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2 to 3 Years:

Journeyman

Preparing for Service

What if I don’t have any overseas experience?
Although not a prerequisite for short-term service, previous overseas experience is something that is extremely helpful for someone who desires to spend the next two years in ministry outside of the United States. Since the IMB is into international cross-cultural missions, perhaps you have some involvement in the international community here in the States. Consider talking to your associational office about ethnic ministry in your area or work with your BSM's international ministry on campus.

While it is preferable that our applicants have some form of overseas experience, like a volunteer trip or a student summer missions experience, a few of our applicants have never been overseas. If you have a sense of God’s leadership to serve in a cross-cultural missionary setting overseas, you should complete the online information form anyway. The Journeyman program involves an application process whereby we want you and the IMB to make good decisions.

What kind of preparation would help for overseas service?
A volunteer trip overseas is always good preparation. Formal witness training is a real plus. Perhaps look into Continuing Witness Training (CWT), FAITH or Evangelism Explosion (EE).

Involvement with the international community here in the States can be great preparation for a possible overseas term. Is there a university nearby where you could get involved? Perhaps ESL certification and ESL teaching experience would help prepare you for an overseas ministry.

Another good preparation is to continue to exercise your gifts of Bible teaching, discipleship of newer believers and intentional evangelism.

Do I have to be a Southern Baptist?
Yes. We are an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention and our denomination expects the IMB to send out those who are Southern Baptist.

Application Process

How long does the application process take?
Many things can affect the time it takes to move through the application process: medical clearance, debt, time availability, and even your own initiative. On the average, those applying for 2-3 years assignments take six to eight months to complete the application and interview process — this is starting with submitting the initial information forms through the start of orientation. Don’t set yourself up for discouragement if it takes you longer, or get too excited if you move through it quicker. The application is designed for each individual to move through it at their own pace; you mostly determine how long it takes depending on the time you can commit to it and your availability to begin serving. Your consultant will also work with you to determine the best timing for attending an interview conference and looking toward orientation.

Field Issues

What if I don’t know any foreign languages?
That’s OK. If you need the local language to do your work, you will have some intense language study during the first few months. This may be in a school setting or a more casual context of learning from a tutor or nationals.

Do I have to speak the local language?
You should expect to learn to speak the local language while in country. You may not need the language to get your work done, but you will need some language to show the local people that you care about them, their heritage and culture — and that you are not a tourist! Certainly you will learn proper greetings and departures, and how to bargain at the market.

What type of housing will I have on the field?
It will probably not compare to western standards, but it will be adequate in which to live. Depending upon the country and the city, you may live in a house, or an apartment, or maybe just a room with a local family. You will learn more about the accommodations as you are matched with a job.

Financial Issues

Do I have to raise my own support?
No. IMB missionaries are fully funded through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®. This is the backbone of Southern Baptist missions. The only support that needs to be raised is prayer support!

What kind of salary do you provide?
We provide an adequate system of support that meets basic needs. Monthly support includes a base salary with cost of living supplement (field parity). The base salary remains constant, but the supplement may be adjusted up or down depending upon the cost of living in your particular country. Housing and work-related transportation are provided on the field, so basically the expenses you will pay out of your salary each month will be for your food, utilities, and personal expenses. If you choose to travel on your vacation time, that is also your personal expense.

What sort of benefits and insurance do you provide?
The IMB provides comprehensive medical insurance and modest life insurance. There are no retirement benefits provided through the basic Journeyman program. We also provide travel insurance.

When does the financial support begin?
Support begins the first day of orientation (which is a travel day) and continues until your last day on the field. It is normally paid by direct deposit on the last business day of every month.

What about my student loans?
You may go ahead and start paying them, but your payments must be within the limits of $75 per month if you are single and $125 per month if you are married. Many times, however, student loans are more than this debt limit. This does not necessarily disqualify you from service — student loans may be eligible for deferment until you return. Typically you will qualify for deferment because either 1) your monthly income is below the minimum required to make payments or 2) you are working for a non-profit organization overseas. Not all loans qualify for deferment — you will need to contact your lender to determine if deferment is an option.

