Individuals and Families

We take the commission to make disciples of all nations seriously. Whether you’re looking for a cross-cultural experience or pursuing long-term service, we’re here to journey with you.

Long-Term Missions

Long-term missions provides an opportunity to invest deeply in a community over an extended period of time. This can take many forms, from teaching, to planting churches, to providing medical services.

While each assignment looks different, those serving share a common desire: to serve God’s people around the world and to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Covenant

Covenant missionaries have the closest relationship with BIC U.S. World Missions. World Missions is their sending agency and provides administrative and financial support. Covenant missionaries raise a portion of their own support and are eligible to receive full benefits, including medical, retirement, and resettlement.

Under our care, covenant missionaries fulfill the following guidelines:

• Prepare for deployment through the Missionary Development Program (MDP)
• Serve terms ranging from one to three years, typically with a period of home ministry between terms
  
• Participate in an annual retreat with other missionaries, typically in the region of service

Partner

For those serving full-time with another missions organization, BIC U.S. World Missions offers support through our partner missionary relationship. For partner missionaries, World Missions provides limited administrative and financial support, such as processing contributions from donors.

Partner missionaries typically commit to serve a minimum term of two years working with a least-reached people group. The assignment must fit the strategic global priorities of World Missions.

Additional requirements for partner missionaries:

• Being a member in good standing of a BIC congregation before approval for service
• Having completed a shortened version of the MDP or the primary employer’s comparable training program
• Serving with a missions organization recognized by a body such as Missio Nexus

Associate

For those serving full-time with another missions organization yet wishing to be affiliated with BIC U.S. World Missions, we offer support through our associate missionary relationship. For associate missionaries, BIC U.S. World Missions provides connections and prayer support, yet no administrative or financial support.

Additional requirements for associate missionaries:

• Being a member in good standing of a BIC congregation before approval for service
• Having completed a shortened version of the MDP or the primary employer’s comparable training program
• Serving with a missions organization recognized by a body such as Missio Nexus or an organization approved by the Leadership Team

Short-Term Missions

Short-term missions takes many forms. While these opportunities place us in another culture for only a short period of time, the effects can be deeply transformative for all involved.

DOWNLOAD SHORT-TERM APPLICATION

Thrive

Ages: 18+ | Open to families? No | Service duration: 3 months with a 1-month orientation and exploratory trip to various BIC-affiliated ministries and businesses

Thrive is a hands-on internship in the United States equipping young adults to impact the Kingdom and to explore their callings. Through on-site, intensive training at a ministry, business, or nonprofit, interns explore how God has gifted them to serve and lead. Along the way, business and ministry leaders provide mentorship to the interns, helping them grow in their faith. Download an application for Thrive.

Cross-Cultural Internships

Ages: 18+ | Open to families? Yes | Service duration: 6–12 months

Cross-cultural internships provide a customized opportunity for you to work alongside BIC U.S. long-term missionaries. With personalized location and term length, interns gain invaluable experience in the field and an opportunity to discern a call to long-term missions.

Global Volunteer Positions

Ages: 18+ | Open to families? Yes | Service duration: 3–12 months

Global volunteering is a way for individuals and families to use their existing skills and experience to serve God in a cross-cultural assignment. Through this program, we partner with interested candidates to place them in their desired field for a defined period of time (generally between three and twelve months).

STEP

Ages: 18-30 | Open to families? No | Service duration: 6 months

Since 2003, STEP has designed team internships to develop and equip young people with realistic, intensive cross-cultural ministry experience. STEP takes you beyond the adrenaline high of short-term missions to deeper cross-cultural exposure. Through the STEP program, you have the opportunity to learn from international leaders, immerse yourself in local language and culture, and serve in practical ways.

STEP locations vary year to year. Participants in the program spend several weeks between August and December training in Pennsylvania before deploying in January for a six-month term.

Looking for ways your congregation can get involved? We partner with U.S. congregations through speaking engagements, short-term trip preparation, and BIC U.S. World Missions short-term trips.