Questions about Family And Single Life Overseas

Heading overseas brings up a lot of questions about marriage (or what you need to know as a single) and about parenting. Grab a chair: Missionaries answer your concerns about family and singleness

Managing Marriage Roles

See also “Apprehensive Parents” under Singles/Family

Other Questions in

Great additional resources about Singles and Families

How can I interest my children in becoming missionaries in the future, and even prepare them to do so?

Immerse them in interaction with internationals! Want to raise up...

What questions should a couple ask each other before deciding to go into full-time missions overseas?

“Promise of a counselor, mentor and prayer” I think you...

What perspective should I take toward serving in missions as a single person?

“Both singleness and marriage have rewards and challenges; either way,...

What if my teenage kids don’t want to move to the mission field?

Take a scouting trip with your teens.” Moving teenagers can...

What if my parents oppose me becoming a missionary?

“Help them see the positive side of missions.” Ask God...

What can I expect to be difficult about raising small children on the field?

“Here are three things we’ve learned while parenting on the...

What are women allowed to do on the mission field?

“Almost anything.” The short answer is that there are many...

What are some of the challenges moms face overseas?

“Here are three challenges I faced overseas.” 1. Loneliness: I...

Daily Life Overseas

Why is it valuable to learn the language and the culture together?

“McDonald’s hamburgers in a Mexican market?!” “Learning a language without...

How does a missionary deal with having to leave the mission field and the relationships he or she has developed with people along the way when their time has come to an end?

“Leaving is dealt with slowly, and sometimes painfully” Having served...

When it comes to interpersonal relationships with fellow missionaries, what should I expect? Will we get along?

“Expect great times and bumpy times.” As in any relationship...

What is the best way for me to learn a language for ministry?

“Go to language school and practice in the culture.” The...

What is it like to learn another language?

“It requires time, dedication, and a willingness to fail.” Truly...

What is hard about life as a missionary?

“It depends on the country and the person.” It varies...

What does day-to-day life look like on the field? What is a typical day for a missionary?

“Find someone doing what you are interested in.” This is...

What do missionaries wish they had known before they first went?

“I wish I’d known how amazing it was going to...

Using Your Existing Skills

As a licensed massage therapist how might I serve overseas?

Healthcare missions are changing and many countries, even those with...

How do overseas healthcare missionaries find others to care for their patients when they leave for home assignment?

“Best Case Scenario: Work On A Team!” The question assumes...

Can medical missionaries self-support through a telemedicine job or some paid shifts while back in their home country?

“The Easy Answer Is ’It Depends!’” There are several different...

I’m just beginning university and I’m interested in healthcare. How could I use overseas physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, community development, or public health?

“We can use many specialities.” Answer from Sharon, an RN...

What training do you recommend for a future tentmaker?

“Here’s a course and a workbook.” Looking for a curriculum...

What kind of opportunities are there for pilots, airplane mechanics, and other aviation specialists to serve in missions?

“Look into these ministries.” Here are several ministries that serve...

What is the most needed medical specialty on the mission field?

“Midwives are needed.” Midwives are needed in most medical mission...

What could I do with a business degree in missions overseas?

“Society needs the redemptive influence of Christians in the public...

Mission Training

Why is God training me now in a way that doesn’t make sense?

“Because his ways are higher than our ways.” I’ve found...

Which correspondence programs in Bible can you recommend?

“Consider getting your Bible training online.” The world of education...

What types of training should I consider?

“Look into these five options for training.” Match the educational...

What type of biblical education requirements are there for a missionary?

“It depends on your role.” In one sense the only...

What training would be appropriate to establish orphanage programs and foster care programs in developing countries?

“Three things come to mind.” 1. Agency requirements: I would...

What seminaries do you recommend for a graduate degree in missions?

“It depends in part on what you hope to do...

What perspective should I take towards missions training?

“Ask God for his specific plan for you.” Satan has...

What does it take to be properly trained for cross-cultural service?

“Consider these four keys to missionary competence.” What does it...

