Can I Go Into Missions Without a College Degree?

February 16, 2010 | by John Piper | Topic: Missions

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

What do you think about someone with no college degree going into frontier missions?

I sure am glad historically that it was done. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been any missionaries!

Where you're serving makes a huge difference, as well as what kind of Bible training you had aside from college, what kind of a person you are, what kind of a reader you are, what kind of a thinker you are... there are just so many variables.

What you want is a certain set of skills and a certain set of gifts and a certain heart and commitment. And college doesn't equate to any of those! It might, but it might not.

So I would say take it individual case by individual case. And if you are not yet through college or not planning to go to college, there may be a wonderful, fruitful place for you on the mission field.

Let the mission agencies help you with that. Or combine the two: do both.

I heard one time that Wycliffe translators is one of the most educated mission agencies, and they take people with the least amount of education. Now that may not be true anymore, but the reason for saying that is because they found over time that they got their education as they moved along in missions.

©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Used by Permission.

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org


Related Resources

  • "Tentmakers" in Minneapolis (Sermons)
  • Do Not Be Conformed to This World (Sermons)
  • A Pastor's Role in World Missions (Conference Messages)
  • Go and Make Disciples, Baptizing Them... (Sermons)
  • Hallowed Be Thy Name: In All the Earth (Sermons)