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Training
missionaries must be one of the singular
most difficult tasks in the field of ministry
preparation. What other profession faces
the stress and strain of adapting to another
culture, carrying attitudes that build bridges,
and skills to learn the language well? What
other vocation requires the sacrificial
living of strenuous circumstances minimum
remuneration and little glory? What kind
of character is needed to shine when the
going gets tough and too many just get going
and leave?
Bible
college or seminary helps ministry candidates
to face the rigors of ministry but not in
the context of another culture. Yet, too
many missionary candidates leave for the
field with little more than a few weeks
of missionary orientation presuming that
what is needed will be learned on the field.
If learned at all, it is certainly learned
the hard way.
Perhaps
the question to ask is not why train missionaries
but how should they be trained? Gateway
follows a philosophy that is whole person
oriented. The training needs of the missionary
candidate are seen in terms of the complete
person: who a missionary needs to become,
what he or she needs to be able to do, and
the knowledge or understanding needed in
order to become and to do what is expected
on the field.
Check out the other links on this page:
Attrition and Retention
Studies and Their Impact on Missionary
Training (coming soon)
Missionary Training
Resources
Personal Assessments
(coming soon)
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