1. Emphasis on recognition, understanding and transference of Biblical values
Missionary attrition and team fragmentation continue to hinder the advancement of the Gospel and the lack of common values is among the most significant and avoidable factors we face. A strong emphasis on shared Biblical values will facilitate healthy and effective ministry teams.
2. Eight weeks of formal classroom training
The classroom training will be primarily involving seasoned missionaries and other mature and experienced ministry partners as instructors and facilitators. Utilizing teachers who uniformly share core values is a key element in their transference. Additionally, the variety and diversity of the teaching staff will help the candidate have a broader picture of missions as well as a deepening identity in Christ as he/she hears personal testimonies and narratives from each one. The classroom training deals with topics from four basic categories:
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- Our Christian walk
- Life in community
- Cross-cultural ministry and
- Challenges/details of missionary life (20%).
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3. Culture of grace
A culture of grace will be fostered from the beginning of their training (where the candidates will be living “in community”) through the end of their clerkship (additional 12 months).
4. Introduction to language and culture acquisition
From the first week of classes, the candidate will receive an introduction to the Tarahumara language and begin to work with an Indigenous language helper. The goal will be to provide the new missionary with the tools to learn another language and become a student of other cultures. The language helpers will be living and working on the same campus for the 2+ months. The missionary candidate will finish the class portion of their training having achieved a “basic conversational level of Tarahumara.” If the candidate spends his/her clerkship among the Tarahumara, this will greatly facilitate their integration into the host culture. If the candidate decides to intern and then work among a different ethnic group, the training will have demonstrated the principles of language and culture acquisition and will have given them valuable tools to accomplish the task. During the clerkship phase, they will continue their language training with coaching provided by the Bondservant Project staff (via internet and visits).
5. Coaching, counseling and member care
Support will be offered to the missionary candidate by qualified staff as appropriate to their role and their needs. This would be available throughout the classroom and clerkship phases.
6. Weekend ministry trips
Three-day trips to local and distant ministry sites to meet potential mentors and observe various styles of ministry will be offered during the formal classroom phase (8 weeks).
7. “Exposure for ministry fit” trips to selected host teams
A 2 week long exploration (“fit”) trip will be programmed into the formal portion of the training with the goal of networking the deacon missionary candidate with their future missionary host team. The 2 weeks will give both the candidate and the host team significant time to evaluate the clerkship possibility.
8. Optional English classes
English will be offered as an “elective” during the formal training. For the motivated student, a long-term language (English) helper/coach will be assigned for them during their 12 month clerkship.
9. One-year clerkship within a healthy missionary team/community
The host team will be a missionary community that has specific needs that the deacon missionary intern can meet using their profession, trade or skill. Both mission agencies and the national church could host the intern (those agencies that meet the Bondservant Project criteria and have entered into a MOU agreement).
10. Individual mentoring throughout training and clerkship
Mentors will be carefully selected, mature believers who have spiritual gifts of discernment, encouragement and shepherding. “Mentor” is understood to be distinct from “coach” and “counselor” and whose primary role is to facilitate the missionary candidate to become more like Jesus Christ as they navigate their first year in pursuit of God’s calling on their life. The mentor will be assigned before the end of the formal training and then will communicate regularly, pray daily and personally visit the intern candidate on site (with the host team) during their clerkship year. The mentor will be the primary interface between the deacon missionary candidate and the Bondservant Project leadership. Individual coaching (ideally in the missionary’s specific field of expertise) and member care will be available as needed or requested.
11. Continuing education and specific ministry training during the clerkship year
The mission training will continue throughout the clerkship year via internet and programmed visits from the mentor as well as scheduled workshops and conferences for the missionary in formation. This training will be customized to the missionary interns calling (ie. Study of Islam and Muslim culture by our associates if a missionary is feeling called to the 10/40 window etc). The Bondservant Project team will facilitate any ongoing education or professional development specific to the candidate’s profession or skill set. Additionally, if there are areas (emotional, etc.) needing attention that were identified during assessment and initial training the Bondservant Project team would help the candidate to find the appropriate help.
12. Meeting host team’s practical needs through skill set and giftings
Deacon missionary candidates will serve an essential role during their year of clerkship that will enhance the overall host team’s effectiveness (ie. physician, mechanic, teacher, nurse etc.).
13. Sending church interface
A close relationship will be maintained by the Bondservant Project team (primarily through the assigned mentor) with the candidate’s sending church throughout the training and clerkship. Our desire for this interface is to better care for the missionary candidate and to guard and maximize their clerkship experience.
14. Ministry partner development
Missionary candidates that choose to participate in the extended 12 month clerkship will be introduced and interfaced with potential ministry support partners throughout their year of ministry. The Bondservant Project team, with much prayer, will network with other Christian professional colleagues (ideally from the same profession as the missionary) and offer them the opportunity to visit, meet and partner with the missionary intern.
15. Conferences and workshops
Each missionary candidate will be encouraged to attend the annual COMIMEX/ COMIBAM conference (a Latin American missions networking conference) during their clerkship year. This would add significant exposure to other ministry opportunities and agencies within and outside of Latin America. Additionally, they will have the option of attending Christian and professional conferences appropriate to their professional field (ie: medical, aviation, construction, education, etc) during their clerkship year.
16. Passing the baton
There will be a one-month overlap to help with integration if the deacon missionary candidate finishes his/her 12 months of clerkship and chooses to remain with the host team. This will relieve the host team of any extra workload created by the orientation process when the new missionary arrives to serve with the team.
17. Potential for continued formal Bible training
Formal Bible training is available at the same training facility (Centro Educativo Cristiano (CEC)-Christian Education Center) for any missionary candidate who may be interested. It would begin in early January (after graduation from the classroom portion) and would continue for another 4 months. The missionary candidate could then begin their 12 month clerkship in the summer rather than in January after graduation if they so desire.
18. Potential to formally join other mission organizations upon graduation
The Bondservant Project team’s goal is that each missionary candidate who completes the formal and clerkship phases of the training will be adequately prepared to join other cross-cultural ministries worldwide. To expose the missionary intern to the potential ministry opportunities, the Bondservant Project will introduce them to various mission organizations and opportunities (via internet, videos and visits from mission representatives) during their training.
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