History
of the Journeyman Program
The
name journeyman was given
to the program with reference
to the model of the apprentice
and craftsman. An apprentice
is a beginner who is learning
a trade under the direction
of a skilled craftsman because
of his/her advanced abilities
and expertise. The journeyman,
who falls somewhere between
the apprentice and the craftsman,
sharpens and hones skills
that will someday allow him/her
to assume a greater responsibility.
The intent is to allow the
master craftsman an avenue
to pass along the tools of
the trade to a young learner.
The selection of this term
forms the foundation of what
was originally expected from
the Journeyman Program.
Conceived
in the shadow of President Kennedy’s
new Peace Corps, the International
Mission Board wanted to provide
a means for Southern Baptists’
recent college graduates to
serve in missions with career
missionaries, learning the tools
of their trade. The Journeyman
Program has provided a seedbed
for developing the future of
career missions. Since the start
of the program, literally hundreds
of returned journeymen have
been appointed as career and/or
associate missionaries. That
number continues to grow.
In
recent years, 30-40 percent
of all IMB career and/or associate
appointees had previous journeyman
or ISC experience. God has really
been moving in the hearts of
this generation in recent years!
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