Ask a Mission Worker: As a young person called to mission, what's next?

Anna Abidan is a self-professed zillennial (on the cusp between Millennials and Gen Z) from Nigeria. She grew up with parents who worked in mission, which meant she saw first-hand what it looks like to serve God in everyday life, in communities who did not have the gospel. In May 2025, she began serving in campus ministry in West Africa.

This question comes from one of our Instagram followers: I’m a 16-year-old who feels called to mission. How can I start preparing now for the future, when I plan to move overseas?

“It’s such a privilege to be called,” Anna says. “It’s not easy but, with God by your side, you can do it.”

Her first encouragement is simple but foundational: pray about it. She explains that building a personal relationship with God is the most important preparation anyone can make.

She says, “Without God we can’t actually do anything. Hold on to Him, listen for His leading, and learn to stay in His presence. That’s the best preparation you can have.”

“Without God we can’t actually do anything. Hold on to Him, listen for His leading, and learn to stay in His presence. That’s the best preparation you can have.”

At the same time, Anna points to practical ways of preparing. She highlights the value of orientations, conferences, and training opportunities. These can all help, she says, but “if you’re not in the right standing with God, you can miss your step”.

Her final reminder is to ,“Pray, pray, pray again. God will lead you to the right place and the right people.”

If you’d like to explore what mission could look like for you, or to think about your next steps, SIM is here to help.

Visit our Explore Mission pages to find out more. If you’re a church wanting to support a young person interested in mission, you can do that here too.