Is Theological Education Important for Serving in Missions?
I recently answered this question for a group of high schoolers. What would you say?
6/26/2026
Last week, a group of high school students visited the campus of RBC. They were in Orlando on a "missions education trip," visiting various missions organizations in the area (super cool idea by the way). RBC was their final stop before heading home.
I was asked to meet with the group and answer the question, "Is theological education important for serving in missions?" For many, that might seem like an obvious question, but in reality, it isn't. It can be tempting to head to the field as soon as possible, believing that passion and a clear calling are all that is needed for effective ministry overseas.
As you could guess, my answer was, "Yes, theological education is important for serving in missions." But here is why I believe that to be true:
Theological education is important for serving in missions, because missions is a uniquely theological task.
For example, just consider the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Now, consider all of the theological questions stemming from these verses. For example:
What is a disciple? What do we need to teach new disciples?
Who are the "nations?"
What is baptism? Who should be baptized? Who should baptize them?
What is the significance of the Trinitarian language in the baptism formula given?
When is the "end of the age?"
How is Jesus with us?
What is the significance of Jesus' ascension and reign in the promise given in these verses?
And these are just a few that stem from this passage alone. But there are plenty of other theological questions that missionaries need to wrestle with before getting on the plane. Some others include:
What is the mission of the church? What exactly are we trying to accomplish? (This is not always agreed upon)
What is conversion? What is happening in someone as they turn to Christ in faith?
What is a biblical view of evangelism? What do we need to communicate? What is our role, and what is the Spirit's role?
What is the church? Is it any group of believers? Or is it more than that?
What is the gospel? What does it mean to be justified, and how can you be justified?
How does Christianity differ from the local religion of the host country?
How and why should Christians be resilient in ministry?
These questions and so many more beg for answers as we seek to faithfully represent Christ among the nations.
Now, to be clear, not everyone needs to have an advanced theological degree. Of course, the role and ministry one engages in on the field will determine that. But let's not send people overseas without a basic grasp of Christian theology. The reality is that calling is not the same as preparation. Most who sense a call to the mission field are not prepared to immediately go. They might be zealous, but they aren't ready.
Last November, I broke my ankle. It was gruesome. Zero stars. Do not recommend. But it happened, and I needed surgery. Imagine if I met my surgeon, and in the conversation, it came up that he didn't actually receive any kind of medical education. Imagine if he said something like, "It's ok though, I've always felt called to the medical field. I am super passionate about medicine. I spend a lot of time around doctors and surgeons. I've even gone to medical conferences." How would I, or you, respond? I might've said, "I appreciate the zeal, but I want a different surgeon (and probably a different hospital)."
The point is, we expect training and education in every other field, so why would we expect anything different in something as important as gospel ministry?
So, for those who are sensing God might be calling them to serve cross-culturally, in your zeal and eagerness, don't neglect training and education. It will only serve you and the people of your field well. Church leaders, as you identify those with a zeal for the nations and a possible call to serve overseas, don't be in a rush to buy their plane tickets. Encourage training. Encourage patient preparation to ensure longevity and effectiveness on the field. Don't squash their zeal, but do give them a vision for a theologically informed zeal.