What about my credit card debt?
Get the debt paid down to within our debt limits of $75 per month if you are single and $125 per month if you are married. It is always best to go to the field debt free. Please note: this monthly payment limit includes the total of all payments.

What about my car payment?
Most people will sell their car before coming to orientation or just after leaving orientation. If you choose to keep paying for your car (for when you get back), we will ask you to write a letter of how you intend to get within the debt limit.

What about my house mortgage?
Some people sell their homes while others will rent them out while they are overseas. If you rent, have someone here in the States who has Power of Attorney manage the property for you. Your consultant will request a letter from you explaining your plan of action to be within the debt limit.

How will I exchange my money on the field?
Depending upon the country, you might be able to go to a bank and write a personal U.S. dollar check and receive the balance in local currency. Most likely you will either use your Visa or MasterCard at a bank to get a cash advance (but watch out for fees), or receive a cash advance from your mission treasurer (whereby you write a monthly personal check to the IMB to clear your personal account).

What health insurance is available upon returning to the States?
The IMB provides full medical coverage for up to two months after completion of service (for a two-year term of service). After this, other coverage will become necessary.

Journeyman and Single Adult Questions

What if my friends and I wish to go to the same place?
The Journeyman Program is an individual and not a group opportunity. You will come through the application and interview process individually, though you and a friend may come through simultaneously and be able to serve together. There are some regions of the world, and specific job opportunities, that are asking if missionary candidates want to form their own teams.

I’m interested in seminary as well as the Journeyman Program. Which should I do first?
This is a personal preference decision — there is no right or wrong way to approach this. If the passion for missions is hot right now, take the Journeyman route. Seminary will be there when you get back, and there may be scholarships available from the seminary for a returned Journeyman.

On the other hand, if missions is your life’s calling, you need to get prepared. Go ahead and get your M.Div. degree (or the needed 20 or 30 hours) then come through our process as a Journeyman, getting the necessary current and continuous two-year experience for long-term service.

You can also check with the seminaries about the 2+2 and 2+3 programs and how that might fit with your personal goals.

What if I'm engaged right now?
Certainly if you are engaged now (or soon to be engaged) this is not the time to think about being away from that person for the next two years! You will definitely be distracted from developing relationships on the field and focusing your attention on your main task of missionary work.

It is best to perhaps go ahead and get married, then come through the interview process together. You will need to have been married at least a year before attending a Missions EXPO.

What if I'm dating someone right now?
It is important to deal with the relationship before going overseas. Once you apply, your consultant will assist you in your decision making.

I’m an MK. Can I go back to my parents’ country as a Journeyman?
Only if your parents are no longer serving in that country. The IMB's policy is that adult family members do not serve in the same country.

Overseas travel questions

Do I have to pay for my own passport and inoculations?
If approved by staff committee to be an IMB missionary, the IMB will pay for your expenses getting to the field. This means reimbursement for passport fees and required inoculations. You will learn more about this at an interview conference.

Does the IMB get a passport for me?
No. You are required to get your own passport. The passport-type photos you sent with your application are not for passport purposes. The place to start your passport process is the U.S. Post Office or online.

When should I apply for a passport?
Begin to apply for a passport as soon as you sense God’s leadership overseas. It takes a number of weeks to get a passport, (even if you have all your "proof" documents in order). So, when God leads you overseas, you will then be ready to go. If He leads you to stay, you will have a good source of I.D. and will be ready for any international volunteer trips that come your way.

Will I need a valid driver's license overseas?
It is always a good idea to keep your personal documents up to date and in order. When you return to the states, you will not want to start all over taking a driver's exam.

Can my family and friends come and visit me overseas?
By all means, yes. We encourage you to invite family and friends to come and visit you! They will return to the States with a bigger heart for missions and will become an advocate for your people group.

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