Preparing for Missions While in School
February 17, 2026 | 7 MINUTE READ
MOBILIZATION TEAM
Has the Lord called you to serve in missions, but you’re not sure how to prepare for that calling while in school?
Fortunately, you can prepare for missions right now, where you are. Thinking about your call to serve cross-culturally is a great start, but we encourage you to go deeper.
Tip #1: Pray
Start by praying for the Lord’s direction, opportunities to serve, and a community to pray with you. Remember to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV).
Read Matthew 6 for more prayer inspiration, and use these points as a guide:
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer through the lens of missions and your heart for the world.
- Think about where your treasure is. Is it in the right place if God is calling you to missions? Is your heart also there? Ask God to align your treasures and your heart regarding missions.
- Ask God to help you focus on today and what is in front of you, even as you long for what He has for you in future ministry.
Tip #2: Seek Wise Counsel
Share your calling with people you trust. Seek counsel from at least one person who is older than you—perhaps someone who has experience serving in a local or cross-cultural ministry context. Listen to their wisdom and guidance.
Here are some questions you could ask:
- When you felt called to missions, what did that journey look like for you?
- What advice would you give to yourself when you were first considering missions and seeking out where God is calling you?
- What did you learn about God as you have walked this missions journey?
- How has your prayer life grown on this missions journey?
Tip #3: Study God’s Word
God speaks to us through His living Word. Reading Scripture allows us to grow deeper in our understanding of and relationship with God and one another.
We can learn so much from Jesus’ ministry, Paul’s missionary journeys, and how to live out the Great Commission. Knowing God’s Word is a very important part of the Christian faith and making disciples.
Scripture passages about missions:
- Genesis 12:1–3, The Call of Abraham
- Galatians 3:7–9, We Are Descendants of Abraham
- Matthew 28:19–20, The Great Commission
- Romans 10:14–15, The Urgency of the Gospel
- Revelation 7:9–10, How the Story Ends
Tip #4: Start Now
You can share your faith without being in a vocational ministry.
The purpose of missions is to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth; practicing while in school can build your confidence, allow you to rely on the Spirit to guide your conversations, and help you serve your own community.
Tip #5: Get Experience
Seek out an opportunity to serve in cross-cultural ministry where you currently are.
Do you desire to teach English or welcome refugees? Research local churches or non-profit organizations that align with your ministry interests and ask if you can volunteer in the areas where you feel called to serve.
Tip #6: Don’t Let Debt Stop You
Research and ask your academic advisor about student loan forgiveness programs. You can also ask missions agencies how they navigate candidates with student debt and whether they allow missionaries to incorporate student loan payments into their budgets. For example, WGM allows its missionaries to raise extra funds to cover monthly student loan payments.
As you prepare for missions while in school, we hope these tips encourage you. Your calling has come from the Lord, and He will equip and prepare you for cross-cultural ministry. Keep saying yes to God, and He will walk with you on this journey!
ACTION STEPS
GO: All of our long-term missionaries took a trip before they stepped into their calling full-time. Explore our ministry opportunities to learn how you can participate in missions before making a commitment.
PRAY: Your prayers touch real lives even if you're not able to be a missionary yet. Join our prayer team or text PRAYWITHWGM to 55498 to get real missionary prayer requests straight to your phone.
