Training for Missions

Monday:	Training for Missions
Bible Lesson:	Red Cord of Salvation: Rahab was saved because she believed in God, and we are saved the same way.
Memory Verse:	Ephesians 2:8-9
Missions Concepts:	Missionaries Need Training
Missions Examples:	Nigeria: Samuel Ngum
Map:	Cameroon and Nigeria, showing Kiyon and Port Harcourt. This map is available in higher resolutions or in vector formats (such as SVG or eps) upon request. See SVG documents.
Bible Passages:	James 3:1, 2nd Timothy 2:1-19

Introduction: Samuel Ngum

Samuel Ngum is from Cameroon [show map], but he wants to be a missionary. He wants to go to Nigeria [show map] and tell people about the good news of Jesus and start churches there.

Before Samuel could go to Nigeria as a missionary, he had to be prepared. He couldn't just take off walking. It's too big a job for that.

The Point: Missionaries Need Training

One of the things Samuel needed was good Bible training. If he's going to tell people about Jesus, he'd better know what he's talking about! The Bible says teachers will be held accountable. That means if you're going to teach people, you should be responsible to make sure you are teaching them the truth.

Story: Samuel's Studies

Samuel studied at a practorium – a school for pastors and missionaries, run by the church at Keyon in Oku, Cameroon [show map].

Is school always easy? No. Samuel had to study hard, do homework, write papers, ... To be a missionary, Samuel needed all the classes that someone has to take to be a pastor. He studied for several years, until he finished all the classes he needed.

Secondary Point: Language Training

Samuel already speaks English, the major language in Nigeria, so he won't need language classes to go there. But sometimes a missionary has to study language and culture before he can go. How can you tell people the good news of Jesus, if you don't speak their language? Anyone who wants to go as a missionary to a place where they don't speak the same language, needs to learn the language that they speak in that place.

Conclusion: Churches Must Provide Training

Samuel's not the only missionary who needs training. When churches want to send missionaries, one of the things they have to do is find ways to provide that training. The churches in Cameroon have the practorium in Keyon, where Samuel was trained. We have them in the United States too, places where people can study to be pastors and missionaries. Sometimes even Sunday School teachers receive training.

Invitation: Missions Training

Invite any children who want to consider training for missions when they grow up, or to help train others, to stay after the lesson and discuss it further.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.