Brigada participant Matt is looking for the answer to this question: “What percentage of people who commit to being missionaries actually make it to the field?” AND “What are the top reasons people who have committed to be missionaries DON’T make it to the field?” Can you help him? Do you know of citations, resources, web pages, written dissertations, etc., that might help him?
Hi folks,
If memory serves (and it rarely does at my age), I believe that David Mays of ACMC did an intensive study of this exact same topic. I don’t have contact info for him, but I’m sure his study on missionary attrition rates would be most helpful.
Michael Strahan
Mission Council
Faith Christian Community
Anchorage, Alaska
I am also interested in this information as a mobiliser.
This is the website of David Mays http://www.davidmays.org
doulos
Evangelical Missions Quarterly had an article “Why They Don’t Go” in the April 2008 issue. It provides general observations and research on Asbury College students in Kentucky about why young people don’t choose to serve in missions. It doesn’t track those who commit to go and then don’t, but it is helpful info on what young people see as barriers.
Jenny Collins
Taylor University
Matt,
I have been looking at the high attrition rate of those who want to become missionaries for two decades. Please post your email address on this blog and I will send you information.
D.W.
Hello D.W. Some might be reluctant to post their personal information here — for fear they’ll be spammed? … or worse. Is there any way you could submit the report to Brigada? If so, see “Submit an item” in the top menu.
I oversee the long-term application process for our agency and have kept records since 2003. It would take some time, but I could review and contribute stats for one agency.
I’d like to suggest that you read “Scaling The Wall” by Kathy Hicks. At the Urbana 2001 missions conference hundreds of college students were posed the question, “What is keeping you from becoming involved in the Great Commission?” Their fears were written on a large wall at the Operation Mobilization booth and later collected, compiled, and categorized. Fears such as loss of friends, loss of money, disapproval of parents, and inadequate experience surfaced as common hurdles.
Rob Taylor