When you think of life in full time ministry, what do you think of? Perhaps it’s life on the road, speaking at conferences, churches and home groups. Maybe you have the voice of an angel and want to lead worship across the nation. Or perhaps you want to exercise your gifts in the public square – encouraging the downtrodden, praying for the sick or preaching to the masses. These are all noble causes. But is it worth dropping out of school for? I have seen some of the most brilliant lights for Jesus across college campuses extracted from a mission field white for harvest. Many drop out, believing school is a distraction rather than an asset for the Gospel. It’s all about perspective.
Let’s begin with the perspective of the missionary dropout.
The world is going to hell in a hand basket and nobody is doing anything about it. Politics are corrupt, education is rewriting the history books, businesses are failing, war is breaking out, traffickers are trafficking, dealers are dealing, and rebels are rebelling. The great unknown for billions of people is their need for Jesus and salvation through His finished work on the cross. Someone must tell them. Now! And here I am going to class, spending time studying in the library and doing homework for something that seems far from a solution. I know! I’ll drop out and go into full time ministry, travel the globe as a missionary, and start being a solution rather than a cog in the system.
This is the rationale of thousands of college students each year. Let me present another perspective.
The world has a need in every realm of society, from business to education to politics. Godly leaders are needed who can tap into the source of all creativity, knowledge and every solution – Jesus Himself. I am surrounded by thousands of students who, today, are focused on their campus clubs, Greek life, projects and exams. However, these same students are going to be the leaders of tomorrow – in some form or fashion. My college campus consists of hundreds of students from dozens of nations – many which are closed to the Gospel. But here they are, in a free country where I can share the Gospel. These international students came to me. They may go back to their country and never hear the Gospel for the rest of their lives. But I'm not going to let that happen. I can be an instrument of Christ’s love and seize this opportunity to share the greatest news planet earth has ever known. And perhaps they will take the Gospel back to their countries and share with their families and friends. When they become a leader in their field, what an influence they can have with the good news of Jesus! These college years are an opportunity to be an international missionary in my own backyard. I live among them, go to class with them, attend clubs with them and have lunch with them. They are not projects to be “loved on”. They are people to be loved like nobody has ever loved them before. This is my mission field.
Still not convinced you’re in the mission field?
Less than 4 percent of college students know Jesus. Of that 4 percent, how many are actively engaging others with the Gospel in word, deed, love and power? The odds may seem overwhelming. But one person full of the Holy Spirit is more than enough to see a campus transformed.
Although the idea of dropping out for the pursuit of full time ministry may tempt you with an appeal of adventure, I can confidently say that you’re already in full time ministry on your campus. Jesus paints a beautiful picture of life as a believer:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)
We tend to have it backwards. Jesus was telling His disciples to begin where they live in Jerusalem, go to their neighbors in Judea, then to Samaria (the local outcasts of the day), and then take the Gospel to every nation! In other words, start at home – where you have friends, family, and influence – then go out from there. Make your dwelling your mission field before you venture elsewhere.
We’ve been conditioned to think of missions as going to another country.
How many mission trips are we going to send kids on who haven’t even made their home a mission field? While perhaps it expands their worldview and reveals the needs of others abroad, a healthy outlook on missions itself can be damaged. How? The days, weeks and months of preparation. The support rallies and fundraising. The investment for plane tickets, passports and vaccines. The prayer chain emails. The list goes on. This trip is costing a lot of time and money… Better not screw it up! All the while, the same kids boarding on the airplane are the same ones who have no idea what they’re doing when they arrive to their “mission field”. How do I know? Take a poll. When was the last time one of them engaged someone at their school or in their family about the Gospel? Or prayed for a sick person until they were healed? The trending word "voluntourism" comes to mind. Let me be clear that I am not saying that this is a competition of spiritual superiority. This is not attaining the spiritual life but is simply living the naturally supernatural life of a believer. It comes with being in Christ. So why isn’t it being done each day – at home, at school, at the grocery store? Not forced. Natural. The lack of discipleship has consequences rising to the surface. We’ve been conditioned to believe that it’s a big deal to share the Gospel. But it’s not. Talk to someone. Be Jesus to them. Love them. The extensive preparation should not feel like an expected prerequisite to any experience sharing the Gospel. It’s really quite easy.
What happens when someone starts at home?
A young believer spends each day listening to the Lord, being led by Holy Spirit, and exists as a living, breathing encounter to everyone he or she meets. This person is not a weirdo. They are a friend, a brother or sister, a son or a daughter, or the happy stranger who isn’t a stranger for long. This is not a struggle. It’s simply life. Abundant life. Abundant joy. Each moment with Jesus without separation. There is no prayer life. Life is a prayer. There is no worship life. Life is worship. There is no ministry life. Life is ministry. An opportunity arises for this believer to take this life in union with Christ to a foreign people in a faraway land. What changes for this person? Answer: Location! The experience gained at home has prepared this believer to love anybody anywhere. The location may change and the people may be different. But love is unchanging because God is love. Sometimes home is the hardest place to start. The people you’re with everyday – those you’re closest to – can be the hardest to share the Gospel with. But when your life as a believer is strong at home, the nations may come naturally for you.
And then there’s starting a family.
As a single person, it seems like the sky is the limit. Your needs are small because you’re just taking care of yourself. But one day, you may want to get married, start a family and settle down. (It is possible to settle down without settling). Sleeping on the floor or on couches may seem like a slice of adventure now. But one day when you’re married, you will want a bed to share with your spouse. Bills will come. From your car payment, insurance, iPhone, rent or mortgage. A warm house is nice in the winter. But it costs money. That cozy bed you’re sleeping next to your spouse on. It also costs money. Going on dates and giving gifts to your special someone is no cheap expense. Family is an investment – and it is very worthwhile! Obtaining a job can be a compilation of many things – the favor of God, work experience, and sometimes even a degree in a particular field of study plays a part. Either way, employment gives you an opportunity to provide for your family and school should equip you for employment. Living paycheck to paycheck is stressful and burdensome. Being broke is even worse. Sleepless nights and anxiety over debt collectors is certainly not a life I want anyone to have. I have known many in ministry who have said they were thankful they had a degree to fall back on. It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Do you see the difference now?
I understand that many go to the “school of life” rather than a university or college. And that’s okay. Others have no desire to further their education and many cannot afford college. I believe the Lord provides for His people no matter the level of education. But if you are in a position to attend school, are planning to, or currently attend, I want to communicate to you: seize this opportunity.
Know who you are. You are a missionary – even when you lay your head down at night in your dorm room, apartment or house. You go to sleep in the mission field. You wake up in the mission field. If you are a college student, open your eyes to this unmatched opportunity. You are in a thriving international mission field, living among hundreds, thousands, or perhaps just one person Jesus came to love through you.
