Called to Missions Next Step in West Africa: A Missionary’s Honest Take

I remember sitting under a mango tree in a dusty Ghanaian village, the sun beating down, trying to explain the gospel in halting Twi. A young man, barely out of his teens, listened with an intensity that made me feel every word. He had never heard the name of Jesus before that day. When you see a soul awaken to truth like that, it burns away all the noise. It clarifies things. If you’ve felt that stirring, that unmistakable pull to serve God overseas, you’re likely asking: what is your honest next step after feeling called to missions?

That question is a good one. It’s the right question. The call from God is a powerful thing, but it’s not a finish line. Instead, it’s a starting gun. There are things you can do, and things you should do, to prepare for the journey ahead. It’s not about waiting for a sign in the sky; rather, it’s about taking practical, prayerful steps.

Confirming Your Missionary Calling

The first thing you need to do is confirm that call. Not just for yourself, but with those God has placed around you. I felt God tugging at my heart for West Africa for years, but it wasn’t until my wife Laura and I sought counsel from our pastor and mentors that it started to feel truly real. They saw it too. They prayed with us. They challenged us.

A genuine call from God will usually be confirmed by three things: the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God. Does your desire align with Scripture? Does the Holy Spirit bear witness in your heart? Do spiritual leaders and mature believers in your life affirm your burden? If all three point in the same direction, you’re on solid ground. Don’t let emotion be your only guide. Let God’s Word anchor you.

We often want a lightning bolt, a dramatic moment that makes everything clear. However, it’s often a quiet conviction that grows over time. It’s a burden for the lost that doesn’t fade. It’s a willingness to go, no matter the cost. “Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). That’s the heart God is looking for, a heart ready to respond to His clear command.

Therefore, get into your Bible. Spend time in prayer. Talk to your pastor. Don’t rush this part. It’s foundational.

Prepare for the Field: Education and Experience

Once you’ve confirmed that call, the next step after feeling called to missions is to prepare. The mission field is not a place to figure out your theology. It’s a place to apply it. You need a solid biblical foundation. For me, that meant Bible college. It was years of diligent study, learning Greek and Hebrew, diving deep into systematic theology, and understanding how to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

That education isn’t just about head knowledge; it’s about heart knowledge, too. It equips you to answer tough questions, to disciple new believers, and to stand firm when cultural pressures try to twist the gospel. Furthermore, practical experience is invaluable. Serving in your local church, teaching Sunday school, working with youth, or leading a small group will give you real-world ministry skills that translate directly to the field.

Many mission boards, including the International Mission Board, emphasize the need for robust theological education and practical church experience. They know that missionaries face unique challenges and need to be well-prepared.

“There are 3.2 billion people who don’t know a Christian, and 7,400 unreached people groups that still need to hear about Jesus.”
International Mission Board

That’s a lot of people who need to hear. It means the need is great, and the laborers must be ready. You wouldn’t send someone to build a house without tools and training, and the same goes for building God’s church. Consider a missionary internship. It’s a fantastic way to get a taste of cross-cultural ministry, learn from experienced missionaries, and test your calling in a structured environment. You’ll learn things in a few weeks or months that could take years to figure out on your own.

Get Your House in Order Before Missions

Before you pack your bags, you need to get your personal life, your “house,” in order. This covers a lot of ground, but it’s critical. First, deal with debt. Moving to the mission field with a mountain of student loans or credit card debt is a heavy burden. It creates unnecessary stress and limits your freedom. Work hard, live frugally, and pay it off. You’ll thank yourself later.

Next, get your spiritual walk right. Are you consistently in the Word? Are you praying? Are you confessing sin and walking in obedience? The mission field doesn’t make you more spiritual; it exposes what’s already there. If you’re struggling with sin or lukewarmness at home, it will only be magnified when you’re thousands of miles away from your support system.

Also, cultivate strong relationships. Your family, your spouse (if married), and your close friends need to be on board and supportive. Laura and I spent years building a strong foundation for our marriage before we ever stepped foot on the field. That bond, rooted in Christ, has been our anchor through countless storms. You’ll face loneliness, opposition, and discouragement. You’ll need people who will pray for you and encourage you. Choose your companions wisely.

Cultivating a Missionary Heart

The mission field clarifies things quickly. It removes the padding. There are no stage lights and no weekly affirmation that you are doing well. There is only the work. You study again. You visit again. You preach again. You forgive again. You trust God again. The mission field does not reward drama. It rewards endurance. That endurance comes from a cultivated missionary heart.

What does that look like? It means a deep love for the lost, a willingness to sacrifice comfort, and a profound dependence on God. Furthermore, it means learning to be flexible. I remember a time in Ghana when we planned a big outreach, and the generator died right before the service. At that point I looked at my wife and asked if we had made a wrong turn and wound up in Africa. We ended up preaching by flashlight, and the Lord still moved. You learn to roll with it.

It also means developing patience and humility. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll misunderstand cultural cues. You’ll say the wrong thing. I’ve done it more times than I can count. But if your heart is right, if you’re teachable and quick to apologize, the Lord will use even your blunders. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). That meekness is key.

You can find more stories and lessons from the field in my book, That’s My Goat!. It’s full of the kind of real-life experiences that shape a missionary heart.

Developing a Support Team

No missionary goes alone. You’ll need a sending church, of course, but you’ll also need a team of individuals and churches who are committed to praying for you and supporting you financially. This isn’t just about asking for money; it’s about building partnerships in the gospel.

Start by sharing your burden and your calling with your home church. Get involved in their missions program. Learn how they support missionaries. Then, as you move forward, begin to build relationships with other churches and individuals who share your passion for global evangelism. It’s a slow process, built on trust and clear communication. You can learn a lot about this process by reading the prayer letters of other missionaries, which we share regularly on our prayer letters page.

The Apostle Paul had a support team. He wrote about the Philippian church’s partnership with him in the gospel. We need the same today. This team will be your lifeline when you’re on the field. They’ll celebrate your victories and bear your burdens. Don’t underestimate the power of a faithful prayer partner.

The Next Step After Feeling Called to Missions: Just Start

Someday I’ll serve more. Someday I’ll witness more. Someday I’ll surrender fully. But someday is a thief. It steals years politely. It smiles while it does it. It doesn’t take your whole life at once. Instead, it just shaves off a little obedience here and a little urgency there until you wake up older than you planned. The truth is, the next step after feeling called to missions is to take *a* step, any step, in faith.

Don’t wait for perfect clarity or ideal circumstances. Start with what you know. If you know you need more Bible training, enroll in a program. If you know you need to get out of debt, make a budget and stick to it. If you know you need to serve more in your church, sign up for a ministry. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Don’t let paralysis keep you from obedience.

For us, that meant years of preparation, saving, studying, and serving. It wasn’t always glamorous, but it was faithful. And every step brought us closer to the work God had for us in Ghana. If you’re serious about answering God’s call, taking a missionary internship is one of the most practical and impactful next steps you can take. It’s a chance to see if the field is where God is truly leading you, and to get real-world training that no classroom can fully provide.

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