J.D., why aren’t you a missionary since you spend so much time talking about missions?

Pastor J.D. shares how God called him to the mission field before calling him to be a pastor of a church that sends and supplies the mission field in extravagant ways. A glimpse inside this episode: When God called me to be a pastor, he did so by first calling me to the mission field. I spent the first two years of my ministry as a church planter among Muslims overseas. God never relinquished that call to missions; he showed me that my role in it is to be a part of a church that sends and supplies the mission field. Even though my primary role in the Great Commission is now as an equipper, it is always such a joy to get back on the front lines. Sure, it can be frustrating not being able to speak the language. But I share Christ more, person to person, in a two-week span than I probably do the entire rest of the year here in the States. It is my identity there, the entire reason I had go short term now. So when an opportunity comes up, I simply share the gospel. I wasn’t “Pastor J.D.” there. I was just “J.D. the guy talking about Jesus.” I want that to last: I want to just be the “Jesus guy” even here. Follow-Up Question: How do you know if you’re called to overseas missions? References: Nehemiah 2:12, Acts 13:2, Isaiah 6. Picture a Venn Diagram with these three circles: Affinity, Ability, Affirmation. Where do these things overlap? Pastor J.D.’s new book, What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?, is available now for pre-order.