Journeyman oriented questions and online help

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What if my friends and I wish to go to the same place?

The Journeyman Program is an individual and not a group opportunity. It is generally discouraged to send journeymen to a place that they know people already (except having been there on a volunteer trip or something). This is a time to grow spiritually, ministerially, vocationally and relationally—to branch out and experience the journey of a lifetime.

Experience tells us that friends serving together tend to huddle and not reach out, especially when culture shock and homesickness set in.

However, there are some regions of the world, and specific job opportunities, that are asking if missionary candidates want to form their own teams.

I am a member of my Southern Baptist church back home and I attend a church while at college–which should I use for a recommendation?

We prefer a recommendation from the church where you have invested your most recent years—the church that knows you and has seen your ministerial gifts and abilities, not just your family history. We will need a letter of explanation from you of why you did not join this college church if the church recommendation comes from there.

Also, it will be good for the pastor or college minister at each church send us a letter of recommendation and their understanding and support of your situation.

What if I actively attend my college town Southern Baptist church but never officially joined?

So, not even under watchcare? You'll have to explain a little more in the application process. But if your membership is in a Southern Baptist church back home, there should not be a problem. Hopefully you were involved in ministry and not just an attender.

You will also ask your college church pastor or college minister to write a letter to us explaining your participation and involvement in the ministries of this college church. Having a local Southern Baptist church recommend you for missions service is essential.

I have been active in BSU for more than three years, having been saved as a freshman, but never joined a local Southern Baptist church. What do I need to do?

By all means join a local Southern Baptist church—this is an absolute requirement. This local body of believers will help support you through prayer and letters. Remember that the church is the body who sends out missionaries and your local church must send a recommendation for you. There may be a delay due to your short membership, so don’t waste time.

Also, have your campus minister write a letter to us explaining your situation and your active involvement in the student ministry. Then, have the pastor (or college minister) of the church to which you belong write a letter to us explaining your active involvement in the church.

Any exceptions to IMB policy are handled on a case by case basis and there is no guarantee that this exception will be granted.

Do I qualify if I grew up in a Southern Baptist church but attend a church of a different denomination while at college?

Sometimes it happens–you get to college and the dynamic student ministry is not happening at the local Baptist church! This is where Southern Baptist identity comes in to play.

Remember that good Bible teaching and a dynamic student ministry may help you grow in Christ each week, but has your commitment waned in regard to the Cooperative Program and how Southern Baptists carry out missions around the world? There is a bigger picture here. Being a part of another denomination will hook you into a more independent form of doing missions and ministry.

We would look at this issue case by case, looking carefully at your background and Southern Baptist identity.

What can be done about my student loans?

Many times student loans are more than the debt limit set by policy. This does not necessarily disqualify you from service because our regional office can draft a letter to your lending institution explaining your employment in a nonprofit organization. We have never had a new Journeyman tell us that these loans could not be deferred.

I’m interested in seminary as well as the Journeyman Program. Which should I do first?

This is a judgment call. If the passion for missions is hot right now, take the Journeyman route. Seminary will be there when you get back. Besides, there may be scholarships available from the seminary for a returned Journeyman or ISCer.

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.

There is no right or wrong way.

I know that missions is in my heart and I want to be a career missionary, but I've been sort of anxious about finding a mate. Am I ready to go overseas?

Ask yourself this very important question, "Am I ready to serve overseas in long-term missions as a single adult?"

You must be secure in who you are, not longing for some other stage in life. We call this a good single identity. Somebody who says "No" to the above question needs to settle their marital status prior to going overseas, no matter how strong one’s passion for missions. While overseas, you can't go looking around for a life partner since this will be such a distraction to your work.

I'm the sort of person who always seems to get involved in dating relationships, how does this affect being a Journeyman?

This goes back to having a good single identity. Just as culture shock is a reality when you get overseas, going to a no-dating status from an active dating life can be a real cultural adjustment.

Take a break from these sorts of relationships for several months before starting the application process. We want our personnel to be focused on the task of evangelism and church planting rather than investing their time in exclusive relationships. It is good for you to know this up front before you commit yourself for two years.

Self-control and your vision focused on the task are two essential characteristics of a good Journeyman candidate.

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—no matter what! 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 screening process together after your first anniversary.

What if I'm dating someone right now?

Ask yourself this question, "Am I willing to lose this person?" There is a saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Don't believe it. The reality is that absence make the heart wonder, and it will likely be on the part of the person left in the states, which is devastating to the person on the field.

Another scenario is that the person left behind will miss you so terribly that they will encourage you to come back before the end of your two years.

Our advice is for you to pull that pot to the front burner and turn up the heat to see where this relationship is going. If the pot boils, go ahead and make plans for the future. Perhaps come through the process together after your first anniversary. If it doesn't boil, take it off the stove.

The point is, deal with the relationship before going overseas! You will undoubtedly say that your relationship is different, but experience tells us that it is not.

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. If they continue to serve in let’s say Brazil, you might be able to serve in Brazil only if your work and ministry has no contact with family or past friends (like you ended up on the other side of the country). Otherwise, you might be able to serve in a neighboring country, again, with no regular or indirect interaction with family.

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