Pre-Field

Discerning and pursuing your calling can be a confusing process.

It may be long or short. However our hope is that, by the time you leave, both you and your support team will be prepared to keep you there for the long haul!

Calling

If you feel any kind of calling to work cross-culturally, we suggest seeking early endorsement from the leadership in your local church. Our calling mini-course will help you!

Calling – Who? What? Why?

Confirming

Take time to process and test the calling. Don’t do this alone! Look to your church, loved ones, and other trusted voices.

Calling – Who? What? Why?

Equipping

Practically prepare for the road ahead. We strongly advise taking cross-cultural training. Our own Crossing Cultures 101 courses will give you key foundations.

Resourcing

You need a PACTeam! Make sure your support is in place. You’ll also need to raise finances.

Commissioning

Leaving is a process, not a single event. How are you preparing for a smooth transition? We’d advise building a RAFT and ensuring everything practical is ticked off.

On-Field

But what about once you arrive? Check our on-field resources.

Learn More

Pre-Field Support

A Sender’s Role

Any fieldworker needs a great team of friends, family and colleagues supporting them. You have a huge part to play in ensuring their success. Check out what you can do to ensure your fieldworkers thrive!

Calling

A church should establish a discernment process for anybody who may feel a call to work cross-culturally.
The call needs to be tested, and the candidate’s maturity and readiness need to be assessed
The church’s role is critical – sadly many missionaries who end up leaving prematurely for preventable reasons should never have gone in the first place!

Confirming

Give opportunities for the candidate to learn by serving and leading in the church.
Ensure good mentoring is in place for the candidate. Make use of people with prior cross-cultural or mission experience.
Consider mentoring for practical skills such as financial management or pastoral care.

Equipping

This is a season of practically preparing for the road ahead
Choices need to be made about an agency or a process for training and equipping. Ideally, the church leaders would walk alongside the candidate through this.
We strongly recommend the raising of personal support teams by the candidate and the church’s backing in that endeavour would be important.

Resourcing

If the church endorses, hopefully they will also partner with the pre-field missionary in the matter of financial support.
Clarify the level of support required with the field worker and consider how the church can support through the process of fundraising beyond providing money.
Remember it is much easier for others, particularly those in authority in the church, to advocate for their financial support than for the candidate to do that on their own behalf!

Commissioning

Read Acts 13. You will see that this is more than just a rousing send-off, with a ‘goodbye’, at the end. The sense of still belonging, even when serving at the other end of the world, is so important.
Maintaining that connection through thick and thin might make all the difference between success and failure.
Encourage the field worker to maintain the connection to the church – and make sure you do too!
See our on-field resources for more details on what is next.

Resources

Start Your Journey

Here are some useful materials for you

Courses

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Course

Developing Leadership for Cross-Cultural Ministry

Mission thrives on cultivating leaders who embody the life and character of Jesus, the most effective figure in history who…

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Building a Support Ecosystem

In this course, we examine the different dimensions of support that are needed for a successful cross-cultural experience or lifestyle….

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Thriving Across Borders

This course covers the major transitions that someone will make when crossing cultures. We delve into the typical transition points…

Course

Know Thyself

This course explores the concept of understanding ourselves within the context of our own cultures. Before delving into how we…

Course

Calling – Who? What? Why?

In the church, there exists a widespread misconception that only “exceptional Christians” receive a “proper” calling from God. The truth,…

Course

The Antioch Factor

Ross Paterson presents a stark choice that no Christian or church can avoid making – whether we become a Jerusalem…

Course

Caring for Third Culture Kids

Currently in development, this exciting new course is created by our Dean of Studies, Ben Gilbert. British by birth, raised in India, with time living in Sri Lanka and the Middle East – the TCK experience is familiar to Ben, who is excited to share personal experiences, research and helpful insights for both TCKs, and those caring for them to thrive across cultures. Sign up to be notified when the course is released!

Course