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Are you a nurse? Are you a pharmacist? A doctor? A physical therapist? A medical professional? Then you ARE a Market Place Professional! Bring your job, spread the Gospel, live in air-conditioning, and pay your own way!

You could have been a doctor. You could have been a lawyer. You could have been a teacher, a computer programmer, or an accountant. You could have chosen almost any field or vocation. But you believe God called you to missions. That’s awesome and sacred. But there’s one question that still might be swirling around in the back of your mind: What is a reasonable missionary salary? Now, don’t get me wrong. I know you’re not in it for the money. You’re pursuing God’s call with all the right motives. But you’ve still got to eat and put a roof over your head, whether your mission is around the corner or across the globe. So, it’s fair to consider what a missionary gets paid.  But to start any conversation about the “what” of a missionary's salary, it’s good to understand the “how” of a missionary's salary.    Where does the money come from? Missions have changed and evolved over the centuries. While the message of the gospel remains the unwavering cornerstone on which everything is built, the specifics and logistics of sharing the good news of Jesus can be fluid as technology and culture shift. Still, across time, missionaries have found three solid income sources for their work. Of course, God is the ultimate Provider, but, in general, these are the channels for how missionaries get paid. 1. Sending agencies. These are the organizations that enlist and send missionaries into the world. Many are private agencies. Others, like the International Mission Board or Mission to the World, are affiliated with a denomination. But most play a role in how much missionaries are paid. Sending agencies generally provide some amount of salary or stipend. They also may help with securing things like travel and insurance. They may or may not assist with other benefits, like housing and retirement. Some agencies also help you plug into private resources for funding and missions education, which is another channel for these organizations to support a missionary salary. 2. Partnerships. When I was a kid, I remember going to church and seeing a large glass display case holding a map of the world. Postcards with a family’s picture were pinned next to various nations, indicating that they were missionaries to those countries. What I later learned was that these were missionaries a church supported financially. They are also called ministry partners. The idea of individuals and churches partnering with missionaries is as old as mission work itself. For example, Jesus and the apostle Paul each had groups who provided financial support for their work. As noted, sending agencies often can help you identify possible partners. They also can manage an account for you once the donations arrive.   22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Romans 15:22-24   3. Entrepreneurship. This is where you start a business that acts as the funding channel for your missionary salary and work. For instance, I have a friend who runs his own thrift store. People donate everything from clothes to windows to bed frames. He sells whatever he gets and uses the profits to pay for his mission trips around the world. Now, it might be tempting to think that this is a relatively new way for missionaries to raise money. But, again, it’s got biblical roots. The apostle Paul had every right to draw a salary from the churches he planted. But, instead of putting that burden on them, he also worked as a tentmaker to fund his mission work. He didn’t use the term “entrepreneur,” but that’s essentially the method he used.   What is a missionary’s salary? A quick internet search will yield all kinds of information about how much a missionary makes. What’s more, the numbers you see can vary wildly from one site to another. For example, one source states that missionaries can earn anywhere from $21,000 and $72,000 a year, with an average annual missionary salary of almost $44,000. That’s a pretty wide range! Some of the difference relates to what the sending agency provides, and some of it could depend on your level of experience or the benefits you receive. So, you’ll need to do some research to make sure you understand how much you’ll receive and how much you will be responsible for raising. Another thing to consider is how much it actually costs to be a missionary. The International Mission Board recently reported that it costs roughly $60,000 a year to support a missionary in the field. This number included things like salary, insurance, language training, education, housing, documentation, travel, and retirement savings. Of course, your specific number could vary, but it gives you an idea of what you might need to raise depending on how your sending agency is structured.   Something to remember Determining what a missionary makes and how you could make it work might seem like a daunting task. That’s fair. Like a lot of things related to mission work, it probably won’t be easy. But there are two things you need to remember. First, it will be worth the effort you put into the process. Obeying God’s call is always the best route because it’s the only one that provides true meaning and purpose in life. As I mentioned earlier, you could have chosen to pursue any number of careers; but if God has placed missions on your heart, you will never find satisfaction in any other job—no matter how much you get paid. Second, God is your ultimate Provider. That was Paul’s message in Philippians 4. He was absolutely grateful for the gift, but he knew that it all came from the hand of God. If the Lord has genuinely called you to missions, He will equip you for the task. And He will give you the missionary salary you need to get the job done.     Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.

