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Orientation

Approved journeyman personnel will attend a six-week orientation at the Missionary Learning Center in Rockville, Va., (just 20 miles west of the IMB home office in Richmond).

Here is where you will learn more about the country and culture of the place you will call home for the next two years. It is a transitional community designed to help you leave the states and prepare for a successful missionary term overseas.

You’ll also develop tool skills and relationships that you will treasure for a lifetime.

Preparation

There are a lot of issues one must consider prior to field arrival. The student  mobilization team has gathered some great information addressing these issues.

Field departure

Personnel depart for their overseas assignments following a successful completion of orientation. 

Not everyone going through MLC will head overseas.

• Some MLC participants have chosen not to head overseas, for various personal reasons. This can be a good decision, too. People need to go when the timing is right.
• For others, the MLC experience has provided the IMB with additional information about an applicant that raises concern about their serving overseas at this time.

But, for most folks, they head to the field from one to two weeks after MLC. Face it, by this time you’ll be ready to head out on your Journey of a lifetime! Your regional office will guide you in decisions regarding your field arrival schedule. 

Many good-byes are already said prior to orientation so it can be a good decision to depart directly from MLC if your regional office agrees to this timing. Days in the States following MLC are at the discretion of your regional office and are not an entitlement.