Mission Agencies

How does a missions team leader form a cohesive and Christ centered team?

“Forming a cohesive team” For starters, some good articles with...

Why do some missionaries serve independent from an agency?

“Because they find help in other ways that cost less...

Why do sending agencies require missionaries to be members or active in a local church?

“The agency needs to know you have a track record.”...

Why do many missionaries join agencies?

“Because agencies help missionaries be more effective.” Agencies differ, but...

Which should I focus on first, where I want to go or which agency to join? If I start with agency selection, do they decide where I go or do I decide?

“It’s your call.” There isn’t a “one size fits all”...

Which mission agencies can someone 18-21 years of age with a high school degree join and begin active service as a missionary?

“Ask about “mid-term” options.” An increasing number of mission agencies...

Which agencies assist the underground church in restricted access countries?

“That will take some digging!” his information is sensitive in...

What questions should I ask a mission organization I am considering joining?

“Five questions about ministry, five questions about family.” Five questions...

We want to work with an agency but be self-supporting (tentmakers). Our denomination does not support this model. What agencies work with tentmakers?

“Tentmaking is increasingly part of many agencies’ way of doing...

Should I join a larger missions agency or a smaller one?

“Consider several factors.” First, does the agency work in the...

Should I go with my denomination, which provides a salary, or with a non-denominational agency and raise my support?

“Consider the advantages of both.” Before joining your denomination’s missionary...

In selecting a mission agency, how much do leadership style and organizational culture matter?

“Organizational culture matters.” Leadership style, decision-making processes, and organizational culture...

Raising Support

Should missionaries have life insurance? We are trusting God to care for us, but is it also wise to have an insurance policy to provide for our kids if something happened to us?

“Yes, missionaries should have life insurance.” As missionaries, we do...

What Scriptures, prayers, and spiritual disciplines have best helped you deal with anxiety during the fundraising process?

“Read the “top five” verses in support raising.” Steve Shadrach,...

Is there any way other than begging for support?

“I too thought it was begging, at first.” At first,...

If I raised donations for ministry and now God is leading me in a different direction, is it possible to get the previously donated money back to be used in a different ministry?

“Sometimes the money can be transferred to a different organization,...

Where do missionaries get money to live on when they return home after serving or between assignments? Do you ask supporters to continue to provide for you?

“Ask agencies about policies regarding “home assignment” and retirement.” Most...

In what different ways do missionaries plan for retirement?

“I’d recommend saving 10-15% of your monthly gross income for...

Can someone become a missionary if they have credit card debt? What about student loans or other financial obligations?

“Go with how God leads you.” If you are with...

How do I handle my debts and still go into missions?

“Apply for loan repayment with The GO Fund.” Are you...

How can I minimize financial debt while in school or training?

“Borrow as little as possible.” Scripture does not prohibit borrowing...

Do missionaries continue to tithe? If so, do they take that out of the money given by others to support their ministry?

“Yes; the Levites are a good example.” I think this...

In many countries, the cost of living is less than at home. How do I justify a seemingly large support figure to supporters?

“Understand – and if necessary, explain – total employment cost.”...

What type of insurance coverage do missionaries need?

“Consider these leads.” If you are working with a mission...

Discerning the Call

What is Missions? How Does the Church Fulfill Jesus’ Command to Spread the Gospel?

A simple definition of missions flows from the commands of...

Is Missions Colonialism? How Can Missionaries Address Its Legacy While Proclaiming the Gospel?

Colonialism, widely practiced for almost a millennia, is the idea...

How do you explain the need for missions or the role of a missionary to family and friends who believe that “all paths lead to God”? They perceive missions as forcing our faith on others.

Essentially you are asking “How does one share the gospel...

“I would love to work with church leaders of existing national churches overseas rather than planting a church myself. Is that possible?”

Not only possible, but valuable! This is a great question...

Can a family with severe food allergies become full-time missionaries? My spouse and two children under two years have a severe allergy to gluten (celiac disease).

“Our doctor thought food allergies would disappear overseas, and they...

Can I serve international missions and still live full-time in my home country?

