Over the past number of years in youth ministry, I have tried to encourage the guys to consider full time ministry as a career option.
  I have seen some of the guys go on to school and are now in full time ministry as pastors.
  However, I don’t know of any of the guys I have ministered to over the years who is now out on the mission field as a missionary.
  While serving as a youth pastor it didn’t stick out to me, but now that I’m in a mission organization, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

In working with the First Year Missions program, a mission opportunity for 9 months, we are getting a number of applicants who want this type of ministry opportunity.
  But out of the applications we have received so far for the teams in September, only 7% of the applicants are of the male gender.
  93% of our applications are from females!
  I think we have a problem. 
 

Men are missing in action.
 

There are a number of things I think are the reason for this.
  First, I think the guys are not looking at missions as a viable career.
  It’s nice to go on mission trips for a week or two while in high school, but to take an entire year out to do missions work is asking too much.
   Guys are focusing more on their careers, and doing a mission trip for a year is not something that’s going to help them career wise.
  Well, not only would it help in getting a right perspective on life and what’s important, but it would help tremendously in beginning a career in missions.
  I believe there are a lot of young men out there who not following the Lords leading and instead following what the world is throwing out at them.

Secondly, I think some of the blame has to fall on the parents.
  I have heard from students over the years that mom and dad don’t really want them to pursue missions because there’s no money in it, or you’re always asking for money, or it’s not safe, or that you can volunteer time to fill your missions fix, or that you can be a supporter of missionaries.
  There always something.
  Parents are the main influencers of their children and need to be encouraging their sons to consider and pray about that possibility.
 

Finally, I think so many of the guys today have been sucked into the worlds way of thinking.
  Romans 12:2 warns us to not be conformed to the world, or as Philips puts it, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold.”
  It’s happening with many today.
  The world is molding many young men.
  If you are one of them, break free of the mold.
  Now I’m not saying missions is for everyone.
  But I believe it’s for a lot more guys than what we are seeing today.
  Give it a shot.
  You can start by giving God a year through the FYM program.
  It will change your life.