Download Detailed Steps

STEP 1: MEET PREREQUISITES

1. Lifetime Call (Both Spouses)

2. Spirit-Filled (Both Spouses)

3. License to Preach Credentials (Primary Applicant)

4. Ministry or Missions Experience

5. Be a U.S. Citizen

6. Limited Personal Debt

7. District Endorsement (Step 4 Below)

STEP 2: COMPLETE AN AGWM APPLICATION

STEP 3: AGWM PROCESSES APPLICATION & REQUESTS THE DISTRICT FOR ENDORSEMENT

STEP 4: COMPLETE A DISTRICT INTERVIEW REQUEST FORM

STEP 5: MEET WITH DISTRICT MISSIONS DIRECTOR TO REVIEW CALL

STEP 6: DISTRICT SCHEDULES AN INTERVIEW AND COLLECTS REFERENCES

STEP 7: CANDIDATE ATTENDS DISTRICT INTERVIEW

STEP 8: DISTRICT SUBMITS ENDORSEMENT TO AGWM TO CONTINUE PROCESSING APPLICATION

STEP 9: AGWM LEADERSHIP REVIEWS APPLICATION

STEP 10: APPLICANT HAS A PRE-INTERVIEW WITH AGWM REGIONAL LEADERS

STEP 11: ATTEND CANDIDATE ORIENTATION WITH FINAL INTERVIEW WITH AG WORLD MISSIONS BOARD

STEP 12: AGWM APPROVAL COMMUNICATED TO CANDIDATE AND DISTRICT

STEP 13: CANDIDATE OPENS FINANCIAL ACCOUNT AND STARTS ITINERATING

STEP 14: CANDIDATE ATTENDS JOURNEY TRAINING AND COMMISSIONING

STEP 15: DISTRICT WELCOME, ORIENTATION AND ONBOARDING FOR ITINERATION SUPPORT AND MISSIONARY CARE

AGWM Mobilization & Development Missionary Associate Office Phone: 417-862-2781 Ext. 2098 | missionaryassociate@ag.org‍ WideOpenMissions.org

NWMN Missions Office | Emily Quigley emilyq@northwestministry.com

MEET QUALIFICATIONS

Individuals must meet the qualifications before applying.

• 18 years or older

• Born again Christian and growing believer

• Consistent in your personal devotional life; faithful to your local church

• Limited personal debt

• U.S. citizen or valid resident alien permit that allows travel to and from the U.S., with a valid U.S. work permit that allows return to the U.S. after living in another country for a year or more.

AGWM MA APPLICATION PROCESS

The applicant must determine a location and receive an invitation from an appointed career missionary mentor to serve with. If needed, AGWM will help place the applicant with a location and mentor missionary. 

Submit an MA application. AGWM Mobilization office will request the following before the application is moved along.

• Pastoral References

• District Endorsement

DISTRICT ENDORSEMENT PROCESS

(a) AGWM requests the applicant’s district for endorsement.

(b) District missions office meets with applicant to review assignment.

(c) District submits an endorsement to AGWM.

AGWM APPLICATION PROCESS CONTINUED

(a) AGWM leadership reviews application file.

(b) AGWM makes approval decision. If approved:

• Itineration Specialist Assigned

• Missionary Budget Formed

• Missionary Account # Assigned (For Contributions)

• Start Fundraising Right Away

• Open AG Credit Union Checking Account (For Personal Expenses)

• Enroll in Insurance

(c) Attend Candidate Orientation & Journey Training.

(d) Gain clearances to depart to field (financial, visa, insurance, travel, mentor)

QUALIFICAITONS

Do I need a missionary call?

CAREER – Yes. Career missionaries must demonstrate clear evidence of a lifetime call where the local AG district and AG missions sending agency can discern and affirm that call during the application and interview process.

MA – No. Associates are not required to have a formal missionary call. However, they may feel called to this short season of missionary service.

What is a lifetime missionary call?

A call to missions is a divine call that always presents itself with both internal and external confirmations to the individual and that are evident and affirmed by the body of Christ. These can be described as “evidence” of being called.A call is “an inner desire given by the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God and confirmed by the community of Christ” (Bruce Waltke, 1995, 128). The missionary call as a distinct, second decision (beyond a call to ministry inside the church), to vocational ministry 1) outside the church, 2) sent by the church, 3) to apostolically and evangelistically 4) cross social, cultural, language, and geographical boundaries, to bring the gospel to another people group who do not have access to it. Therefore, a decision to serve as a career missionary may be a “second” decision beyond a first decision to vocational church ministry (if that’s where you started).

Is a degree required?

