Missionary Interviews & Pre-Acceptance Orientation

Please welcome Lisa to the blog — she’s the EFCCM’s Executive Assistant, and does a remarkable job, not only of coordinating a myriad of administrative details at any given time, but also of welcoming and caring for the people who visit our office. (If you think that’s me bragging about a colleague, you’re right!) — Brad (Communications Manager)

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It’s a privilege to hear missionary applicants share the testimony of their journey into overseas ministry. God’s calling on people’s lives is always moving, and yet it’s predictable in this way — so personal and intricate for the individual — a series of events, scriptures, experiences, people, prodding, peace.

We consider it a joy to know these stories God calls His people to!

This month, two couples joined us in the Home Office for a day of interviews with the International Mission Leadership Team (IMLT) and sessions reviewing personality inventories with our counsellor. The EFCCM schedules interviews for Career Missionary service 2-3 times per year. For the 3 days following the interview, applicants attend “Pre-Acceptance Orientation” which allows them to receive an orientation to the EFCC, the EFCCM, and several need-to-know subjects regarding cross-cultural life overseas.

Covered during the weekend are topics such as:

• EFCC Doctrine
• Becoming a Career Missionary
• Communications Philosophy
• Support Team Building
• Raising Kids Cross-Culturally
• and Cultural Transition Survival Training.

Seven couples attended this particular orientation weekend, including missionary applicants, returning missionaries and Area Directors’ spouses. Not only do participants gain an overwhelming amount of information (some refer to it as “sipping from a fire hose”), they are also able to build relationships with Home Office staff and other EFCCM missionaries on the same journey.

Once the orientation weekend is over, the group reconnects weekly for a series of “Distance Orientation” webinars led by our Personnel Director, Rich. And, just before they depart for the field, they return to the Home Office in July for a weekend of “Pre-Field Orientation”. It is our desire that EFCCM missionaries be well prepared for the ministry God is calling them to and we strive to help them arrive as ready as possible.

Are you interested in cross-cultural ministry overseas? Contact us today and tell us how God is placing a call on your life.