Questions to ask when interviewing a missionary

Seeing the perspective of a veteran cross-cultural missionary in an interview with that person can give you interesting insights
Try this list of questions when you interview someone who has significant experience as a missionary elsewhere in the world.
Use this list of questions to hear a missionary's heart and probe for enlightening experiences, stressful challenges, and reflections.

"I don't know what to ask when interviewing a missionary!"

Don't know anyone to interview for this assignment? Email me and I'll send suggestions:

Interview assignment for world missions classes

Need to interview a veteran missionary, but you don't know what to ask? Explore these areas.

Remember that the objective of this assignment is NOT to get specific bits of information. The objective is for you to spend time talking with a veteran of cross-cultural missionary service.

Biographical data: dates and places of missionary service, formal education, family, and other pertinent background.
What in your childhood prepared you for missionary service?
How did you receive your missionary call?
Were family/friends supportive?
Who or what was most helpful in preparation times (book or person)?
If the clock could be turned back, what changes (if any) would you want to make in your own personal preparation for service?
Misconceptions that had to be overcome?
What do you perceive are your strengths in ministry?
What do you see as your weak points in ministry?
What part of missionary work do you enjoy most or find the most rewarding?
What parts of your cross-cultural service would you like a chance to do differently?
A humorous incident involving either the target language or culture?
Most embarrassing or humiliating moment in cross-cultural contact?
Greatest disappointment or disillusionment?
Most treasured memory?
Specific ways life has been richer because of cross-cultural service?
Favorite scripture passage that relates to experience?
Your missionary hero or model?
Are there specific people in the target culture who have had a significant impact on you? If so, who and in what ways?
What advice would you give to people headed for cross-cultural service?

Your report can be written in one of the following three ways:

A transcript of questions and answers
A newspaper or magazine article
Some personal reflections triggered by what was said in the interview

Global Evangelism assignment instructions video

Your reflections after interviewing a veteran missionary

Simplified grading rubric for this writing assignment at Nazarene Bible College. It can double as a checklist for students prior to submitting their work to Scribe.

Was the assignment submitted on time?
Was this a report of an interview of someone with significant global missionary experience (more than just a single 10-day mission trip)?
Was the person specifically identified and information included on where they served and how long they were there?
Was the interview reported as being done face-to-face, via FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or phone rather than by email?
Does the report meet minimum length requirements?
Did the interview and the report seem shaped in some way by material encountered in this course?
Is the report acceptable for college-level reflective writing?
Is the submission relatively free of proofreading, grammatical, and syntax errors?
In terms of achieving assignment goals, would this interview report be considered inadequate, minimal, acceptable, good, excellent, or exceptional?

Note: The course web pages on the official Nazarene Bible College site contain expanded written instructions for this interview assignment

If you cannot come up with a missionary to interview, email me, and I'll send you a list of possibilities

Before submitting your report, check out the humorous writing checklist.

-- Howard Culbertson,

Afterword: More Advice on Interviewing

Conducting a successful interview involves several steps. These include:

Research the Interviewee: Find out in advance all that you can about the background, expertise, and accomplishments of the person you will interview. Knowing that person's professional experience, current role, areas of expertise, and notable achievements will help you formulate questions.
Define Objectives: Clarify the objectives of the interview. In this case, you are not trying to get specific information to report to the class. Rather, you are trying to get into the heart and soul of a missionary veteran. Understanding your goal will help you come up with relevant questions.
Prepare Questions: Develop a list of open-ended questions. Start with broader, introductory questions to establish rapport and context before getting into more specific topics.
Consider the Format: Decide on the format of the interview, whether it will be conducted in person, over the phone, or via video conference. Each format has its own considerations in terms of logistics, communication style, and technical requirements.
Arrange Logistics: If conducting an in-person or virtual interview, arrange logistics such as scheduling, location, equipment setup, and technical support if needed. Ensure in advavnce that you have everything necessary to facilitate the interview.
Practice Active Listening: Cultivate your own active listening skills. Stay fully engaged with the interviewee's responses rather than thinking of what you are going to ask next. Ask relevant follow-up questions. Pay attention to nonverbal cues, tone of voice, and nuanced answers.
Respect Time Constraints: Be mindful of the interviewee's time constraints and schedule. Keep the interview within the agreed-upon timeframe.
Test Equipment (if applicable): If conducting a virtual interview, test the equipment, internet connection, and software platform in advance.
Stay Flexible: Be flexible and adaptable during the interview. Allow for spontaneous thoughts and unexpected insights. Adjust your questions based on the flow of the conversation.

More course materials

Note: The official Nazarene Bible College course web pages will contain expanded written instructions for each assignment.