What is a Missionary Service?

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Would you be willing and able to leave your family and homeland to take the good news abroad? Thousands of Witnesses have done so, saying, in effect, "Here I am! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8) They have thus imitated the greatest Missionary ever, Jesus Christ.-John 7-29.

It is a way to walk in Jesus' footsteps: Jesus was sent by God from heaven to the earth to live among sinful humans. Although he saw injustices here, Jesus did not try to reform society. He concentrated on his mission to "declare the good news of the Kingdom of God"- the only solution to mankind's problems. (Luke 4:43) Genuine Christian missionaries follow his example.

It is a self-sacrificing lifestyle: A missionary must be able to adapt to a standard of living, culture, climate and food that may be totally different from what he is used to. It is often necessary to learn a new language to communicate with the local population. Primitive transportation may have to be used to reach isolated areas. In order to make such sacrifices, missionaries must be genuinely love the people among whom they serve.

It requires good training: Many Witnesses who enter missionary service attend a five-month study course at the watchtower bible school of Gilead. The curriculum strengthens their confidence in Jehovah, in his Word and in his organization. (Proverbs 3:5, 6) It helps them to cultivate spiritual qualities that will be needed in their missionary life and skills that will enable them to be better Bible teachers. They become more qualified to preach "to the most distant part of the earth."-Acts 1:8.

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