Many people with a heart for missions feel the tension between the passion to serve and the practical realities of crossing cultures. You want to make a lasting impact, build genuine relationships, and share the Gospel in a meaningful, sustainable way, but how?

One powerful and proven avenue to do that is through TESOL—Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Whether you're preparing for long-term missions, wanting to reach non-native English speakers in your communities or seeking a strategic on-ramp into cross-cultural ministry, TESOL might be the tool you're looking for.

Why TESOL for Missions?

English is in high demand globally. From Asia to the Middle East to Latin America, communities are hungry for English education to access better jobs, higher education, and global opportunities. As a TESOL-trained missionary, you step into a role that is both needed and welcomed.

More importantly, teaching English gives you a natural, relational platform for ministry. It's not just a job—it's a bridge to people's lives.

Unlocking Closed Doors

Teaching English allows you to show up in places where traditional missionaries may not be allowed. In many countries, being a missionary is illegal—but being a teacher is not. TESOL enables you to enter these “closed” nations legally, work professionally, and build relationships through consistent, life-giving presence.

This presence often speaks louder than words. As a teacher, you model Christ through your patience, encouragement, humility, and love. Students and colleagues notice. Over time, those relationships can open the door to deeper conversations about faith.

TESOL in Your Own Backyard

Refugees often arrive in host countries with little or no English proficiency, which can severely limit their access to employment, healthcare, education, and everyday life essentials. TESOL-trained individuals can bridge this gap by providing structured, culturally sensitive English instruction tailored to adult learners from diverse backgrounds.

Language classes naturally foster relationships. Regular, respectful interaction between teachers and students builds trust—a critical element when working with people who may have experienced trauma, loss, and displacement. They create space for genuine friendships, offer consistent support and encouragement, and build credibility for sharing the hope we have in Christ, through both words and actions.

Using TESOL for ministry among refugees is a deeply meaningful form of service that reflects Christ’s heart for the marginalized. It meets urgent physical and emotional needs while gently opening doors for Gospel engagement. As refugees learn to communicate in a new language, they also experience dignity, hope, and connection—key elements of healing and transformation.

Final Encouragement

TESOL is more than a job—it’s a calling that can strategically place followers of Christ in some of the least-reached corners of the world. Through excellent teaching, genuine relationships, and Spirit-led conversations, TESOL teachers can quietly sow seeds of the Gospel. In this way, TESOL becomes a bridge between education and eternal hope.

GFM doesn’t just prepare missionaries for traditional ministry. With our unique approach to training that gives practical, hands-on experience, and our Missionary Training School Specializations (Like Business as Missions and ESL), you can learn how to use your passion for teaching English as a platform for ministry! 

Want to learn more about our ESL specialization? Click the link below!