We are continuing a series of posts on deputation. Deputation is the process of selecting missionaries who will be sent as their substitute or agent to preach the Gospel on the foreign field. It is the process in which independent Baptist Churches send missionaries to the nations around the world. To a family sent out from their church, it is the process in which they travel to like-minded churches to share what God has called them to do, to raise support in order to reach the people God has put on their heart.

The past posts have been an introduction to deputation and the importance of making calls. This post will deal with a few of the things to keep in mind at church you are scheduled to be in. There are a lot of things that need to be considered. Here is bullet list of things to keep in mind…

• Arrive early. If church starts at 6:00 PM, be there at 5:00 PM. What if no one is there? Wait. Be there an hour early, no later than 45 minutes early.
• Dress appropriately. You are not there to make fashion statements. You do not want anything, including your attire, to take away from the message you have come to convey. Dress in a dark suit, white shirt, and a conservative tie. Again, wearing something else is not a sin, you are free to wear whatever you like, but remember why you are there.
• Keep good hygiene. Make sure you hair is brushed and clothes don’t look like they were balled up for a week. Keep a pack of mints, not gum, in your pocket and pop them in often. Bad breath is not the memory you want lingering in people’s minds…or noses.
• Talk to people. You are there early, talk to people. Almost always, this will mean that you will have to go up to people and introduce yourself to people. Ask them about the local area, ask them about their salvation. Just enjoy the people and talk with them.
• Whatever time Pastor allows you, stick to it. If Pastor says 5 minutes, do not go 5 minutes and 1 second. You would do much better to go 4 minutes. You called him, you lined up the meeting, you are the guest, be respectful of what Pastor asks you to do. There is much more to consider about the time you have to share your heart, but that will be for another post.
• Be Grateful. If Pastor only allows you to pray for the offering, be grateful. Remember, he didn’t call you, you called him. If you go in with that in mind, it will help you keep the right attitude.
• Stay Late. When the last “Amen” is said, don’t go packing up your stuff and rushing out the door. Stay around for a while and talk to people. If you rush out, it gives the appearance that you don’t care about them.
• Enjoy it. If you are a preacher, going from church, to church, to church, to church and sharing your heart and preaching should be a dream come true. Enjoy it. Support may result from the meeting or it may not, either way try to enjoy it.

More posts are coming, in the mean time, pick up the Deputation Manual by Austin Gardner and Tony Howeth.