TCM' s Passport to Service

HOW TO BECOME A MISSIONARY OF THINGS TO COME
MISSION
Do you believe God is calling you to missionary service? If you think that may be the case, may I ask you
the following questions:

Are you burdened at the thought of the billions of people on earth who face a Christless eternity?

Do you have a deep desire to do something about those lost souls?

Are you currently active in the ministry of your church?

Are you adaptable and willing to make significant changes in your lifestyle?

Do you have an interest in other lands and cultures?

If you can answer yes to these questions then you may want to begin serious, prayerful consideration about
dedicating your life to missionary service. God will not call you to another country through a dramatic vision
as He did with the Apostle Paul. Rather, He will place a steady, quiet burden on your heart that will not go
away. If you feel this burden, read further and see if Things to Come Mission may be the organization with
which God wants you to serve.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE:

Spiritual maturity - All potential missionaries should exhibit a high level of spiritual maturity which can be
measured in the following ways:

CONVERSION - a prospective missionary must have had a definite salvation experience through faith in
Christ and have complete certainty of his relationship with God.

CONSECRATION - an individual considering missionary service should be fully committed to the Lord
Jesus Christ and be willing to yield every aspect of his life to His will.

DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT - The potential missionary must know, understand, wholeheartedly believe
and be able to articulate the doctrinal position of Things to Come Mission as outlined by its doctrinal
statement.

ACTIVE COMMITMENT - a missionary candidate should be actively involved in a local church before
considering going to the foreign field.

CALL - anyone considering missionary service should sense a deep conviction of personal responsibility for
the work of God in the world.

SERVANT ATTITUDE - a potential missionary must see himself as a servant of God and his fellow man
and must be willing to make the necessary changes in lifestyle in order to effectively minister to people of a
different culture.

AGE AND EXPERIENCE - Things to Come Mission will accept applicants of any age. We believe that a
person with a sincere desire to serve Christ will be enabled by Him to overcome any obstacles which
advanced age might create. We do, however, request all potential applicants to seriously consider the affect
which health, attitudes, family responsibilities and other factors may have on their work on the foreign
mission field. Things to Come Mission also recognizes that young adults have a longer potential time of
service and generally adapt more easily to the complexities of language acquisition and cultural adjustment.
Therefore, we encourage young people to make a commitment to missionary service early in life.


ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS - TCM does not require a missionary to hold a college degree. It is only
necessary for an applicant to demonstrate that he or she has the knowledge and ability to perform the work
they will be required to do. TCM recognizes the value of education and encourages its missionaries to have
formal training but we do not feel that the call of God to ministry is dependent upon academic degrees.

ACCEPTANCE OF COUPLES - In the case of married or engaged candidates, both the man and the
woman should be convinced of their call to foreign service. Both are required to file separate applications
and the classification of missionary applies to each member of the couple. Both members of the couple
should possess the spiritual qualifications required of a missionary. TCM also recognizes the biblical role of
the wife and mother and gives her the freedom to carry out those responsibilities while on the field.

PERSONAL INDEBTEDNESS - Normally candidates should be free from debt before beginning their
service. The board may, under certain circumstances, consider applicants with indebtedness but this is not
generally the case. After a missionary pays off his debts he may reapply and be considered for missionary
service.


STEPS TO THE MISSION FIELD

1. INITIAL INQUIRY - This can be done by filling out and mailing in the form on the back of this brochure;
by writing, calling or faxing the TCM office or by talking to a missionary or representative of TCM who is
visiting your church. We will send you some introductory information. This will give an opportunity for you
to learn more about TCM and for the mission to know about you.

2. PERSONAL COUNSELING - If you are interested in carrying the inquiry process further, you will be
contacted by either TCM's Executive Director or Development Director in order to inform you about the
ministries of TCM, personnel needs and how you can fit into the picture. We will help direct your interest
toward one of our existing fields, or if you have a burden for a country where TCM is not working, you will
be able to discuss the possibility of pioneering a new work.

3. REVIEW OF POLICIES AND PRACTICE OF THE MISSION - The next step is for you to study the
constitution and policies of the mission to be sure you are in agreement with TCM's philosophy of ministry,
particularly the mission's financial policy. Once again, our Executive Director and Development Director
will be available to answer your questions and explain the rationale behind the mission's policies.

4. FORMAL APPLICATION - If at this point you believe you want to work with Things to Come Mission,
you will need to request and fill out an application. The information which you provide in your application
will make it possible for the board to make a decision about your ministry with Things to Come Mission.


5. BOARD INTERVIEW - At the first board meeting after your application has been received by the
Executive Director you will be asked to appear before the board. During this interview you will have an
opportunity to meet each member of the board personally. They, as well, will be able to gain an
understanding of your burden for ministry.

6. ACCEPTANCE - Once the board approves your application and has found that you meet the
qualifications for a missionary you will be officially accepted as part of the TCM team and will begin
preparation for your departure.

7. PRE-FIELD ORIENTATION - Our home office personnel will help to acquaint you with the field you will
be going to and how to prepare for a smooth transition into a new culture and ministry. You may be
encouraged to enroll in outside training in language acquisition and cross cultural adjustment.

8. ORDINATION - All full-time missionary personnel serving with TCM are ordained (commissioned in the
case of women) through the mission. This is a public confirmation by responsible and qualified elders of
your gifts and calling as a missionary.

9. DEPUTATION AND SUPPORT RAISING - As a missionary you must raise up a prayer and support
base. This is primarily done through visiting churches and individuals and informing them of your plans and
ministry. TCM will help you in contacting churches and scheduling meetings. The mission does not demand
that any set amount of support must be guaranteed before you are allowed to depart for the field. When you
are comfortable with the level of your support you may leave and begin your ministry.

10. ACQUISITION OF VISAS, SHOTS, PACKING, ETC. - Before departing for the field you must make
all necessary preparations required by the government of the country where you will serve. You must also
pack and ship all the personal belongings which you will need overseas.

11. DEPARTURE - When you have raised adequate support and made all necessary preparations you will
be able to leave and begin service on the foreign field.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS TO COME MISSION, SEND INQUIRIES TO:
Ben Anderson
Things to Come Mission
PO Box 127
Beech Grove, IN 46107
(317) 783-0300