Feeling lost in retirement? Find purpose as a second-career missionary

You won’t waste your retirement when you invest it for the kingdom.

*This article was originally published at crossworld.org and is excerpted here with permission from Crossworld.*

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve been looking forward to retirement for years — perhaps decades. This year will break a record with the largest surge of retirement-age Americans in history.

Or maybe you haven’t hit retirement age yet but you want to use the last few years of your career to make a change and make an impact.

That’s where Crossworld workers Brian and Jody found themselves at age 50. They had intended to become missionaries earlier in life, but it never happened and the years slid by. One day Jody turned to Brian and said, “If we’re going to go, we should get on this.” They completed their church’s missions training while their kids finished high school, then joined Crossworld and landed in Asia a week before Jody’s 55^th birthday.

Have you considered a second career as a missionary like Brian and Jody?Becoming a missionary is one of the best second career choices for retirees. Your retirement years could be your most fruitful and fulfilling years yet!

Find purpose in retirement by joining God’s mission

Align with God’s mission.
You don’t have to feel aimless each day. Give your time to something that will last for eternity by joining God’s mission to proclaim the good news to all nations.
Leverage the skills you honed in your career.
Instead of setting aside your decades of experience, put them to use in a part of the world that needs your expertise.
Contribute to society in a new way.
Try new skills, serve in new roles, and watch how God will use you.
Learn a new culture.
Nothing will keep you mentally sharp like learning a new culture. Study a new language, navigate a new city, try new foods, and adapt to different customs.
Be part of a new community.
You won’t be a lone ranger on the mission field. Go deep in relationships as you get to know your teammates and make local friends on the ground.
Grow your faith.
Choosing to step out in obedience to God’s call will stretch you in new ways. And that’s where growth happens.

Why now? The unique advantages of going to the mission field later in life

You might think those reasons to become a second-career missionary sound great, but you may still be asking yourself, Is it too late for me?

No, it’s not! In fact, post-retirement is a great time to go to the mission field because you have:

Financial stability and less need to raise support
Career and life experience
Respect as an elder in other cultures
Independence as empty-nesters

How to become a second-career missionary

Talk to your church.
Assess your physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual readiness.
Discuss the decision with your family and loved ones.
Choose the missions agency that’s right for you.
Walk forward in faith.

Don’t let your retirement years fade into the sunset. This could be the most fruitful and purpose-filled season of your life if you invest your retirement in building Jesus’ kingdom around the world.

Will you consider giving five years to the mission field? Discover the profound joy of a meaningful retirement by serving in God’s mission. Talk to a Crossworld coach about becoming a second-career missionary today.

This article is submitted by Crossworld. Crossworld is a Missio Nexus member. Member organizations can provide content to the Missio Nexus website. See how by clicking here.