|
A missionary is a person who, in response to God’s call and
gifting, leaves his or her comfort zone and crosses cultural,
geographic or other barriers to proclaim the gospel and live out a
Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission.
— Definition adopted by the International and North American Mission Boards in 2000.
Each year, the North American Mission Board (NAMB)
approves and appoints hundreds of new missionaries in partnership with
the 42 Baptist state conventions and the Canadian Convention of
Southern Baptists. NAMB and these partnering conventions work together
in recruiting, selecting, jointly funding, training, supporting, and
appointing missionaries.
NAMB also endorses chaplains who serve in the military,
healthcare, correctional and counseling facilities, chidlren's homes,
academies, corporate, and public safety settings. Learn more about chaplaincy.
There are three broad categories of missionaries serving through NAMB.
-
Career Missionaries usually receive salary
compensation and benefits from NAMB and convention partners. They often
serve in roles such as church starting, community ministry, evangelism
or mission strategy. (Learn more about Career)
-
Limited Term Missionaries usually assume a
vocational missionary role for a specified period of time in the same
type of ministry as a Career Missionary. They receive salary and
benefit support from NAMB and convention partners. (Learn more about US/C2, Nehemiah Church Planters and Church Planter Pastors)
-
Mission Service Corps (MSC) MSC Missionaries
serve in many of the same mission roles as Career and Limited Term
Missionaries. They do not receive salary and benefits from NAMB but do
receive support through training and placement services. (Learn more
about Mission Service Corps)
Missionaries commissioned through the above pathways of service are
included in NAMB’s official missionary count, which totaled 5,364 at
the end of 2005.
In addition to these three categories of missionaries, there are
opportunities for students to serve as missionaries. Opportunities
available to high school and college students include:
-
Sojourner Missionaries are high school juniors and seniors who serve four to ten weeks during the summer. (Learn more about Sojourners)
-
Summer and Semester Missionaries
are college and seminary students who serve in a local church or
association for four to ten weeks during the summer, fall, or spring
semester. (Learn more about Summer and Semester Missionaries)
-
Innovator Missionaries are college students
serving with a team of other students, usually in a resort area,
working at a secular job and given a missions assignment. (Learn more
about Innovators)
Discover the pathway of service that is right for you at www.answerthecall.net as you answer His call . . . tell His story . . . and change your world.
|