the 10 questions everyone asks

The 10 Questions Everyone Asks

David Stevens, M.D., M.A. (Ethics)

CEO - CMDA

If God has fit you to be a missionary, I would not have you shrivel down to be a king - Charles H. Spurgeon

1. How do I know I’m called?

The General Call

The Specific Call

How to Know?

Being On Call

Cautions

While vast continents are shrouded in darkness... the burden of proof lies upon you to show that the circumstances in which God has placed you were meant by God to keep you out of the foreign mission field. - Ion Keith-Falconer

God does not have to come and tell me what I must do for Him, He brings me into a relationship with Himself where I hear His call and understand what He wants me to do, and I do it out of sheer love to Him... When people say they have had a call to foreign service, or to any particular sphere of work, they mean that their relationship to God has enabled them to realize what they can do for God.

           - Oswald Chambers

2. Where Should I Serve?

God cannot lead you on the basis of facts that you do not know. - David Bryant

7,000,000,000 people820 million (11.5%) evangelicals2.84 billion unreached6,921 people groupsMost in 10/40 window

8% of missionaries0.01% of finances2/3rds people

ExploreReadListenAttend<medicalmissions.com>ContactVisit

• Global Health Outreach• WMM

Skills and NeedsPray

I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.

- Count Zinzindorf

3. How Do I Pick a Mission Agency?Consider

It’s theology

It’s focus

It’s strategy

It’s experience

It’s support

It’s success

It’s management

It’s culture

<medicalmissions.com>

Experience it!

When God's finger points, God's hand will open the door. - Clarence Jones

?

4. How Do I Prepare?

PhysicianSpecialty?

Extra Training?

NursesNP, MPH, Midwifery

PA’s

Dentists, Pharmacy

OtherI have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it

is done. - J. Hudson Taylor

5. What about raising support?

Benefits

Barriers

Your Support Team

God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies. J. Hudson Taylor

6. What About My Children?

Time togetherLack of negative influencesCommon challengesEnhanced maturityGood resourcesRich experiencesBreath of perspectiveHigh achievers

Frequent transitions

Sense of identity

Commitment

Rootlessness

Restlessness

Separations

Resources

ADVANTAGES CHALLENGES

Are you willing to trust me with everything except your children?

7. What About Safety?

God is in Control

Bad Things Happen to Good People

Great Risks Often bring the Greatest Rewards for God’s Kingdom

“Five years we never went outdoors without a volley of curses form our neighbors.”C.T. Studd - Missionary to China

8. How can I avoid burnout?

The devil’s favorite tool.Marathon not sprintSelf-careAccountabilityDelegationTrainingKeep at it

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. - C.T. Studd

9. Can I have a Spiritual Ministry?

Must prepare

Must prioritize

Can’t do all of it

Complementary

Ordination

When he landed in 1848 there were no Christians here; when he left in 1872 there were no heathen. - said of John Geddie, missionary

10.What Will be my Biggest Challenges?

Growing spiritually

Adaptability

Other missionaries

Separation from family

Medicine is only part of

the equation.

Obedience to the call of Christ nearly always costs everything to two people- the one who is called, and the one

who loves that one. - Oswald Chambers

Great Mission Resources at CMDA BookstoreOr At <cmda.org>.

Your CallQuarterly Resource – Center for Medical Missions

What are we here for, to have a good time with Christians or to save sinners? - Malla Moe

Do not think me mad. It is not to make money that I believe a Christian should live. The noblest thing a man can do is, just humbly to receive, and then go amongst others and give. - David Livingstone

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

- Jesus

Christians don't tell lies they just go to church and sing them.

- A.W. Tozer

I will lay my bones by the Ganges that India might know there is one who cares. - Alexander Duff

The evangelization of the world in this generation. - Student Volunteer Movement Motto