Steps to the Field

Short- and Long-Term Ministries (Two Years or Longer)

1. Help us get to know you by filling out our Ministry Exploration Form. You’ll share information such as your testimony and ministry interests.

2. We’ll contact your church and help you explore fields of ministry. You’ll provide us with references and complete a background check form.

3. At this point we’ll ask you to share more in-depth information about yourself. This includes a doctrinal questionnaire, biographical sketch, ministry self-assessment, Bible assessment, and psychological assessment.

4. Once the paperwork is completed, you may receive an invitation to attend our one-week Candidate Orientation* in February, June, or October. If you accept, we’ll send information and assignments that will prepare you for the event.

5. Think of Candidate Orientation as a two-way interview: you’ll learn about us and decide if we’re right for you, and we’ll learn more about you to decide if you’re right for the GEM family. Before the week is over, you may be appointed to serve with GEM.

6. You’ll then have opportunities to tell others about your ministry assignment with a goal of enlisting them to serve alongside you through prayer and financial support. We call this process Ministry Partner Development, and you’ll be equipped to do it after you attend a two-day seminar*.

7. To help you further prepare for your time overseas, we’ll help you choose areas in which you’d like to grow. You’ll select and begin meeting regularly with a mentor to accomplish these goals.

8. Because moving to another culture requires adjustments in every area of life, you’ll spend two to four weeks in Pre-field Training*. Most appointees attend an additional two weeks of Language Acquisition Training*.

9. When you’ve completed Ministry Partner Development, we’ll give you clearance to depart for the field!

* A cost is incurred. You may raise funds to cover the expense.

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