Can You Be a Missionary Here at Home?

Yes, you most certainly can!

I used to be confused about that myself until, over the years, I came to understand that God will call you where He wants you to be. It may be overseas, or it may be as a missionary here at home. God is calling you to spread His message of salvation through Jesus Christ, and it doesn’t matter where you live.

Our Courageous Brothers and Sisters in Christ

There’s no doubt, the brave men and women who work in the foreign mission field are doing God’s work. They are working tirelessly right there on the front lines, with family in tow, planting seeds for the Kingdom and helping to lead people to Christ.

I admire foreign missionaries more than I can say. It takes a special person to take the training and learn the culture to be able to acclimate abroad. Many of these missionaries risk their lives every day. They gladly accept the risks, including facing religious persecution and death, to spread the gospel.

But, what if you can’t travel right now? Is missionary work strictly a “ticket overseas” kind of thing? Not at all. In fact, God has endowed all of us with spiritual gifts which we can use for His kingdom no matter where we are. It could be overseas, it could be here in the U.S., it could even be at your place of work during your lunch hour.

*If we give God service it must be because He gives us grace. We work for Him because He works in us. – Christian pastor, Charles Spurgeon.

Blessed Giving

Opening your checkbook and donating to missions is a great thing. That’s being a good financial steward. But, if you can also discover your spiritual gifts and use them in a way to bring glory to God, then you’re in the mission field God has chosen just for you.

These are just a few of the many possible examples:

• Volunteer at a local organization that clothes and feeds the needy and demonstrates God’s love.
• Become an ESL teacher. Use that wonderful opportunity to break through the language barrier and share Christ’s love.
• Establish a college campus ministry to support other Christian students in public universities.
• Use your gift as a musician or vocalist to perform songs that glorify God, especially to our nation’s youth.
• Start a Bible study for co-workers during your lunch hour.
• Encourage others through social media.
• Anonymously buy a meal at a restaurant for someone, for example, a soldier, an elderly person, or a cancer patient.
• Write articles, a novel, or a screenplay that honors God and reaches a dying world.
  
• Share your testimony, especially with a lost friend or neighbor.
• Hand out gospel tracts in a busy downtown area.
• Sponsor a child overseas or here at home.

If you are actively sharing your faith with others, then you’re working in a mission field. Don’t feel discouraged if you’re not able to travel with a missionary team. Your mission field doesn’t have to be overseas. It can be where you are right now. We must all look for those opportunities where we can talk about our delight in God with the world.

God will bless you for it!

# # #

*Charles Spurgeon quotation, public domain, as quoted from ChristianQuotes.info.