Career Research Paper

Description

A missionary is a person who is sent out on a mission, this mission is usually to convert people to the missionary’s religion or to help people.

Historical Background

Missionaries have been around ever since Christ’s resurrection. The first missionaries were those who say Jesus descend into Heaven, he commanded them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit…(NIV Bible Matthew 28:19, printed in 2005, written in 1st century).

Demand/ Job Outlook

The job of a missionary has basically always been in “demand,” and it always will be for as long as the missionaries believe people need to be saved.

Physical Demand

Missionary work can be very physically demanding, depending on what type of missionary you are. As a medical missionary, you need to be ready whenever a patient is sick or hurt. As a missionary running an orphanage or some sort of child care, you need to be ready to watch the kids and make sure none escape, and if they do you need to bring them back.

Stress

Emotional Demand

Being a missionary is very emotionally demanding. As a missionary you take on the hardships and emotional stress of the people you help. In putting this burden on yourself, you relieve them of stress, making it easier to tell them about Jesus.

Skills, Training, and/or Education

Costs

There are many costs associated with mission work. First you will need to pay tuition to get the training needed for evangelism. There will also be the tuition costs of other courses needed depending on what type of missionary you plan to become. If you will be working in another country, you would have to pay for a plane or boat ticket, which would be quite expensive. Setting up a children’s care center or church would take a lot of money, not just for the building, but also food or care. On top of all of these expenses, would be the cost in taking care of yourself, as a human, you need food, a house, if you plan to start a family, and any other personal costs. All of these expenses would add up to a large amount, and very quickly, especially if you have no steady income from another job.

Education Costs

Education costs for missionary college courses, which are available at Christian colleges, is much higher than community college tuition. The tuition for a 12-18 hour class at Puget Sound Christian College for a full year is $9,750 (http://pscc.edu/, 2006), while a full year’s tuition at Everett Community College on average is a mere $64.60 (http://www.evcc.ctc.edu/, 2006). This cost difference is mainly because community colleges get state funding, while Christian colleges do not. If you plan on becoming a medical missionary, or a missionary with some other sort of training, you will need to plan on taking missions courses, as well as medical or other courses.