International Missions Training Institutes

If you’re thinking about volunteering overseas, you’re probably excited about joining God at work! At the same time, you’re probably making lots of lists. But have you also considered how you’ll relate to the people you’ll encounter overseas? Which of your actions might open doors of witness? Which might close them?

We’d like to help you find some answers through cross-cultural training. This 12-hour seminar will help you recognize the influences that shape your worldview (how you see others) and how that impacts your ministry. Discover what triggers and reduces culture shock. Discuss the unique challenges of witnessing cross-culturally. Explore the biblical basis of missions. To literally add international flavor to your experience, you’ll sit down to an international dinner as well as a “hunger meal.” We’ve also created a special time of blessing in which prayer, reflection, commitment--and joy--are shared.

Leading a volunteer team overseas offers you a double reward: seeing God at work through your team members as well as your project. A successful trip, of course, depends on being fully prepared. This 14-hour seminar will provide plenty of how-tos, including how to recruit prayer supporters, research your project site overseas, build your team, finance your trip, train team members, secure travel and proper ID, and plan a daily schedule.You’ll also discover how to maintain basic health needs and security (particularly if your team is traveling where the gospel is not openly shared). Some of the most important work of all awaits your return. Learn how presenting your missions experience to your church can play a key role in recruiting new and repeat volunteers.

Here are some comments from volunteers who have participated in training through IMTI:

• This was a very informative training session. The practice sessions or group interactions were really fun and useful in making it a meaningful learning experience. The personal experiences that were shared were very helpful. I appreciate your commitment to this work. Thanks for sharing your lives, experiences and wisdom with us!
• Thank you for including simulations and discussions in the workshop. Although it is difficult to get outside our comfort zone, I believe it is still important to do (even in an artificial setting). God wants us to be challenged to follow Him.
• I thought it was really good for raising awareness of issues such as creating dependencies, etc. The part on biblical basis of missions was really an inspiration to me, and gave me more confidence that if I'm willing to share with someone about Christ, He will provide the opportunity.
• What I appreciated most was hearing real life experiences of (the facilitators) that made me feel like NO ONE has all the sure ways of leading a group. NO ONE can be prepared for all that can happen. But that all can trust God for the surety that He will make a way possible if we just GO.
• I felt the interactive lessons were great building block, especially the "hunger meal." I plan on sharing it. I'm glad I did this even after my overseas trip as I still learned. I feel anyone considering a volunteer trip truly needs to have this training!
• This was very much what I needed before leaving on my first overseas mission trip. Very interactive, interesting and helpful.
• This was an excellent course. I developed spiritually as my heart for missions expanded. I want to be a part of leading a missions-driven church.
• I feel much better equipped to be of assistance on the field. I have been changed. Thank you so much!
• The love of Christ just poured from (the facilitators). In 13 years of Glorieta conferences, this had to be one of the best--if not the best. Varied formats, valuable information, interactive, based on God's Word. Great session! To God be the glory!
• The team teaching was the best I've heard. I wish all volunteers could experience this training before going overseas! I would recommend this training to anyone and everyone! The teaching team did an excellent job of getting the attendees to participate. Learning is much more effective with active participation and this workshop accomplished this very well!
• I appreciated the presentation of each topic, the openness to discussion by which a great wealth of experience was shared, and different methods of learning/teaching--verbal, visual and action. Thank you!
• I really enjoyed the training and felt it was well worth the time spent. This is helping me even more to look forward to going on a trip later this year!
• This was a great session, very informative for future reference, very eye opening to the world around me. Heartbreaking, but encouraging to see how much effort is put into reaching the unreached.
• Thank you for your willingness to be used! Having experienced missionaries leading this training was a real blessing!
• The hands-on role-play situations and interesting meals were awesome! Really opens your eyes and makes it real and personal. The Hunger Meal really impacted me. The videos were also great. They took us places we haven't been and showed us brothers and sisters serving and being served. They really encouraged me, challenged me and moved me emotionally.
• The seminar was great in presenting the importance of studying our culture and preparing as much as possible ahead, then following the right authorities and being flexible.
• The training gave me a totally different outlook on missions. I am very thankful I went through the training, now feeling more confident and comfortable that the purpose of our mission trip will be met.

For a schedule of cross-cultural and team leader training events, see http://going.imb.org/vim/Step_2/schedule.asp. If you would like information on how to establish an International Mission Training Institute in your church, association, state convention, university or seminary, please send an inquiry to vimd@imb.org.