Questions to Ask Missionaries
Essential questions to ask missionaries to understand their faith, mission work, and gain insights into their spiritual journey and service.
1What drew you to missionary work and how did you discover your calling?
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What drew you to missionary work and how did you discover your calling?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their motivation and gives you insights into the spiritual journey that led them to become a missionary.
2What's your mission and what are you trying to accomplish?
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What's your mission and what are you trying to accomplish?
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Why this works
Reveals their purpose and helps you understand what they're working toward and what they hope to achieve through their service.
3What's your experience been like and what have you learned?
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What's your experience been like and what have you learned?
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Why this works
Shows their journey and helps you understand what they've experienced and what insights they've gained through their work.
4What are the biggest challenges you face and how do you handle them?
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What are the biggest challenges you face and how do you handle them?
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Why this works
Reveals the difficulties they encounter and helps you understand what obstacles they face and how they overcome them.
5What's your approach to sharing your faith and what's your strategy?
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What's your approach to sharing your faith and what's your strategy?
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Why this works
Shows their evangelism approach and helps you understand how they share their faith and what methods they use.
6What are the different cultures you've encountered and what have you learned?
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What are the different cultures you've encountered and what have you learned?
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Why this works
Reveals their cultural experiences and helps you understand what they've learned about different cultures and how they adapt.
7What's your view on the role of faith in your work and how does it guide you?
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What's your view on the role of faith in your work and how does it guide you?
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Why this works
Shows their spiritual foundation and helps you understand how their faith influences their work and decision-making.
8What are the different ways you serve and what support do you provide?
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What are the different ways you serve and what support do you provide?
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Why this works
Reveals their service activities and helps you understand what they do to help others and what support they offer.
9What's your perspective on the role of prayer in your work?
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What's your perspective on the role of prayer in your work?
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Why this works
Shows their prayer life and helps you understand how prayer is central to their mission work and spiritual practice.
10What are the different obstacles you've faced and how have you overcome them?
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What are the different obstacles you've faced and how have you overcome them?
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Why this works
Reveals the challenges they've encountered and helps you understand what difficulties they've faced and how they've persevered.
11What's your view on the role of community in your work?
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What's your view on the role of community in your work?
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Why this works
Shows their community approach and helps you understand how they build relationships and work with local communities.
12What are the different ways you've seen God work and what miracles have you witnessed?
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What are the different ways you've seen God work and what miracles have you witnessed?
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Why this works
Reveals their spiritual experiences and helps you understand what they've seen God do and what miracles they've witnessed.
13What's your perspective on the role of suffering in your work?
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What's your perspective on the role of suffering in your work?
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Why this works
Shows their view on suffering and helps you understand how they handle difficult situations and what they've learned from them.
14What are the different ways you've grown spiritually and what have you learned?
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What are the different ways you've grown spiritually and what have you learned?
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Why this works
Reveals their spiritual growth and helps you understand how their faith has developed and what they've learned about God.
15What's your view on the role of love in your work?
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What's your view on the role of love in your work?
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Why this works
Shows their love-centered approach and helps you understand how love is central to their mission work and service.
16What are the different ways you've seen lives changed and what impact have you had?
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What are the different ways you've seen lives changed and what impact have you had?
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Why this works
Reveals their impact and helps you understand what changes they've seen in people's lives and what difference they've made.
17What's your perspective on the role of hope in your work?
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What's your perspective on the role of hope in your work?
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Why this works
Shows their hope-centered approach and helps you understand how hope is central to their mission work and message.
18What are the different ways you've seen God's provision and what support have you received?
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What are the different ways you've seen God's provision and what support have you received?
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Why this works
Reveals their provision experiences and helps you understand how God has provided for their needs and what support they've received.
19What's your view on the role of perseverance in your work?
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What's your view on the role of perseverance in your work?
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Why this works
Shows their perseverance approach and helps you understand how they maintain their commitment and continue their work despite challenges.
20What's the most important thing I should know about your mission work?
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What's the most important thing I should know about your mission work?
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Why this works
Gives them a chance to share what they think is most important for you to know, providing valuable insights about their mission work.
Best Practices for Conversations with Missionaries
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Show Genuine Interest
Demonstrate genuine curiosity about their work and faith. Ask thoughtful questions that show you're engaged and interested in their mission.
Be Respectful of Their Faith
Approach discussions about their faith with respect and openness. Avoid judgmental language and be open to learning about their spiritual journey.
Ask Follow-up Questions
Show engagement by asking follow-up questions that build on their answers. This demonstrates active listening and deeper interest.
Question Sequences
The Mission Understanding Sequence
The Spiritual Journey Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Make Assumptions
Avoid assuming you know their faith or approach. Ask questions to understand their specific perspective and methods.
Don't Be Overly Critical
While healthy discussion is good, avoid being overly critical or dismissive of their faith. Show respect for their spiritual journey.
Don't Focus Only on Controversial Topics
While important topics are worth discussing, don't make every conversation about controversial or divisive subjects.