The Missionary Call: Find Your Place in God's Plan for the World

This is a great book for anyone trying to determine God's plan for missions in their life. It's full of practical application from a man who has gone through the experience. The book is currently on its way around my circle of friends who also want a clear response on their call. You'll want to pass it around, too.

I couldn't have read this book at a better time or at a worse time. I couldn't have read it at a better time because I had it in my grip during some of our final weeks of preparing to go to Japan with the International Mission Board. I couldn't have read it at a worse time for 2 reasons. First, I wish I had the time to write up & interact with every single chapter in detail - what is on the pages is good enough to do so, but because of all the things we are trying to get done before we leave for training in less than a month, I simply don't have the time. Another reason reading it now was the worst time was because I think I could have saved many anxious moments over the last 5 plus years as we sought God's guidance about our call to missions. But being able to read the book at the end of the journey of our calling (just the beginning of our actual ministry) & finding God's plan for us allowed me to validate how helpful this book is & will be for others wanting to know about God's heart for the nations & His will for their lives. SUMMARY Dr. Sills divides his book into 3 sections in which he covers: I) WHAT IS THE MISSIONARY CALL? II) UNDERSTANDING YOUR MISSIONARY CALL & III) FULFILLING THE MISSIONARY CALL. Four chapters are covered under the first heading. Chapter 1 deals with what is involved in a missionary call - how do you know what it is - how you can identify it. Chapter 2 in many ways is foundational to the book as Sills helpfully explains how to know the will of God at all - not just for missions, but the will of God for anyone's life. Chapter 3 deals with the Biblical basis of missions, again, another chapter that the whole book must stand on - if there is no Biblical case for missions there's no reason to read Sills book. And Chapter 4 is a 101 crash course in the history of missions. I loved this chapter since the Lord used the life of Adoniram Judson to call me into missions. We cannot discount the importance of those who have gone before us as the Lord is pleased to use their life, even way beyond their living years, to bring others into obedience to obey the missionary call. Part II deals with understanding your missionary call. Chapter 4 is helpful as Sills deals with how specific does your call have to be. If you are not certain the exact city, people group, or organization or God is calling you to, then does that mean you are not called? Sills addresses these issues. Naturally following is a chapter on timing, followed by how to deal with the compatibility of calling with a spouse (what to do if one is called & the other is not). Part III is a discussion on getting to the field, the hindrances that can slow that process, the challenges once there, etc...The final chapters take excerpts of missionary heroes of the past - unfortunately, no Adoniram Judson, but did you know that Amy Carmichael originally thought she was heading to Japan? I wonder if history for Japan or for Amy would be different on a large scale ha

For a child whose parents did not actively encourage faith in God nor a love for the gospel, I attended a decent amount of church activities. One year, I even received a Bible as a reward for perfect attendance (my teacher picked me up every week). My fondest memories involve Mission Friends and Girls In Action. At least a full decade before I ever understood the gospel, I remember memorizing John 3:16. I distinctly recall praying for specific men and women on their birthdays, writing letters and drawing pictures to encourage missionaries to share a message I could not comprehend. I did not know Jesus, but these programs and activities birthed in me a life-long love and admiration for The Missionary, an extraordinary person who left the comforts of America to live in jungles and far-away places searching for men and women, boys and girls, who had never heard John 3:16. After God opened my heart and mind to understand and believe the gospel, I wanted very much to share it with others. Throughout my college years I participated in various evangelism training seminars, served on week-long mission trips, and local camps. I day-dreamed of sharing the gospel with men and women from different nations. I wondered whether or not I, too, was called to be a missionary. With several years of foreign language study under my belt, I thought I was a perfect candidate. I prayed for an opportunity to go. But the door never opened. To be honest, I've wondered about that exciting time of my life. Did I miss something? After reading M. David Sills' book, The Missionary Call: Find Your Place in God's Plan for the World, I understand so much better what God was doing in my heart all those years ago. I'll finish my story after I share a few details about this book. The Missionary Call is comprised of three parts: 1. What is the missionary call? 2. Understanding your missionary call 3. Fulfilling the missionary call In the first section, Sills explains six facets of the missionary call. It includes a burden for the need to share the gospel with those who've never heard, the motivation to obey Christ's commands to spread the gospel, a passionate desire leading to action and radical commitment, church support and blessing, the Holy Spirit's gifting, and an indescribable yearning. Even with all of those present, how can a person know it is God's will that he or she become a career missionary? In chapter two, Sills encourages Christians by explaining how we can know God's will. He cautions us to not fall prey to the "paralysis of analysis," saying, "The believer has total freedom in Christ and is not bound by anything except the Word of God." We can know God's will by growing as close to Jesus as we can "and staying there." Sills explains eight different avenues which converge to help us discern God's will. They are the knowledge of God, knowledge of God's word, prayer, counsel from godly mentors, life experiences, circumstances, timing, and the d

Because the God of universe longs for every tribe, tongue, and nation to worship Him with a red-hot passion that only He deserves-- I am convinced that He is pleased with David Sills marvelous contribution on that very topic. This resource was desperately needed for the missions-minded, God's will pursuer. There is truly not another like it. Thank you, Dr. Sills, for the helpful, practical insight found in this book. May all the peoples praise Him!

Dr. David Sills has written an excellent resource for those who are interested in missions. Whether you are a "sender" or a "goer", all who follow Christ are called to missions in one way or another and this book is a must read. Challenging, sobering, enlightening, yet encouraging, this book will provide insight and provoke deep thinking for those who are feeling the call of God into international missions. Dr. Sills writes with a pastor's heart and keen desire to see Christ glorified among the nations and his own missions experience in the field and in the classroom are laced throughout this work. I am thankful to God for laying this task on Dr. Sill's heart and for David's diligence in following his own missionary calling by writing it. This is a read worth your time.