Are You Called to Missions?
By Michael Smiel, US Office
Are you called to missions? A lot of believers struggle with this question. What is a calling from God anyways? When I start asking questions like that it usually raises more questions and trains of thought until I finally bog down in a mire of doubt. What am I supposed to do with my life? What does God want? What if I don’t get it right? What if I fail at it? So forth and so on until I don’t feel like I’m making any progress. I did this a lot for a long time (and still catch myself doing it!), until I realized it was less complex than I was making it out to be. Are you called to missions? Am I? The simple answer is, “Yes.”
Are you called to missions? A lot of believers struggle with this question. What is a calling from God anyways? When I start asking questions like that it usually raises more questions and trains of thought until I finally bog down in a mire of doubt. What am I supposed to do with my life? What does God want? What if I don’t get it right? What if I fail at it? So forth and so on until I don’t feel like I’m making any progress. I did this a lot for a long time (and still catch myself doing it!), until I realized it was less complex than I was making it out to be. Are you called to missions? Am I? The simple answer is, “Yes.”
The Call
I have found myself wishing God would just vocally say exactly what my calling is. As it turns out, he already did. Matthew 28:19-20a says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...” Jesus commands the disciples to make disciples of all nations. They are to go, baptize, and teach them to observe (keep) Jesus’ commands. A calling is simply our way of packaging up, “this is what God wants me to do.” The Bible is full, cover to cover, of God’s calling on our lives; who we are to be, what we are to do, and how we are to do it. In the case of missions, we are to make disciples of all nations...every one of us as followers of Jesus.
Ask. Listen.
The confusing part can be the who, the what, the when, the where, the how. Hopefully you know why. Jesus is our one hope! All of these bits of information are important. Who will I go to? What will I do? When will I go? Where? How? The Spirit is key here. In Acts we see the disciples going to the nations and we find a lot of moments where “the Spirit said” (Acts 8:29, 10:19), which then led the disciples to a new people. You won’t have all the answers all the time. It takes asking those questions of the Lord through prayer and listening.
Don’t Forget
It can be difficult, scary, or anxiety-inducing to go and do what the Lord asks. It probably will be, whether that means across the street to a neighbor, across the world to make a new life with new neighbors, or to give financially to enable someone else to go also. I think that’s why Jesus gave us this particular calling to go make disciples of all nations sandwiched between two important truths. In Matthew 28:18 he declares to his followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Then he says in 28:20b, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus is not some powerless person with no authority or ability that is worlds away, yet asking you to do something difficult. He is capable and he is with us on a mission that he has called us to join in with him. He is capable. He is present. We are called. Let’s answer!
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
