12 Bible Verses for Missionaries

By definition, being a missionary involves going. It might be near or far, but God sends missionaries to the places that fit His plans and purposes. Of course, that raises an important question: How do we identify the best countries to do mission work?  After all, the world is a big place, and the needs are everywhere. So, finding the best countries to do mission work can be a challenge. It’s hard to know where to start.   Starting Your Mission Work His Way Of course, the best place to start is on your knees. Prayer is a non-negotiable part of every aspect of every mission endeavor. And that includes figuring out the best nation for your mission work. Spend time in prayer and enlist a network of trusted friends and family members to pray with you. From there, you can consider a few other things. For example, think about what kind of missions you want to pursue. Medical Missions might be your calling, but you also might be interested in teaching, church planting, or disaster relief. They are all viable options, and they will help you determine your best country for doing mission work. Language is another thing to keep in mind. In some nations, English is a common second language, so little or no extra training would be needed. Others will require you to learn a whole new language before you leave. Again, you need to be careful to discern God’s will and trust Him to give you His directions. Finally, finances are an important matter. If you’re thinking about short-term missions, you need to be sure you can afford the trip. If you’re thinking about long-term or career missions, you have to be able to live on the support you raise. Different locations require different financial investments, and God will certainly provide for your needs. But He also may use finances to guide you as you seek to find your best countries to do mission work.   Choosing Your Best Country to Do Mission Work As mentioned, the needs are great no matter where you might go. So, determining the best nations for mission work provides a ton of possibilities. To help you out, we’ve identified ten nations that could be good fits for your mission work. The list represents a mix of needs, opportunities, locations, and languages.  While you need to follow God’s lead, these ideas might prime the pump and help you discover your best countries for mission work. To learn more about organizations that sponsor mission work in these nations, click the links provided. You can also browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right medical mission for you.   Haiti For centuries, Haiti has been one of the poorest nations on the planet. In addition to the rampant poverty, natural disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes, have devastated communities. Yet, the people are warm and receptive, which has traditionally made it one of the best countries for doing mission work.   Kenya Kenya represents one of the more advanced nations in eastern Africa, but the people still have many needs. Like Haiti, poverty has a stranglehold on many people’s lives in Kenya, so it’s still a nation in great need of mission work. While Christianity is welcomed, churches are scattered across large areas of the country. Proper medical care and clean water are also primary needs in Kenya.   Tanzania Kenya’s next-door neighbor in East Africa, Tanzania, shares some of its same problems in terms of being a country that needs mission work. While Kenya has some industrial and economic stability, many Tanzanians are dirt farmers struggling to raise enough to sustain their families. That means it doesn’t take much for something like a drought or economic instability to lead to hunger and even starvation. Such issues make Tanzania one of the best countries to do mission work.   Thailand Behind the natural beauty of this Asian gem, human trafficking has become a big business in Thailand. Again, poverty plays a role in this tragedy. While many women are lured into the sex industry with promises of wealth or security, others are sold or traded into it by families trying to survive. Along with our moral imperative as believers to protect the weak, mission work that improves farming and reduces poverty can bring light to this darkness.    The Central African Republic A lack of literacy and a lack of electricity has many residents in the Central African Republic living in almost primitive conditions. This also makes the CAR an underserved medical region, so medical missionaries have a lot to offer in this impoverished nation. It is a needy country physically and spiritually, making it a great option for doing mission work.   India One of the most densely populated nations in the world, India is a stronghold for Hinduism, which makes it a fertile area for evangelism. But, like Thailand, it’s also a hotbed for human trafficking. Because girls are considered much less valuable than boys, even those who aren’t sold into sex slavery could be sent to orphanages by families who don’t want to spend money raising them. In addition, large economic gaps exist between the upper class and the lower classes.   Honduras Located in the middle of the Central American isthmus, Honduras has a large population of professing Christians. However, residents still have great spiritual and physical needs, and it’s considered one of the best countries for doing mission work. In addition to missional work, construction and home building are major needs in the country. Honduras’s northwestern neighbor, Guatemala, is also a popular destination for mission organizations.   The Philippines This collection of more than 7,000 islands in the Far East has a strong Catholic heritage, but the spiritual condition of many today is nominal at best. In fact, more people in the Philippines identify as Muslim (11 percent) than identify as Protestant (8 percent). In addition, many remote regions in the nation have little or no access to quality health care, making medical missions vital.   Australia While Australia might be a bucket list item for many tourists, it’s also a nation in great spiritual need. Only one percent of the population professes to be evangelical. Yet, the government is open to missionary efforts at almost every level of society. In addition, a large segment of Australia’s population is made up of immigrants, providing a melting pot feel to missionary work.   The United States Missionary work is crucial to serving those with medical needs, offering hope to those without food and water, and fulfilling The Great Commission. And the USA is no different. Whether it’s offering medical care to underserved populations, serving in disaster relief, or building homes for those in poverty, the U.S. has plenty of options for mission experiences.   Why Mission Work Matters Again, you need to prayerfully listen to God’s voice as you determine the best country for you to do missional work in. He will lead you in the right direction and help you find the place where your skills and talents best fit the needs of hurting people around the world. Remember,      Learn More About Medical Missions God has given you a heart for healthcare. He’s also given you a heart for missions. Those two passions don’t have to be an “either/or.” They can combine to be a beautiful “both/and” through medical mission trips. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.

