1. Get Prepared to Go!
Join the Missions Preparation Program. The action steps in this program are for everyone wanting to grow as a world Christian, especially for those considering short-term or career missions. Participants work through five dimensions of growth and preparation in the context of a mentoring relationship. Growth in character, knowledge and ministry skills are expected outcomes. Click here for an application.
Check out the monthly GO! meetings. This is a great time to hear from veteran missionaries and to get to know others who are passionate about reaching the lost for Christ. Contact the Missions Office (630-668-0878 ext. 119) for the date and location of the next meeting.
Attend Vision for the Nations. Vision for the Nations is a class for anyone interested in learning more about missions from biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic perspectives. Contact the Missions Office to find out when this class meets.
Spend time with a missionary. Go straight to the source for information about life on the field and serving God cross-culturally. There are several missionaries who are on home assignment in Wheaton, who work in the Chicago area, or who have retired and returned to College Church. Tap into this incredible resource just by spending an afternoon or evening asking them about their lives and their work.
2. Go Global.
Get a passport! Stop by the post office and ask for a passport application. Having your passport in hand will unlock a world of opportunity!
Visit missionaries while traveling on vacation or business. This is a wonderful way to expose your family to missions and to encourage our missionaries around the world. Next time you plan a trip contact the missions office to find out which missionaries are serving in the area you will visit.
Study abroad for a semester or a year. Studying abroad is a perfect way for collegians and even high school students to learn about living overseas. Check into programs through your school or college or contact the Missions Office.
Go with a mission agency for two weeks to two years. If you’re not quite ready for career missions, why not commit to a shorter term? One effective tool for reaching closed countries is English language teaching. The English Language Institute (www.elic.org) is one of several organizations that sends teachers for a two-year term. College Church applications for short-term service are available by clicking here.
Take a STAMP trip with other College Church members. In 2009, STAMP teams will be serving in the Dominican Republic, Russia and Senegal. If you haven’t been on an STAMP or WI trip yet, fill out an application at www.college church.org/missions. It is an experience you won’t forget!
Join a World Impact Team. Don’t graduate from high school without experiencing missions first hand! World Impact applications can be downloaded here.
3. Go Cross-Cultural in Your Neighborhood.
Help reach international students. You can join International Students, Inc. (ISI) in reaching out to some of the world’s future leaders. Talk to Dawn Herr 630-462-0987 about this exciting opportunity to share Christ’s love with this strategic community.
Show hospitality to immigrants and refugees. The world is at our doorstep! One hundred sixty-one (161) languages are spoken in the Illinois public school system, many of which are right here in the Chicago area. Thousands of immigrants and refugees live around us and are often eager for American friends. If you would like to show warmth and hospitality to our neighbors from around the world, contact the Missions Department at 630-668-0878 x191 for a list of ways you can help. College Church hosts ESL classes in our building every week. Consider serving as a tutor or language partner in one of these classes.
4. Serve and Send.
Join a missionary support team. Missionaries at College Church need a network of people who will be the Velcro that keeps them attached to the church and the extension cord that keeps the church plugged into their lives and work. If you have a missionary in mind, talk to that person about joining his or her support team. The missionary support team concept can also be incorporated into an existing small group. Contact the Missions Department for more information and ideas.
Volunteer your time to the Missions Department. With more than 200 missionaries in approximately 50 countries around the world, the missions department is a busy place! We could always use extra help. If you have 5 hours per week that you would like to volunteer, talk to Pastor Bruce Wilson about specific ways in which you could serve.
5. Persist in Prayer.
Join a Missions Prayer Fellowship (MPF) group. MPF groups meet once a month to hear from a missionary and to pray for those who are serving overseas. There are prayer groups just for women and for both men and women. All College Church members are also invited to attend the weekly Wednesday night prayer meeting which begins with a brief report from the church around the world and continues with an invigorating time of prayer in small groups.
Pray for least-reached people groups. There are still people around the world who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be intentional about praying for these groups of people by name! For information about least-reached people groups, check out the Joshua Project website at www.joshuaproject.net.
6. Explore Helpful Resources.
Go to the library. There are a number of books that offer insights into missions or information about missions. One book that gives a helpful biblical apologetic for missions is John Piper’s Let the Nations Be Glad! An excellent overview of missions is Introducing World Missions by Scott Moreau. Jesus in Beijing highlights the needs in China. If you are interested in reading stories about missionaries, we recommend, In the Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot, Mountain Rain by Eileen Crossman, and I Will Run After Thee by Alice Fitzwilliams.
Keep exploring our web! There are several links within this website that will connect you with information about mission agencies, mission work around the world and least-reached people groups.
If you have questions or need more information, please call the Missions Office at 630-668-0878.
