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Frequently Asked Questions

The Application Process

Who can I talk with about missionary service?

There is a toll free number 1-888-422-6461 manned by two Initial Contacts staff members and they help people with questions about applying for service. They are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. They focus primarily on responding to people who have not begun the application process. There is no commitment by talking with Initial Contacts or in beginning the application process. Remember that our goal is what God wants for you.

How long does it usually take to go through the application process?

Prospects work with a personnel consultant and he/she can give the best estimate depending upon your situation. Usually it takes between a year to a year and a half to work through the application process, including completion of the paper work, personal interviews, Missions EXPO, job assignment, medical clearance, appointment, and orientation. Applicants may decide to slow down the process in order to pray through questions and decisions that may arise.

Do I have to raise my own support?
No, your support comes from Southern Baptists who give to the Cooperative Program and to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.

How do we find out about salary and benefits and when do they begin?

Salary and benefit information is shared with prospects during the Missions EXPOs held in various places around the US. Participation in an EXPO is by invitation only. Salary and benefits for apprentices start one month before Field Personnel Orientation begins at the International Learning Center.

How often are appointment services held?

Appointment services are scheduled four times a year. They are conducted as a part of the regularly scheduled meetings of the trustees. One of those services is held in Richmond. The others are held in various parts of the United States in order to provide Southern Baptists with the opportunity to attend such a service.

How can I prepare for future service?

Be sure to discuss your preparation with a personnel consultant who can advise you about each area listed below:

• Education. If needed, begin working on your college and seminary requirements. You may want to begin working on some biblical, missiological and theological training.

• Discipleship training. Look for opportunities to learn more about discipleship. Also, you might choose to order Explore Pathways to Missions, from our IMB Resources. Explore is a set of learning experiences designed for people who are exploring the possibility of missionary service.

• Experience. Go on an overseas volunteer trip. Be involved in mission projects locally.

• Evangelism training. The primary role of a missionary is to share Christ, leading people to make a commitment to Christ. A course with a practicum is required.

• Stewardship. Be a good steward of your financial resources. We do have a debt limit.

• Physical health. Live a healthy life style. There are health and weight expectations.

• Learn about the nations. Do research on people groups. Pray. Become involved in ministry to internationals in the U.S. or abroad. Many have found English as a Second Language training and experience to be very helpful.

Requirements

If I am from a country besides the U.S., can I apply for missionary service with the IMB?

We can only take applications from U.S. citizens (by birth or naturalized citizens). Applicants must be current, active members of a Southern Baptist church located in the U.S. We encourage Christians of other nations to find ways to serve through their own church or with mission agencies in their own country if available.

What are the seminary requirements?

• Many assignments in church planting, church development, and seminary teaching require a bachelor’s degree and a graduate level seminary degree.

• Apprentice missionaries appointed as team strategy leaders are required to have at least 30 hours of graduate level biblical, theological, and missiological study.

• All other career assignments require an appropriate degree plus 20 hours of graduate level biblical, theological, and missiological study.

• Career spouses serving in church and home outreach ministries are required to have at least 60 semester hours of bachelor’s level courses or 15 hours of bachelor’s level biblical, theological and missiological courses.

PLEASE NOTE: For the 20-hour and 30-hour requirements be sure to review course selections with an IMB consultant.

• Missionary apprentices are strongly encouraged to have these requirements completed BEFORE appointment. Note that ALL required hours MUST be completed PRIOR to reclassification to career status at the conclusion of the apprentice term.

What are the educational requirements for missionaries serving in the community and home outreach role?

Missionaries serving in the community and home outreach role are encouraged to have as much education as possible. Those serving in the career category are required to have at least 60 hours of general bachelor’s level courses or 15 hours of biblical, theological and missiological courses. Spouses are not required to have seminary training.

Missionary apprentices are strongly encouraged to have these requirements completed BEFORE appointment. Note that all required hours must be completed prior to reclassification from apprentice to the career status.