“Reach the world on your doorstep, support mission workers, go...

How can I determine if I should sign on to stay another term?

“Consider these questions and avenues for input.” That’s a difficult...

Is it better for our family to ship our furniture overseas or to buy replacements on the field?

“Look for good deals on shipping, or buy local.” Containers...

Should we rent or sell our home before moving overseas?

“Probably sell.” I served as a missions pastor at a...

How long does it take between deciding to go and actually going?

“It varies.” This is a question that many people ask,...

What are some of the first steps to becoming a missionary?

“Six early steps from my journey.” There can be many...

Should I go on a short-term missions trip just to try it out?

“Yes, but go for several months.” I know that some...

Questions Singles Have

What perspective should I take toward serving in missions as a single person?

“Both singleness and marriage have rewards and challenges; either way,...

Should I, as a single person, go overseas now, or should I first find a mate?

“Go as a single, knowing God himself will supply your...

Should I consider a relationship with a future missionary who wants to serve in a different country from the one I’m interested in?

“Yes, but work toward a common vision.” Don’t abandon someone...

If you go to another country as a single and decide to get married to someone you meet there, would that be a problem?

“It could be a great problem, or a great opportunity.”...

I am a single mother. Which missions agencies would consider accepting me as a missionary?

“Look for an option that allows you to do justice...

How important is it that the person you’re dating has the same call to missions as you?

“Depends on how sure you are.” Though dating was not...

How do singles deal with loneliness and isolation overseas?

“Enjoy time alone with God and intentionally build same-sex friendships.”...

Are single women missionaries accepted in third-world countries? Married women without children?

“Single women are accepted as missionaries.” I am single and...

Apprehensive Parents

What if my parents oppose me becoming a missionary?

“Help them see the positive side of missions.” Ask God...

Can I become a missionary even though my family still has unbelievers?

“Maintain a relationship with them, but trust God with timing...

Can I become a missionary even if my parents still need my assistance at home?

“Following Jesus is the most important.” I think that is...

Missions and Marriage

What questions should a couple ask each other before deciding to go into full-time missions overseas?

“Promise of a counselor, mentor and prayer” I think you...

What are some of the challenges moms face overseas?

“Here are three challenges I faced overseas.” 1. Loneliness: I...

My spouse wants to be a missionary and I do not. How have other married couples with differing desires made their decision?

“If it’s God’s plan, he will work out each concern.”...

My husband and I both feel called to missions, but we still have struggles in our lives and marriage. Can God still use us in missions or is this something we have to overcome first?

“Wait, and get some good counseling.” I would strongly advise...

I am about to get married. Should we spend our first year together in our home country or on the missions field?

“Wait a bit!” Most agencies will require at least a...

Small Children in a Big World

How can I interest my children in becoming missionaries in the future, and even prepare them to do so?

Immerse them in interaction with internationals! Want to raise up...

What can I expect to be difficult about raising small children on the field?

“Here are three things we’ve learned while parenting on the...

If we move overseas, what can we do about our children’s education?

“Examine all the options with your mission agency.” Our mission...

How do missionaries deal with pregnancy? When they get pregnant, do they come home or have the baby overseas?

Shortly after we had made the decision to move to...

How can I prepare my children for moving to the mission field?

“Little by little, and make it fun!” Expose them to...

Can a couple with small children make it to the field?

“Yes. It’s easier to go when your kids are young.”...

Resistance from Older Children

See also “Apprehensive Parents” under Singles/Family

What if my teenage kids don’t want to move to the mission field?

Take a scouting trip with your teens.” Moving teenagers can...

My grown children are not walking with the Lord. Is it right for me to leave them behind to go to the mission field?

“Put them in God’s hands completely, and let go.” This...

I’ve been told it’s unwise to move your family into missions while children were in or near their teen years. What is the ideal age to move children? Are there any ages commonly not recommended?

“Any age is the ideal age.” God’s calling can be...

Can I become a missionary if my adult children still need me nearby?

“Maybe yes, maybe no.” This depends on several factors. If...