Questions to Ask When Deciding On a Mission Agency

Mission Statement and Core Values

1. What is the mission statement of the organization? 
2. What are the core values?  How are they demonstrated? 
3. Do they define themselves by stating what they are against or opposed to rather than what they are for and want to accomplish?

Organization

4. What is their focus?  In what part of the world do they work?  With what people groups do they work? 
5. Is the agency a home or field-run agency?  Is it centralized or decentralized?
6. Do they have a lot of policies or rules?
7. How big is the agency?
8. How old is the agency?

Partnership with the Local Church

9. What role does the local church have in my overseas ministry?

Partnership with Other Agencies

10.  How does the agency work with other agencies? 

Ministry

11.  Do you always send people out in teams?
12.  What form of church government is practiced on the field?  
13.  Does the agency encourage new ministry methods and innovative ideas for ministry? 
14.  Who decides what ministry I will be involved in? 

Member Care

15.  How are team members cared for on the field?
16.  How are missionaries held accountable?
17.  What is the attrition rate in the past ten years?
18.  What is the growth rate in the past ten years?
19.  How are children cared for and educated? 
20.  Would they welcome you interviewing your choice of current member missionaries in the organization (someone who has been with them a long time and maybe someone who is fairly new to the organization)? 

Finances

21.  What percent of support goes to home office?
22. Does all student loan and consumer debt need to be eliminated before leaving for the field?