| If you are a Christian, you've probably heard a | | | | Being called to minister yourself |
| thousand times about doing God's will or listening for | | | | Being called to minister doesn't necessarily mean that |
| God's call. Many of us are perfectly content to believe | | | | you need to go into the seminary. There are a number |
| that obeying God's will means going to church every | | | | of ways that God may call you to help minister or |
| Sunday and putting a check in the collection plate. | | | | spread His Word. It could be as simple as bringing a |
| However, for most of us, God has bigger plans, and | | | | friend to church or helping out in a soup kitchen, or as |
| when you hear His call, it may be to go further with | | | | great as traveling halfway across the world to |
| your faith than you had ever dreamed. | | | | become a missionary. |
| A personal story | | | | Of course, it may be that while you don't feel called to |
| When I first began serving the Lord through teaching | | | | become a missionary, you do feel called to help those |
| and writing 20 years ago, I never imagined my work | | | | missionaries that you know. There are a couple of |
| would take me as far as Southeast Asia. Though I | | | | ways to do that: |
| have been on mission trips before, my call seemed to | | | | 1) Donate. "Donate" doesn't just mean financially, |
| be creating Bible study techniques to help others learn | | | | although there is no doubt that traveling missionaries |
| to spread the Word. | | | | will need quite a bit of financial help. They may need |
| Recently, a pastor-evangelist from Southeast Asia | | | | medical supplies or educational supplies that you could |
| contacted us through the Word Among Us Web site. | | | | provide. They may need a donation of your time, |
| He invited us to teach pastors, teachers, students and | | | | where you could help with organizing things before |
| missionaries in his country how to study the Bible. Talk | | | | they leave. A lot goes in to a mission trip, and speaking |
| about hearing God's call! | | | | with those you know who are going can give you a |
| The trip has taken our ministry in an exciting new | | | | better idea of how you can help. |
| direction. It has long been our hope to be able to | | | | 2) Pray. Never underestimate the importance of |
| expand our ministry beyond America's borders. God | | | | prayer. You can pray not only for the missionaries, but |
| opened a door for us to teach some simple Bible | | | | the people in the areas they're visiting. Make a note to |
| study techniques to people in Southeast Asia who | | | | pray for them every day, or organize a prayer group |
| have limited access to study tools, reference | | | | for the missionaries in your church. Prayer support is |
| resources, or specific instruction on how to study | | | | invaluable for missionaries, and it costs only a few |
| God's Word. | | | | minutes of your time. |
| Never have we seen people so eager to learn. Some | | | | Whether you're called to go around the world or called |
| traveled for miles on foot and on bikes so they could | | | | to offer vital support those who do, don't reject God's |
| bring back the message to their communities. We | | | | will in your life. Listen to Him, and you may be surprised |
| hope to return each year to teach in a Bible school | | | | at where His call and your faith will lead you. |
| that will be opened in June 2008. | | | | |