When Josh and Karen began searching for a mission organization to partner with as global workers, their journey hit a discouraging roadblock. Some organizations mandated that long-term missionaries hold bachelor’s degrees.
Josh and Karen didn’t have college degrees; still, they had useful skills and knowledge, plus hearts to serve God cross-culturally and live out the Great Commission. The couple were disheartened.
“To be a long-term missionary, you needed a certain education requirement—you needed a bachelor’s degree. It didn’t matter what it was in, but to be a long-term missionary, you had to have a bachelor’s degree. We both don’t have that—there wasn’t an option for us,” Josh said.
God does not require formal education or specific qualifications to share His love. Throughout the Bible, we see countless examples of God using people whom society might consider unqualified or lacking credentials. These individuals may not have had extensive education or impressive resumes, but they had a deep love for God and a willingness to serve.
People like Josh and Karen demonstrate this truth, showing that a heart dedicated to Jesus can make a profound impact—with or without a college degree.
In the New Testament, Paul emphasizes this in his first letter to the church in Corinth. He reminds the believers that he did not rely on eloquent speech or human wisdom when he came to them. Instead, Paul focused on preaching the gospel message.
God can use anyone, regardless of their background or education level, to spread His love and advance His kingdom. It is not our qualifications that matter but our relationship with the Lord and our willingness to be used by Him to share the gospel.
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Josh and Karen soon discovered SIM USA, a mission organization that offered a more flexible approach based on the specific ministry role.
“The thing we liked about SIM is they’re willing to work with you, depending on what your role is. Obviously, in some roles, you require a certain level of education, like if you’re going to be a doctor. But with SIM, it was a lot more flexible depending on what your ministry role was.”
“We felt SIM values your personal walk with the Lord and testimonies of how God has used your life through all these years since you’ve known him,” Karen said.
Josh and Karen found SIM USA through a Google search, and they quickly began discerning God leading them there.
Josh and Karen have dedicated the past six years to their ministry in Ecuador, focusing on pastor and leadership development. They conduct extensive workshops and courses tailored for church leaders, aiming to empower local churches to nurture the next generation of believers.
These courses for local church leaders, which span from one to three years, serve as more than just educational programs. They foster an environment for one-on-one discipleship, where barriers dissolve, and meaningful friendships flourish among the attendees and course mentors.
“A lot of it is just friendships, honestly. Just getting to know them, and then through those friendships and relationships, we’re able to offer discipleship training courses. The basis of it all can be drinking coffee with them, being their friend, and being with them,” Josh said.
In Ecuador, local church leaders often face difficult challenges surrounding discipleship and spiritual growth. Many pastors and church leaders in this region have not had access to more mature Christians as godly mentors or discipleship role models, which can cause them to struggle to shepherd their congregations. Josh and Karen try to address this issue by focusing on pastor and leadership development, walking alongside leaders in intentional discipleship to help them grow in their faith. Their work often looks like creating an environment where pastors can share struggles and ask questions about their faith.
“Many of these people haven’t had any exposure to other godly, more mature people. They don’t know what they are supposed to do or how their lives are supposed to look. So, whenever they have the opportunity to open up and say, ‘I’ve been struggling with this,’ or ‘I don’t know if I am qualified,’ it’s discipleship,” Karen added. “It’s walking side-by-side with the people we believe God has given the desire to serve Him.”
God used their ministry to lead them to *Olegario, a local believer with a heart for ministry.
Olegario is involved in a church plant and wants to grow in the Lord’s work. As Josh mentored him, Olegario gradually opened up about his life. He confided in Josh about his painful experiences, including pornography addiction and childhood abuse.
“I was the first person he ever shared with. No one except for the abuser knew anything about it,” Josh said. “I was just walking with him.”
Recognizing the limits of his role, Josh supported Olegario through active listening and companionship, while connecting him with professional help.
After Olegario revealed his traumatic past, he was overwhelmed by shame and felt the urge to run away from ministry. His feelings of unworthiness made him question whether he could continue serving. However, his deep friendship with Josh became an anchor during this confusing time.
“This is where Josh’s relationship with Him has been impactful and meaningful,” Karen said. “It’s been encouraging him to stay the course. It’s shown him that God doesn’t think any less of him.”
“Olegario has been hard on himself, feeling unworthy to work for the Lord and like he can’t forgive himself,” Josh said. “It’s been a process of encouragement, building him up, and helping him overcome addiction.”
Olegario’s understanding of the gospel has deepened significantly, as well. He is beginning to grasp what it truly means to walk as a child of God.
“He didn’t think of the gospel as touching different areas of his life. In his mind, it was like ‘Okay, I’ve been forgiven of sin and now I should go evangelize.’ That was basically the extent of the depth of his knowledge. He’s understanding now that the gospel goes so much deeper than that,” Josh said. “Some people think, ‘I’ve had my slate wiped blank, and that’s it. It doesn’t necessarily touch or do anything else the rest of my life.’ But the gospel heals all these traumas and hurts too.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
As Olegario continues to receive professional counseling, his growing friendship with Josh and his expanding understanding of the gospel are helping him make progress.
Josh and Karen offer valuable advice to new missionaries preparing to embark on their journeys: Approach the field with attentive ears and compassionate hearts.
“A lot of times, especially as a new missionary, you come with a lot of excitement, a lot of ideas, and you just want to sit down and fix everything. But you need to sit down and listen to know what you’re trying to fix, right? You can’t fix things without knowing what the problem is,” Josh said.
“You’re there to be their friend, not to be the person that has more knowledge than them,” Karen added, emphasizing the importance of genuine friendship. “Just being able to hear them and their struggles and pray for and with them… that means a lot to them.”
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17
In South America, Josh and Karen observed a reluctance among pastoral and ministry leaders to share personal challenges openly. This cultural aspect underscores the significance of patience in building trust, as seen in relationships like Olegario’s, which took time to develop.
“When we’re there, when we’re listening to them, when we just invite them to our homes or just spend time drinking coffee with them… they feel that we’re there for them as a person, and we value them as people and not just pastors or ministry leaders,” Karen said.
For Josh, the core of missionary work lies in a Christ-centered, people-focused ministry.
“Being able to be a friend and relate to people, that’s a big part of being a missionary,” he said. “It’s your relationships and navigating those relationships with people.”
In essence, Josh encourages new and potential missionaries to prioritize genuine friendships and relational dynamics as integral to their mission. Personal relationships and life lived in discipleship form the core of their ministry. All it takes is a willing heart and faith to follow God into global missions; no degree or qualification is greater than a Christ follower who is after God’s own heart.
*Names have been changed for the privacy and safety of our workers, ministry partners and those we serve.