Sharing the gospel with a patient or loved one when they are nearing the end of their life is an act of love.  If you’ve ever wondered how to minister to someone who is dying, you’re not alone. Many healthcare workers feel the weight of the moment and fear saying the wrong thing or annoying the patient. That said, the Gospel and the patient’s life are far more important than our worries, and ministering to them can be done in a way that shows our deep care for them.    Key Takeaways Sharing the gospel with someone who is dying begins by overcoming fear and recognizing that speaking about Christ is an act of mercy. Compassionate physical care and clear spiritual truth work together, reminding a dying person they are valued while pointing them to the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Learning how to minister to someone who is dying means creating natural openings, such as offering prayer, without forcing the conversation or waiting for a perfect moment. When someone feels unworthy of salvation, Scripture provides powerful examples like Paul and David to show that grace is greater than even the deepest sin. Even if a person does not receive the gospel, faithfulness means loving them as Christ does, continuing to serve them, and entrusting the outcome to God.   Start by Naming the Fear and Choosing Love When a patient is dying, your instincts are already tuned to protect them from pain. That same instinct can make spiritual conversation feel risky, as if bringing up Jesus might add discomfort. In some cases, that may be true, but that doens’t mean we should avoid the conversation. Sharing the Gospel is an act of mercy. If you’re wondering how to minister to someone who is dying, remember this: you don’t need a perfect script. Trust the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:12), and consider starting with your testimony explaining what you believe and how God has changed you.   Pair Compassionate Care with a Clear Gospel Good ministry doesn’t replace good care. It deepens it. A dying person may feel like they’ve become a task—meds, vitals, documentation, the next room. Loving care reminds them they are still a person. Sit if you can. Use their name. Hold their hand. Especially in hospice centers, patients can feel lonely, and spending time with them can show them the love of Christ.  Then, share the Gospel. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Explain who Jesus is, why He came, and what He did for us. Don’t worry about being perfect, it is not us who saves, but Christ. We are just called to be faithful.  If you are feeling hesitant, that’s normal, and the good news is that there is plenty of encouragement to be found in the Bible about sharing the Gospel that can help give you the courage you need.     How to Minister to Someone Who Is Dying Without Forcing the Moment When you’re at the bedside, you rarely get a perfect opening. So instead of waiting for one, offer to pray for them. It’s a way to show your love for them, and it opens the door for further conversation. You can ask if they are a Christian. If they say “Yes,” ask what they believe, ask for their testimony, and ask what they think of their relationship with Christ. It’s possible that they may not understand the Gospel and have a relationship with Christ, but simply identify as Christians. In this case, gently share the Gospel and your own story. Talk about repentance and invite them to pray with you, asking Christ for forgiveness.    When the Patient Says, “I’m not worthy” It’s possible that a patient might not see themselves as being worthy of Christ’s salvation. They may say, “You don’t know what I’ve done,” or “God wouldn’t want me.” This is where Scripture gives you honest, steady stories. Paul once persecuted Christians and tried to destroy the church, yet he later became a Christian and wrote, “...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). David also sinned greatly. He committed adultery and murdered the husband of the wife he committed adultery with. Yet Psalm 51 shows his repentance, and God forgave him. So when someone says they’re not worthy, you can answer: “You’re right, none of us are. We are saved by God’s grace and not by our own works” (see Ephesians 2:8). That’s a critical point to make in these situations when sharing salvation with someone who is dying: not by minimizing sin, but by magnifying the Savior.   A Simple Gospel Invitation You Can Use When the patient is ready, keep the invitation short and clear. You might say: “Acts 2:21 says that ‘everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ And we are told in Romans 10:9 that, ‘if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.'" Then, repeat the Gospel message, invite them to ask God for forgiveness, and pray with them.   If They Don’t Receive It, Don’t Lose Heart Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a patient won’t want to talk about God. They may shut down, change the subject, or tell you no. That refusal doesn’t mean you failed. If you’re learning how to minister to someone who is dying, you also need permission to release outcomes. You can’t control a heart. You can only offer the hope that is within you with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Continue to serve them as Jesus served us. And pray for them throughout the day.   A Next Step for Healthcare Workers Who Want to Grow in This If you feel drawn to deeper gospel conversations in clinical settings, you may be closer to your calling than you think. Consider exploring domestic mission opportunities where compassionate healthcare and spiritual care are needed and where you can grow alongside others who also want to learn how to minister to someone who is dying with clarity and love.   Related Questions   What are spiritual words of comfort when someone is dying? Point them to Christ’s presence and promise by sharing Psalm 34:18 with them: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”   How do you comfort a dying person? Offer steady presence, honest listening, and prayer that names God’s mercy and peace.   What is a comforting Bible verse for someone who is dying? John 11:25 comforts with Jesus’ words: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…”   What is a good prayer to say when someone is dying? Ask God for peace and a repentant heart and share Psalm 51 with them.