There are few things as thrilling to see as a group of local believers springing up where it didn’t exist before! In this session we will take an initial thought-provoking and inspirational look at church planting among unreached peoples around the world using current, real-life stories. We’ll also hear from everyday people who went out to minister to the healthcare needs of others, bringing with them a passion to see new communities of believers emerge and thrive among the unreached.

Medical missionary training is preparation—spiritual, practical, and relational—for serving others through health care in the name of Christ. Online options can help you build a foundation in missions training programs, understand the realities of the field, and take wise next steps toward medical missions. Medical missionary training does not replace the local church or the Holy Spirit’s leading, but it can equip you to serve with clarity and competence. One of the best things many people discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic was how useful online learning can be. For those exploring medical missions, that means you can often begin medical missionary training with the click of a mouse. For many, medical missionary training online is not only possible, it is a practical way to start moving forward.   Key Takeaways Start by discerning your personal call to medical missions through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel before comparing missions training programs. Understand that medical missionaries serve in many settings and roles, not only as doctors or nurses but also through support and public health work. Choose medical missionary training that strengthens both spiritual formation and practical readiness, including sustainable habits and honest self-assessment. Online medical missionary training works especially well for people testing a long-term interest, students needing flexibility, and volunteers seeking clear ways to serve. Separate preparation from deployment by using mission training programs to get equipped and then exploring sending organizations when your direction becomes clearer.   Get Started with Medical Missions Before comparing missions training programs, start with your personal call. As a Christ follower, God has a purpose for your life, and He often confirms direction over time through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel.  It also helps to be clear on terms. A missionary is not defined only by geography or job title. Many medical missionaries serve through clinics, hospitals, public health efforts, training local providers, or supporting teams that bring care and the gospel together. Medical missionary training is not limited to doctors and nurses. In fact, many mission training programs are designed for people who are not licensed medical professionals. Skills such as nutrition education, hygiene training, administration, logistics, children’s ministry, and basic counseling can support long-term health and wholeness in many contexts. As you prepare, build a rhythm of spiritual disciplines that can sustain you when ministry feels costly. Prioritize Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. At the same time, take your own health seriously. Honest self-assessment matters because you cannot offer steady care to others while ignoring what is happening in your own soul, body, and relationships.   Who Online Medical Missionary Training Is For Online medical missionary training tends to fit three kinds of people especially well. First, it serves people who sense a growing interest in missions and want to test whether that desire persists over time. Second, it serves students and early-career professionals who need flexible learning while they study or work. Third, it serves volunteers who are ready to support medical teams but are not clinicians, and want a clear, responsible role. A common thread is a willingness to prepare rather than rush. When someone seeks medical missionary training, it often signals a desire to serve well, not simply to have an experience.   Training Programs and Sending Organizations It helps to separate training from deployment. Medical missionary training programs focus on preparation: biblical foundations, cultural understanding, team dynamics, health-related basics, and ministry expectations. Sending organizations focus on placement: where you will go, what team you will serve with, what support you will have, and what requirements must be met. Many people benefit from starting with missions training programs, then exploring a sending pathway once their call, skills, and season of life become clearer.   A Few Online Medical Missionary Training Options The final step toward online medical missions training is finding the right kind of program. Again, talking with others—especially other medical missionaries who have experienced what you want to pursue—can be incredibly valuable. You’ll also want to make sure the program you choose fits your theological and missional values. Many denominations and organizations approach medical missions—and, thus, medical missions training—from different perspectives. So, do some research to make sure your potential training program aligns with your beliefs and goals. Jesus’s ministry involved preaching, teaching, and healing. While you are not God’s Son, you can follow His model by promoting solid evangelism, ongoing discipleship, and compassionate health care through medical missions. Here are some organizations that provide some level of online training for medical ministry:   Community Colleges and Christian Universities. Perhaps the easiest way to receive online training for medical missions is to look into earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Local community colleges can provide basic training in important areas. Meanwhile, many Christian universities offer online programs that provide the theological training along with two-year or four-year degrees in areas such as nutrition or health science.   Wildwood Center for Health Evangelism. This Georgia-based program affiliated with Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) offers online programs in health evangelism. The program includes introductions to physiology and diseases, as well as nutrition, mental health issues, and various forms of therapy.   Med Missionary Training. This online program seeks to marry biblical principles with effective scientific research. The six-week course, also affiliated with SDA, emphasizes natural remedies and effective use of proper nutrition and diet.   Medical Missions Outreach. In general, this organization provides short-term mission trip opportunities for medical professionals and volunteers. Training is available for non-professionals, equipping them to assist doctors and nurses on the field. This could be an option for someone wanting a taste of medical missions or seeking to clarify their call.   Cost and Practical Support Many medical missionary training options are affordable compared to traditional degree programs, and some missions training programs are modular, meaning you can build skills over time. Even so, finances often feel like a barrier. Support raising is common in missions, and it is not limited to long-term workers.   The Need Is Real We live in a world filled with hurting people. Some suffer with physical illness, while others carry spiritual pain, isolation, and fear. Medical missionary training matters because preparation shapes endurance. It helps you show up with steady compassion, realistic expectations, and a posture of service rather than control. As you move forward, cover your steps in prayer. Even the best medical missionary training cannot replace the role of the Holy Spirit and the call of Christ on your life. His presence is not optional for any mission endeavor (Matthew 28:18–20). If you want focused exposure to the broader world of healthcare missions, consider attending GMHC 2026 and connecting with organizations, training pathways, and people who have walked this road for years.   Take a Next Step in Short-Term Missions Medical missionary training often becomes clearer when learning connects to action. Serving short-term can reveal strengths, uncover gaps, and confirm whether you should pursue additional mission training programs for a longer season. Explore short-term mission trip opportunities and look for roles that match your skills, your maturity, and the kind of team you can serve with faithfulness.   Related Questions   What is a medical missionary? A medical missionary is someone who uses health care skills or support roles to serve people and share Christ through compassionate, ethical care.   Do missionary doctors get paid? Some are supported through salary structures or partner organizations, but many rely on fundraising and support from churches and donors.   What skills are needed on medical missions? Teams need clinical care, public health basics, cross-cultural communication, administration, logistics, and a steady commitment to servant-hearted teamwork.   What do you do on a medical mission trip? You serve alongside a team to meet real health needs—often through clinics, education, outreach, and support roles—while living out the gospel in word and deed.  

