Developing Future Missions Leaders
by Eunice Brubaker
The NMI objective for discipling is “involving and mentoring future missions leaders, especially youth and children, to make Christlike disciples for God’s mission in the nations.” Former Global NMI President Eunice Brubaker offers insight on how to achieve this worthy goal.
Purpose
Discipling Future Missions Leaders
Who can be a NMI discipling mentor?
A godly adult who is personally committed to active participation in God’s mission both locally and globally. The mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or former missionary. The mentor should:
- be committed to Christ and participating in God’s mission locally and abroad;
- love young leaders and want to see them grow in faith and become active members of Christ’s church;
- be willing to give of his/her time and energy to see these young people grow and develop.
What do I do?
Develop an intentional relationship with a child, teen, or young adult who a.) is feeling a call to ministry/cross-cultural missions and/or b.) wants to be a global Christian, even if not formally on the mission field. Particular attention should be given to those who demonstrate a proclivity for ministry/missions and who demonstrate a serious commitment to their faith.
How do I do it?
Come alongside a young person, invest time into her/his life, and get to know them beyond a superficial level. Commit to regular times together for accountability and/or Bible study. Challenge the young person to move beyond “consumer” religion and into a life-long commitment to sacrifice and service. Some questions that might be helpful include:
What are you reading in the Word?
What is God teaching you through what you are reading?
What are you finding to be your weaknesses? Strengths?
How can I pray for you?
What does discipling future missions leaders look like?
The last thing the church needs is another program or “ministry position” to fill. Discipling future missions leaders need not develop into a “too-big-to-handle” program that works from the top down. Rather, discipling leaders should begin at the local church level and develop through intentional, interpersonal relationships.
Developing Tomorrow’s Missionaries
Developing Tomorrow’s Missionaries (DTM) is the program that seeks to bring help to children and teens who have an interest in or feel called to be missionaries.
Five Core Areas that help children to develop their missions call:
Purpose
- To mentor/disciple young people, specifically those sensing God’s call to vocational ministry, that they might understand and accept their essential, life-long role in the mission of God in the world and to obey that call.
- To develop missionally-minded young people who are committed to participate in God’s mission at home and abroad through godly examples, and to provide opportunities for them to actively participate in God’s mission now.
Discipling Future Missions Leaders
Who can be a NMI discipling mentor?
A godly adult who is personally committed to active participation in God’s mission both locally and globally. The mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or former missionary. The mentor should:
- be committed to Christ and participating in God’s mission locally and abroad;
- love young leaders and want to see them grow in faith and become active members of Christ’s church;
- be willing to give of his/her time and energy to see these young people grow and develop.
What do I do?
Develop an intentional relationship with a child, teen, or young adult who a.) is feeling a call to ministry/cross-cultural missions and/or b.) wants to be a global Christian, even if not formally on the mission field. Particular attention should be given to those who demonstrate a proclivity for ministry/missions and who demonstrate a serious commitment to their faith.
How do I do it?
Come alongside a young person, invest time into her/his life, and get to know them beyond a superficial level. Commit to regular times together for accountability and/or Bible study. Challenge the young person to move beyond “consumer” religion and into a life-long commitment to sacrifice and service. Some questions that might be helpful include:
What are you reading in the Word?
What is God teaching you through what you are reading?
What are you finding to be your weaknesses? Strengths?
How can I pray for you?
What does discipling future missions leaders look like?
The last thing the church needs is another program or “ministry position” to fill. Discipling future missions leaders need not develop into a “too-big-to-handle” program that works from the top down. Rather, discipling leaders should begin at the local church level and develop through intentional, interpersonal relationships.
- Instead of creating bulky structure, we prefer to offer ideas intended to “prime the pump” on the local and district level. Each church and district should consider their own context and adapt accordingly, but hopefully a few ideas might jump-start the process.
- Gather a group of people at church who have a heart to pray for the young people in your church. Pray specifically that God will raise up Christian pastors and missionaries.
- Discover and invite! Identify those young people in your church who sense a call to ministry and/or a missional lifestyle. Invite them over for a Coke to talk about life, the future, etc. Remember to lead by asking questions. Listen.
- Find simple, practical ways these disciples-in-the-making can be a part of ministry at the local church level. Walk with them throughout the experience.
- Save a few meaningful devotionals and inspiring stories that you can share when appropriate. The goal is not to teach them everything you know, but rather to encourage them as their relationships with the Lord develop. Their journeys will be different than yours.
- Develop a “mission-minded group”—perhaps on Facebook—where they can share stories with each other and get to know other mission-minded young people.
- Encourage these young people in creative ways, i.e. text messages, Facebook notes, even an old-fashioned note in the mail. Remind each of them that they are not alone on their journey.
- On the district level, consider hosting a retreat for these mission-minded young people. This can be a time of sharing, teaching, encouragement, even an opportunity to serve in an area of need. Young people can get to know others who feel a similar calling on their life. This isn’t intended to be a “big-numbers-invite-everyone-you-know” event. Design this retreat specifically for more spiritually mature/aware young people.
- Extend your relationship with these young people beyond graduation from high school or college. Keep that contact, and rejoice in all that God is doing in their lives. You are making an eternal investment in these young people’s lives.
- Consider developing Twitter communication to connect about special needs around your city for MMGs (Mission-Minded Groupies), so together they can serve with special projects or compassionate ministry needs.
- Remember to share the names of the young people being discipled with your district leadership, so they can pray with you and develop a simple database of those who sense God’s call to vocational ministry.
Developing Tomorrow’s Missionaries
Developing Tomorrow’s Missionaries (DTM) is the program that seeks to bring help to children and teens who have an interest in or feel called to be missionaries.
Five Core Areas that help children to develop their missions call:
- Relationship with God (Personal Bible study, discipleship, prayer, worship)
- Churchmanship - Local and district church involvement, understand of church leader roles and structure
- World Awareness - Expansion of world vision, awareness of world events
- Learning About Missions - Increasing understanding of cross-cultural work Nazarenes and other groups are doing around the world
- Personal Skills - Developing the God-given gifts and abilities that can be useful in mission work.
Click on the links below to learn more about opportunities for youth