Genesis 3:9 - Missions begins with God, in all that we know about God: His perfection, holiness, righteousness, gracefulness, goodness, kindness and truthfulness are revealed in His mission’s heart. We can truly see how God has acted towards man, with that simple question, “ Where art thou?” all we know about God shows that He knew where they were. The question didn’t come from a lack of knowledge on Gods part but, a longing for them to confront their sin. God’s questions are always to point man to his need. It is God calling to fallen man to admit his sinfulness and to turn from his foolishness of hiding. When God walked into the garden with all his holiness and righteousness He could have punished them and never asked the question, but He led with grace and mercy. God’s kindness gave them a chance! As usual man squandered that moment, man led off with his pride, and played the card of blame. We have been foolish and we are foolish, but that is the goal of missions to call men back to God. We see the question was not based on their spiritual state but, on God’s mercy. We are to stand in God’s place and ask the question that He would ask, “where are you sinner?” The missionary must lead with grace and kindness and understand that all men are in hiding from God and are foolish (because we were such men). We walk into their world only armed with God’s Word, and His voice calling to them. See many make much about the place (how they live - poor or rich) but, it has never been about the place, and has always been about the voice calling - where are you sinner?

In 15 years as a missionary I have seen a lot of men who were good and godly, fail at becoming missionaries. It is one of the saddest and traumatic events to see, which both the men and their families are hurt! It is also a blight on mission programs in every church. We are given resources from God to do His work we all must be aware that these must be used for the work of God and not waisted. I have also seen men who should have never been a candidate, or gotten to the mission field. They were never worthy, in the moral sense, and in the spiritual sense. They usually leave a disaster behind in the field or on deputation. Because of their lack of qualifications the gospel work will be hindered for a very long time and churches are less willing to give to missionaries. I don't want to be over critical and it is not my goal to hurt anyone. The goal that God has laid out for us - which is to carry the gospel to all the world, and to plant churches, must be above any of our personal feelings. I have seen good missionaries, godly men with a heart for God and his goals. Every good missionary will admit his mistakes and tell you what they learned from them.

I wish to share with you some of the lessons I have learned, and seen in the area of failed missionaries.

1) Not qualified spiritually and morally.

2) Family issues, wife and children not behind dad or the father doesn’t see his family’s needs.

3) Not prepared for the field and the culture shock that comes from turning your world upside down.

4) Health issues, physically not prepared for the work.

5) Pride - they have a god syndrome it is “the us, and them attitude”. Just because there is a spiritual void does not mean there is an intelligence void.

These are just some of the reasons that men fail at missions, I will later develop these points. Most of the time we get one shot as missionaries at a particular field in that generation, let us not waist it.