Sending Missionaries and Chaplains

A missionary is a person who, in response to God’s call and gifting, leaves his or her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission.

— Definition adopted by the International and North American Mission Boards in 2000.

Each year, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) approves and appoints hundreds of new missionaries in partnership with the 42 Baptist state conventions and the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists. NAMB and these partnering conventions work together in recruiting, selecting, jointly funding, training, supporting, and appointing missionaries.

NAMB also endorses chaplains who serve in the military, healthcare, correctional and counseling facilities, children's homes, academies, corporate, and public safety settings. Learn more about chaplaincy.

There are three broad categories of missionaries serving through NAMB.

1. Career Missionaries usually receive salary compensation and benefits from NAMB and convention partners. They often serve in roles such as church starting, community ministry, evangelism or mission strategy. (Learn more about Career)
   
   
2. Limited Term Missionaries usually assume a vocational missionary role for a specified period of time in the same type of ministry as a Career Missionary. They receive salary and benefit support from NAMB and convention partners. (Learn more about US/C2, Nehemiah Church Planters and Church Planter Pastors)
   
   
3. Mission Service Corps (MSC) MSC Missionaries serve in many of the same mission roles as Career and Limited Term Missionaries. They do not receive salary and benefits from NAMB but do receive support through training and placement services. (Learn more about Mission Service Corps)

Missionaries commissioned through the above pathways of service are included in NAMB’s official missionary count, which totaled 5,364 at the end of 2005.

In addition to these three categories of missionaries, there are opportunities for students to serve as missionaries. Opportunities available to high school and college students include:

1. Sojourner Missionaries are high school juniors and seniors who serve four to ten weeks during the summer. (Learn more about Sojourners)
   
   
2. Summer and Semester Missionaries are college and seminary students who serve in a local church or association for four to ten weeks during the summer, fall, or spring semester. (Learn more about Summer and Semester Missionaries)
   
   
3. Innovator Missionaries are college students serving with a team of other students, usually in a resort area, working at a secular job and given a missions assignment. (Learn more about Innovators)

Discover the pathway of service that is right for you at www.answerthecall.net as you answer His call . . . tell His story . . . and change your world.

Please submit inquiries to the webmaster using this form.