Four Steps to Becoming a Missionary
Follow the steps below to explore opportunities of service with the North American Mission Board.
Step 1: CALL:
Do I have an unmistakable and compelling sense of call to full-time vocational service?
Unlike any other work, vocational missionary service begins and is sustained by a compelling sense of call from God. Be certain that God is calling you to serve. If you are uncertain and would like to discern your sense of call contact a Missionary Candidate Consultant (770-410-6000) or email mp_process@namb.net.
Calling is the symbol of the experience of the act of being drawn into a redemptive relation to Christ and commissioned to service in the Kingdom of God…Henley Barnette
Being called to a specific ministry and being specially gifted for a particular task often go together…A person's particular ministry was determined by the gifts received from God's spirit…John Pohil
God normally calls us along the line of giftedness, but the purpose of giftedness is stewardship and service, not selfishness…The truth is not that God finds us a place for gifts but that God created us and our gifts for a place of His choosing and we will only be ourselves when we are finally there…Os Guiness
Step 2: Criteria:
Do I meet the North American Mission Board criteria for approval?
Before investing your time in the lengthy application process, we think you would like to know important consideration criteria. We have placed these criteria in the form of a self-assessment that includes a description of important personnel policies.
Read the entire self-assessment and answer the questions forthrightly and to the best of your ability. To view the Missionary Policy or if you have additional questions you can contact a Missionary Candidate Consultant at (770-410-6000) or email mp_process@namb.net.
1. Theological Integrity: The North American Mission Board along with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has adopted the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message Statement as a framework for its work and the approval of missionaries. If you have not read the Baptist Faith and Message please link to www.sbc.net and follow the links to the Baptist Faith and Message. Have you read and are you in agreement with the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message?
Guideline: Missions personnel are to maintain theological convictions consistent with the most current edition of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the SBC.
Missions personnel are expected to sign the theological agreement statement which states: "In accountability to the North American Mission Board and Southern Baptists, I covenant to carry out my responsibilities in accordance with and not contrary to the current edition of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention."
2. Personal Evangelism: Are you a proactive verbal witness?
Guideline: Missions personnel are expected to be committed to and consistent in presenting the gospel. Personal evangelism is considered to be a foundational expectation for all missionaries and missionary candidates.
3. Glossolalia: Do you or your spouse speak in an unknown tongue (glossolalia) or have a private prayer language?
Guideline: No person who is actively participating in or promoting glossolalia shall be appointed, approved or endorsed by NAMB. This includes having a private prayer language. A representative of NAMB shall counsel any missions personnel serving under NAMB appointment, approval or endorsement, who becomes involved in glossolia. Continued participation will result in termination.
4. Lifestyle Expectations: Missions Personnel are expected to conduct themselves in a Christian manner. All missions personnel should be aware that their personal lifestyles may be more subject to scrutiny than if they were employed in a secular organization.
A. Alcohol and Substance Abuse: Have you used alcohol as a beverage or used illegal drugs within the last 12 months?
Guideline: Missions personnel are expected to abstain from the use of alcohol and illegal drugs. They will neither advocate nor condone the use of alcohol as a beverage or the illegal use of drugs, marijuana, or other controlled substances. When candidates are considered for appointment there must be at least 12 months abstinence prior to appointment.
B. Purity: Is there anything in your life, which if known would hinder your witness or reflect negatively on the North American Mission Board?
Guideline: Missions personnel who practice sexual immorality or deviance, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, pornography, pedophilia, etc. will be terminated.
5. Churchmanship: Have you and your spouse (if married or engaged) been members of a Southern Baptist Church for the last two years?
Guideline: Missions personnel are to be an active member, in good standing, of a cooperating Southern Baptist Church. Missionary candidates are to be an active member of a Southern Baptist church for two years immediately prior to approval.
6. Sanctity of human life: What is your and your spouse's attitude toward abortion?
Guideline: Missions personnel must embrace the sanctity of human life, both of the born and the unborn.
7. Divorce: Have either you or your spouse been married and divorced?
Guideline: The North American Mission Board desires that Missions Personnel receiving NAMB support who are appointed or approved, or those endorsed as Chaplains, set the finest possible example in terms of marriage and family in keeping with biblical teachings. Therefore, divorced people will rarely, and only under unusual circumstances, be appointed, approved or endorsed for mission service.
The biblical rationale for divorce is recognized as:
A. For cause of sexual unfaithfulness. (Matthew 5:32; 19:1-12)
B. For cause of desertion on the part of the unbelieving spouse. (1 Corinthians 7;10-17)
Pastoral Role:
No one will be considered for appointment, approval, or endorsement for service in a pastoral role, unless the divorce is biblically-based and the person has not remarried. In the same manner, the wife cannot be divorced and remarried.
Other Roles:
Divorced people may be considered for missions personnel appointment, approval or endorsement to other types of service if the divorce is determined to be biblically based.
Thank you for completing the self-assessment.
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Step 3: Competency:
All missionary candidates must meet (1) general competency requirements and (2) job specific competency requirements.
1. General Competency:
All missions candidates must:
A. Southern Baptist Life and Polity: Interested candidates must demonstrate a working knowledge of Southern Baptist life, polity, and practices. This competency can be demonstrated through (1) active participation in church, associational, state convention and national convention life and or (2) completion of a formal course in Southern Baptist Polity.
B. Personal Evangelism: Interested candidates must (1) have completed a personal evangelism course which includes classroom instruction and a field practicum. Acceptable courses include Evangelism Explosion, NET, Continuous Witness Training, Sharing Jesus Without Fear, or FAITH. (2) demonstrated a lifestyle of proactive verbal witnessing.
2. Job Specific Competencies:
Each job has its own unique skill sets. Please review the job description thoroughly.
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Step 4: Choose one of the following:
I have completed the above self-assessment. What do I do next?
A. Vacancy List: Visit the Missionary Vacancy List
If you meet NAMB approval requirements and are interested in a current vacant position, email the supervisor of the position you are interested in. Express your interest in the posted position and attach your resume.
B. Approved and available List: Complete the Missionary Application Interest Form.
If you meet the NAMB approval requirements but do not see any current position of interest and desire approval for a future vacant position, complete the application interest form. Express your interest and attach your resume. A Missionary Candidate Consultant will contact you to begin the process.
C. Development: At this time I DO NOT meet NAMB approval requirements but desire development for future approval as a jointly funded missionary. What do I do?
Email your desire for development and future approval and attach your resume. You will be contacted by a Missionary Candidate Consultant to discuss your desire for approval.
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