VOcational and VAcational Missionaries

We all understand what a Vocational missionary is - these are the people who, as a vocation - job - do missions. They move to another country, learn a new language and culture, and seek to share the Gospel in a way that people will become saved and a part of the Kingdom of God. These are the full-time RLMs (real live missionaries). We, the Wickers, are vocational missionaries. We live in Russia with the goal and purpose of helping Russians, and other nationalities who live here, find Hope and eternal life in Christ.

But are you familiar with "Vacational" missionaries? I Googled the term the other day and found a lot of places where non-native English speakers have misspelled the word 'vocational', but that was about it. "Vacational" missionaries are those who have other jobs (day jobs), but do missions for the same reasons and with the same goals as vocational missionaries. The only difference being the amount of time they are able to devote to it. In other words, these are people who spend their weekends, days off, spare time, and 'vacation' time from work and do missions. Most of the time, they receive nothing financially for their time and effort, rather they support themselves and the projects they are involved in. In other words, they don't get paid to do missions (like the vocational missy), they PAY to do missions. They give of their time and their resources in order to advance the Kingdom of God in another place, culture and language.

We not only have the great privilege of being one of your vocational missionary families - but we also have the joy of working with many 'Vacational' missionaries as well. Last week we were with three 'Vacational' missionary teams as they came through Moscow. This week we will be joining with one of these teams on a trip to Udmurtia.

The Lord has called us all to be about the advance of the Kingdom to all the world. Whether we are called to sell our homes, leave our friends and families in order to live overseas, OR whether we are called to stay at home and work, and participate in the Great Commission on a vacational basis - we are all in this together.

What are you doing for your next vacation?

Vocationally yours-
Tim