A degree is not required for career or short-term service, but there may be opportunities and locations that become available with one, such as teaching in a university. However, having classes dealing with cross-cultural issues, theology, Bible, and missions strategy are very helpful for missionary effectiveness.

What if I am not a U.S. citizen or able to work in the U.S.?

CAREER & MA - Due to governmental restrictions, we are only able to process people who are able to earn an income in the United States.

What if I do not attend an AG church?

CAREER  - Career missionaries must gain AG ministerial credentials, which typically assumes a ministry background in an AG church or ministry setting, but this is not always the case.

MA - Not attending an AG church does not automatically disqualify you for the missionary associate program. This issue is determined on a case-by-case basis according to input from the district where you reside.

Do I need to have ministerial credentials?

CAREER – A License to Preach is needed to apply for career appointment and then work towards ordination during the first term on the field.

MA - Credentials are not required. This program is specifically designed for people who do not hold ministerial credentials.

What if I have more debt per month than the maximum limit?

CAREER  - Career candidates will be required to write a debt reduction plan before their application is finalized. They must do what they can to reduce debt before going to the field.

MA - Missionary Associates are required to be under the maximum level by the time they leave for the field. Many missionaries work hard to pay off credit cards, selling a home or car as they raise funds to leave for the field.

What if I have school loans?

CAREER  - Your school loan payment can be factored into your missionary budget to be raised.

MA  - Most school loans can be deferred during the time of your assignment. Our office will be able to provide verification of your assignment and financial status if necessary. Contact your lending agency for further information.

What if I am divorced?

CAREER – Being divorced does not automatically disqualify you for AG credentials or for career missionary service.

MA - Being divorced does not automatically disqualify you for the MA program. Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis.

OPPORTUNITIES

What kind of ministries are available for missionaries?

The availability of ministry locations and opportunities around the world are vast and AGWM is cultivating these opportunities all the time. Most missionaries are involved in general missionary work such as church planting, bible school teaching and training, evangelism, preaching, discipleship and compassion ministries, but there are also special assignments in the areas of nursing, education, communication, business administration, and curriculum development, as well as, other special ministries. As you get into the candidate process, you will work with your regional director to determine your location and ministry assignment based upon opportunities available.

How do I select where to serve and what ministry to do?

AGWM will want to know if you have a location and ministry that you feel called to and discuss how it might look on the field. Where you serve and what you do is determined by intersecting your call with actual needs and opportunities on the field. If you don’t know, AGWM will help place you.

What if I want to serve in a country or position that is not listed in the opportunities search?

If a country or specific ministry is not listed, it may still have need. AGWM will seek out placement in the country and position of your desire when you apply. AGWM will let you know if placement is not possible and seek to find placement for you close to your request.

What about language learning?

CAREER - Career missionaries are required to learn the language of the people they will be working with during their first field term at a language school (or language tutor for certain locations).

MA – Not all assignments require language study. If it does, a 1-year assignment requires 4 months of language study. A 2-year assignment requires 8 months of language study.

LOGISTICS & FUNDRAISING

How long will it take before I am on the field?

CAREER - It takes 6 to 8 months to complete the career missionary application process because of how national office and local district deadlines and interviews work for entry into candidate orientation, which occurs twice a year. Then it takes approximately 12 to 18 months to raise the budget and secure final clearances to depart to the field.

MA - It takes 2 to 4 months for approval of an assignment. Then, on average, it takes about 7 months to raise the budget, attend Pre-Field Orientation, and secure a visa.

What will happen once I am approved?

You will be required to raise your budget, attend a Pre-Field Orientation, and obtain final clearance before leaving for the field.

When can I start raising my funds?

After final approval is given. At that time, you will open a World Missions account where support for your assignment can be sent.

What about financial stability on the mission field?

AGWM will build a budget to ensure you maintain adequate financial stability on the field, taking into consideration family living expenses, kids school, medical insurance, ministry expenses, retirement, school loans, and other provisions.

What does a typical missionary budget look like?

A missionary budget is comprised of three areas: 1.) living expenses, 2.) ministry expenses 3.) cash for one-time expenses and projects. Career average budget is $6,800-9,000/mo. MA average budget is $2500-3500/mo.

Is itineration/fundraising required?

CAREER – Yes. Career missys have formal deputation. They itinerate to churches, family, friends, and individuals to cast missions vision and raise support.

MA – MAs fundraise to family, friends, and to AG churches/pastors they have a relationship with (no cold calling).

How long does it take to fundraise and raise a missionary budget?

CAREER - 12-18 months of itineration for a 4-year term.

MA – 8-12 months of fundraising for a 1-2 year assignment.