International Missions Board
• Your Praying | Your Giving | Your Going | Your Knowing

Volunteers serve in a variety of self-funded projects.Short-term missionaries serve overseas for 2-3 years.Long-term missionaries demonstrate a long-term call to missions and initially serve in a 3 year apprentice term.
Going site home page
How can I serve overseas?
What can I do overseas?
Where can I go?
Volunteer opportunities
Short-term opportunities 2-3 years
Long-term opportunities
Going News and Information
IMB News and Information
IMB Going Resources
Go back to the short-term service opportunities home page.
Find more information about missions, including links to Web sites from around the world.
Find inspiration, devotions and Bible studies about missions.
Read about the three ways to serve 2-3 years through the International Mission Board.
Research the current needs from around the world.
An overview of the short-term application process and necessary steps.
Avoid potential delays by reading about issues related to securing medical clearance.
Read the screening process timeline - application deadlines, screening conference dates, and field personnel orientation.
Research the IMB regional Web pages to see what God is doing around the world.
Questions and answers, frequently asked questions and other online help.
Read some postcards from journeyman missionaries from around the world.
Find links to stories about short-termers from around the world.
Information about subsequent assignments - serving another 2-3 year ISC term.
Information about attending a debriefing conference - for returned missionaries after their term of service.
How to mobilize your church or BCM toward greater involvement in world missions.
 
Home > Short-Term > Application > Screening Conference >

Here is a list of concerns that will perhaps slow the screening process.
These are not all necessarily deterring factors for an applicant, but careful attention will be paid to these issues. The list represents all three programs of service.

  1. Active Southern Baptist church membership of less than two years
  2. A lack of current or recent experiences in Bible teaching, discipleship of newer believers, spiritual leadership and intentional evangelism
  3. Married less than one year
  4. New infant in the home - especially for the first baby
  5. Divorce in the background, less than five years in the past
  6. More than one divorce in the background
  7. Widowed within the past year - one's independence and readiness
  8. Lack of stability in their recent work or educational history
  9. Medical issues like hospitalizations, past eating disorders, emotional struggles and other concerns
  10. Deviant theological beliefs not in line with the Baptist Faith and Message
  11. Poor references - thematic issues of concern
  12. Various lifestyle issues: recent alcohol, tobacco or drug use or inappropriate sexual behavior within the past two years, a current dating relationship or engagement
  13. Various life experience issues: family of origin issues, dysfunctional family, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, rape, suicidal thoughts or attempts, depression needing counseling or medication, recent significant grief
  14. Personal debt in excess of the limits
  15. Weak motivation or lack of international cross-cultural missions calling

 

Get started in the application process - Research assignments online

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