Learn with us in this article what the main characteristics of a missionary are . A true servant of God should possess them all, in heart, thought, and deed.
Characteristics of a missionary
This time, we intend to teach about the characteristics of a Christian missionary and what they convey to the world. First, we define a Christian missionary as someone who carries out the function of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, both in word and deed, among people who are still unbelievers.
So the Christian missionary fulfills a mission of the type known as by the people, to the people or in favor of the Christian or non-Christian people. Mainly the missionaries leave their place of residence to go to the places where the message of the gospel of Jesus has not spread completely or needs to be received in a better way.
Generally, these places have difficult environments or are located in territories where preaching is problematic, as well as the acceptance of the message. An example of this is given to us by the missionary journeys of the apostles, the first disciples and followers of Jesus Christ.
Six main characteristics of a Christian missionary
Taking as an example these first missionaries of the Christian work of the primitive church of Christ and in the light of the word of God. We share below, at least six main characteristics that a true Christian missionary must possess or fulfill:
Have a heart that loves God
The first characteristic of a Christian missionary is to have a heart that loves God. Having received the Holy Spirit in his heart, according to the promise given by Jesus in the passage of John 14: 15-21:
John 14:15-17 (DHH): 15 – If you love me, you will keep my commandments . 16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth . The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
When a missionary is a bearer of the Holy Spirit in his heart, he recognizes the task entrusted to him by Jesus, which is his main mission:
Matthew 28:19-20 (DHH): 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
It is then that the work of the missionary begins, when experiencing the love of God in his heart. Because he begins to feel the need to share that love with his peers, sowing in them the seed of the word of God.
Have a heart that loves others
A Christian missionary becomes sensitive to the point of experiencing in his heart the needs or suffering of his fellow men. This sensitivity and perception makes him move to mercy and pity his neighbor, that is the same compassion that Jesus had:
Matthew 9:36 (TLA): When Jesus saw the large crowd following him, he felt compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus felt compassion for the people not only for their physical needs, but also and even more so for their needs for spiritual food. A food capable of fully meeting the needs of the human being, that is why it is written: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God” (Matthew 4:4).
Carrying the word of God is then a missionary task whose consequence manages to transcend in the world. Because the gospel transforms and changes people, making them better people and spiritually fulfilled.
Have a heart that loves to do God's work for the world
Jesus Christ gives us the teaching of how the vision of missionary work should be, which is to see the work of God as a great harvest. Work to which it is necessary to add a large number of workers or servants of God, and this is the multiplier effect of the function of a Christian missionary, in addition to praying for it:
Matthew 9:37-38 (DHH): 37 Then he said to his disciples, “ The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few . 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest , therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
God's work therefore has an order, controlled by Him as owner of the harvest. God is the one who works, protects, loves and cares for the harvest through his servants.
Have a heart with an intercessory spirit
A heart with an intercessory spirit promotes or sows the work of the Lord, but is also not indifferent to it. So when he sees the needs of the flock, he intercedes for them in prayer with God.
If the Lord loves his flock like the Good Shepherd, the missionary must also love what God loves most, his sheep. An intercessory missionary:
- He promotes prayer among his brothers.
- Ask God in prayer to bring more workers for planting and harvesting.
- Pray that God gives the necessary resources to advance and carry out his work effectively.
- Pray to God to go ahead opening doors and pointing out opportunities to serve in his work.
- Intercede before God to meet the needs of the people.
- His heart is moved with mercy, feeling the need to pray for the situation that humanity and the world are experiencing. In this sense, we invite you to read here about the power of prayer and how to use it.
James 5:7 (DHH): But you, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes. The farmer waiting for the rains is patient with him. 8 You also must be patient and stand firm, because the Lord will come very soon.
James 5:13-14 If any of you is suffering, let him pray . If anyone is happy, let him sing praises . 14 If anyone is sick, let him call the elders of the church, so that they may pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
A missionary feels in his heart the desire to give
Jesus gave and also today gives what is needed so that his disciples can carry out their missionary work. The mission of supplying the needs, above all spiritual, but also providing the resources to cover the physical and material needs of the unprotected.
Matthew 10:1 (NBLA): Calling His twelve disciples together, Jesus gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every sickness and every disease.
Jesus is the best example of what the gift represents, giving himself for the well-being of all, freeing us from sin. The Lord therefore calls us to give ourselves for others, focusing on that same way of giving.
Have the disposition in your heart to be sent
Jesus, after equipping his disciples, gives them the status of apostles by sending them around the world in search of the lost flock. But he does it with precise instructions:
Matthew 10:5-8 (DHH): 5 Jesus sent out these twelve with the following instructions : “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any village of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel . 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near .’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; do not charge for it .”
Jesus tells his disciples to give freely what they have received by grace and to leave everything, take up their cross to follow Him:
Matthew 10:37-38 (PDT): 37 -Whoever loves their father or mother more than me, I will not give them the honor of being my follower. Whoever loves their son or daughter more than me cannot be one of my followers either. 38 Whoever does not accept the cross that is given to them in following me is not worthy of being my followers.
Jesus Christ is the example of the missionary work of God his Father, just as Jesus was sent, he now sends us to follow a work initiated by him:
John 20:21: Then he said again to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you .”
After reviewing the characteristics of a missionary , we invite you to reflect on the following short Christian reflections to share with your family, or these Christian reflections for women with a purpose.