westminken
Puritan Board Freshman
The last few months and probably the last year or so, I have been trying to comprehend when is a missionary a missionary. I don't want this to turn into a heated debate. I come asking for guidance and correction if needed.
When is a missionary a missionary? I am conflicted on this issue. When I think of a missionary, I think of someone that is "in the field." Someone that is in a foreign land or at home interacting with the indigenous people groups such as:
Bible translators
Bible teachers
pastors training the natives to be pastors such as in Bible institutes or seminaries
medical missionaries
teachers working in Christian schools
The list can go on and on. But hopefully you're catching my drift.
The question becomes are the people that work for missionary organizations in the States as administrators , performing clerical duties, or functions not working with the native peoples. Can these people really be called missionaries? I understand that these people have to raise support like a missionary in foreign countries. Is it fair to call them missionaries when they have office jobs?
When is a missionary a missionary? I am conflicted on this issue. When I think of a missionary, I think of someone that is "in the field." Someone that is in a foreign land or at home interacting with the indigenous people groups such as:
Bible translators
Bible teachers
pastors training the natives to be pastors such as in Bible institutes or seminaries
medical missionaries
teachers working in Christian schools
The list can go on and on. But hopefully you're catching my drift.
The question becomes are the people that work for missionary organizations in the States as administrators , performing clerical duties, or functions not working with the native peoples. Can these people really be called missionaries? I understand that these people have to raise support like a missionary in foreign countries. Is it fair to call them missionaries when they have office jobs?