What are the medical requirements?

There are two primary issues we consider when it comes to medical concerns. First, does the applicant or a family member have wellness issues that would make it difficult to live and function in another country?

Second, is there adequate medical care available for the applicant or a family member in the locations where they will be living?

Our medical department will work with applicants to help determine the answers to those two questions. Specific medical concerns may be addressed with your personnel consultant. Candidates must receive medical clearance from the medical department before they can serve overseas.

What are the witnessing and evangelism expectations for new missionaries?

The first responsibility of all missionary personnel is to be involved in evangelism.

Apprentices will need formal evangelism training demonstrating an active witnessing lifestyle. They will be asked to share a recent experience where they led someone to faith in Christ.

What are the debt limitations?

Missionary personnel receive adequate but limited support. Debt places a significant burden on the missionary. New personnel must have less than $1500 of unsecured debt at the time of appointment. No more than $200 a month can come out of your salary for debts back home (example school loan debts). During the application process, seek the counsel of your consultant about this issue.

What if I am divorced?

Persons with a history of divorce might be eligible to serve through the New Masters Program which is a partially self funded program. Trustee policy does not allow divorced individuals to serve as apprentice or career.

What are age limits for apprentice? For their children?
Personnel must be at least 21 years of age and not older than 50 at the time of appointment. Families with teens are not able to pursue appointment until those children are out of the home. Adolescents face many challenges fitting in to a new culture.

Do I have to be Southern Baptist for a certain amount of time?

We are an agency of the Southern Baptist convention, supported by Southern Baptists and governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention. Those seeking to be apprentice missionaries must be current, active members of a Southern Baptist Church for a minimum of three years at the time of appointment.

Decision Making

Can single men or women be appointed?

Yes, the IMB appoints a significant number of single men and single women every year.

What if my spouse is not sure about his/her call?

The IMB appoints both husbands and wives as missionaries and assumes that both are able to articulate a definite call to mission service. If your spouse is not comfortable with applying for service, then you would want to wait and simply make it a matter of prayer. We do not recommend that you pressure your spouse in any way. God will lead them if that is genuinely what you are supposed to do.

If one of you is open and interested, but you cannot say you are genuinely called, we encourage you to use the application process as a tool to explore your call. Your consultant will work with you at your own pace.

Lifestyle Questions

What is the role of the missionary wife?

When couples are appointed as career or apprentice personnel, both husbands and wives are appointed and are considered fully qualified missionaries. It is assumed that both the husband and wife will express a clear sense of call to missions. Both husbands and wives will complete all of the application materials.

Husbands generally are matched to the primary assignment of a job description. Their education, skills, and experience are considered when choosing this assignment.

The majority of wives are appointed in the role of community and home outreach. In many situations, the wives take on the responsibility of providing for the home and the education of their children. The community and home outreach assumes that the wives will also find a significant and meaningful area of ministry outside the home. At the same time they are able to limit that involvement when there are family responsibilities that need to be handled. This provides for the best of both worlds: the opportunity to dedicate time and energy on family needs while at the same time having a significant involvement in the ministry on the field. Consultants can offer additional information on job roles including situations where the couple does not have children on the field and the wife desires to fill a specific job request.

I have heard there are some weight limitations, can you explain them?

We expect prospects to be in good health and to have a good weight for their height. Many prospects start early to work on this so that this does not delay the process for them. We use the BMI standards which can be found online. You may also talk with your consultant about this.

Can I take my pets?

For career missionaries, taking a pet overseas can be a huge challenge. Many countries require that a pet be kept in quarantine for a period of time before letting it into the country and difficulties can arise later with other travel demands. The IMB does not pay the cost of transporting pets overseas. Check with your consultant about this.

Children’s Education

What do you do about children’s education?

The IMB is dedicated to providing adequate education for your children. Each job request will define the educational options for missionary children. In general there are the following options: homeschooling, local national schools, local international schools and boarding schools. This varies with assignments.