God is truly leading you to a life dedicated to reaching people around the world with His love and truth? Here we hope to provide some wisdom to help you discern God’s voice in this important decision.
What does the bible say about missionary calling?
The best place to start on your journey of God’s calling in your life is his word, the Bible. The Bible speaks extensively about God’s heart for missions and the call for His people to share the gospel with the world. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals a God who desires that all people know Him and experience His love. The word “go” appears 1542 times in the Bible while the word “stay” only appears 62 times. From Abraham, to Moses, to Jonah, to Paul, there is a clear theme in scripture of God sending his people out into the world to proclaim his truth.
“The harvest is ready, we have to go!” – A powerful missionary anthem from YWAM Kona Music
Has God given you a heart for the nations?
As you consider if God is calling you to the mission field, one of the biggest questions you need to ask yourself is, “Do I have a heart any particular nation(s)?” Having a heart for the nations reflects God’s own compassion for people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. When we line up our desires with God’s we might feel the pull to share His love and truth beyond our local context. A heart for the nations isn’t just an emotional feeling; it’s a desire rooted in God’s mission to reconcile the world to Himself!
But what if I don’t have a heart for the people around me? What if I’m not good enough at loving others to be a missionary? Jonah’s story is a powerful example of how God works through even reluctant servants. When God first called Jonah to go to Nineveh and “preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2), Jonah wanted nothing to do with it. Instead of obeying, he fled in the opposite direction, trying to escape from the presence of the Lord. Nineveh was a city known for its violence and cruelty, and the Ninevites were enemies of Israel. Jonah may have feared for his safety, but he also harbored deep resentment toward the Ninevites. He didn’t want God to show them mercy, believing they deserved judgment instead.
Despite his reluctance, Jonah delivered God’s message, warning the Ninevites of impending judgment. To Jonah’s surprise, the people of Nineveh believed God and repented of their sins, turning from their evil ways. Through Jonah’s story, we see that God’s call to missions is not always easy or aligned with personal desires. Sometimes, God asks us to go to places or people we may not naturally care for, pushing us out of our comfort zones.
The Great Commission: A Direct Command to Go and Make Disciples
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
The Great Commission begins with a call to action… GO! Jesus calls His followers to go beyond their familiar circles, step out of their comfort zones, and reach people who have yet to hear the gospel. For the disciples, this meant moving beyond Jerusalem to preach in Judea, Samaria, and eventually to the ends of the earth, as Jesus outlined in Acts 1:8. Today, the call to “go” compels us to take the gospel beyond their immediate surroundings, whether that means crossing cultural, linguistic, or geographical boundaries.
The Great Commission emphasizes that the gospel is not a private or isolated message but one meant for everyone. God’s desire is that all people, regardless of background, language, or nationality, come to know Him. By commanding His followers to “go,” Jesus made it clear that the Christian faith is not meant to be contained; it is meant to spread, reaching those near and far.
If God is calling me to missions, what is my next step?
If you haven’t already, we would highly recommend doing a YWAM Discipleship Training School. It is a 5 month school designed to help you to “Know God and Make God Known”. This school can be completed at locations all over the world. Completing the Discipleship Training School is the first step to becoming a full time missionary with Youth With A Mission. The second step would be to complete one of our frontier missions training schools. Here at YWAM Provence, we have a frontier missions school called ‘ Foundations for Intercultural Studies’ which is designed to prepare you to be a missionary long term.
Being a missionary is a response to God’s call to share the gospel, serve others, and bring His hope to the world. It’s a life that requires sacrifice, compassion, and a reliance on the Holy Spirit. Whether through local outreach or cross-cultural missions, the calling to be a missionary is an invitation to partner with God’s work in reconciling the world to Himself. For every believer, the Bible’s message is clear: God desires that we all participate in His mission to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.