Dentists have a unique opportunity to minister to the dentally needy, both domestically and internationally. These opportunities enable us to honor Christ, who has called us to care for "the least of these" (Matthew 25:40), and our compassionate treatment can also open doors to tangibly communicating the love of Christ to our patients.

Despite the recognition that successful mentoring experiences are usually the result of intentional and committed relationships between mentor and mentee, there are still challenges in achieving consistent, positive outcomes for mission driven Christ followers in healthcare. Healthcare missionaries, whether domestic or foreign, face unexpected challenges, failures, and disappointments, both on and off the field of service, across a broad spectrum of life, work, and ministry. This talk will focus on the essential commitments of both mentor and mentee during the early career of cross-cultural workers who serve in diverse living and working environments.

Balancing too many roles, wearing too many hats. It's tough to be a missionary doctor mom...is it even really possible? Some helpful discussion to guide us into the life God wants for each of his daughters.

The average medical student graduates with over $241,000 in educational debt! This can seem insurmountable when trying to get to the mission field. But it's not! Come and hear about your options, and why student loan debt should not stand in your way of stepping out and following God's lead into missions. We will discuss how to limit debt, grant availability from MedSend, and federal programs that can dramatically reduce your monthly payment and even eliminate your student loans.

How To Proclaim and Deliver the Content of The Gospel Message, Which is, The True Saving Knowledge of God in Christ, to The hearts and minds of the Muslims Everywhere, so they could be Saved, and in a way they could understand through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Any serious attempt that we undertake to walk with those in need will take an inevitable toll on our hearts, and medical missions is an extreme example of this phenomenon. The magnitude of need and tragedy can leave us wondering where God’s light is shining in the midst of the darkness. This session will use clinical stories that pose certain challenges to our hearts in order to find ways to remain faithful to God’s will and remember his promises in the midst of otherwise overwhelming need.

A story of how lives were transformed in a world with a widening mental health gap. The overwhelming need was met with the calling to be a caring community.

Some mission experts estimate that up to 90% of young people who consider missions cease to pursue it because of various fears and obstacles, including the fear of fundraising. Some workers view fundraising as a rite of passage or as an obstacle to overcome. Others understand God’s purposes to include each follower of Jesus in His worldwide kingdom work through going, serving, sending, praying, encouraging, and giving.