9:38 was set up to help people consider going into full-time gospel ministry in this country – and overseas. Over the last few years, apprenticeship schemes have been a great way for people to dip their toes into the waters of full-time gospel ministry without diving straight in without knowing whether it’s going to be right in the long term. But how were we encouraging people to think through overseas gospel ministry?
To some extent, the UK based apprenticeship would prepare the future overseas gospel worker – in servant heartedness and godliness, Bible handling, and full-time ministry experience. But the cross cultural element would be, quite literally, foreign! And what is to trigger an interest in going overseas in the first place?
The thought of an apprenticeship, much like ones based in the UK, but in another country, where the apprentice could dip their toe into an overseas cross-cultural environment, and get some vital training at the same time, began to develop. The main difference between one of these ‘overseas apprenticeships’ and other short term opportunities provided by mission agencies would be the training element: the focus on being ‘apprenticed’ (ie. at the same time learning from a mentor/trainer and being encouraged to consider going overseas in the long term).
We decided that the people who know best are those out in the field already so we contacted some mission agencies like Crosslinks and OMF. In partnership with them we currently offer two opportunities overseas, both in Africa, with potentially more on the way in other areas.
Here are some thoughts from one of the current overseas apprentices, who is out in South Africa for a second year, speaking about cultural differences:
These differences open up a chance to do quite a bit of learning and in the process, often see what really is biblical and what is just a cultural-cling-on! For example, is the method/process we use for this or that really the biblical bit – or is it that we just saw it previously work well? Is it, therefore, wise to impose that method on the new situation? It certainly makes you think more!
These overseas apprenticeships would be great for anyone thinking that overseas gospel ministry might just be for them. One group of people who it might be particularly suitable for are current UK based apprentices. Why not do one year as an apprentice in the UK, and then a year overseas? That way they would have experience and training of ministry in the UK and in a cross-cultural context. Whatever they then decided to do they would be very well prepared for. They would know exactly what they were letting themselves in for if deciding to go further down the full-time ministry road (overseas or UK based) and if not they would be in a great position to serve any local church in which they ended up.
So, have you ever considered full-time gospel ministry in this country, or overseas? Maybe now is the time to dip your toe in and test it out for yourself. And, if you are in church leadership reading this at a church with an apprenticeship scheme, how about having a overseas option for a second year on your scheme as your part in raising up future workers for the harvest field?
For more information on overseas apprenticeships, see the website and click on overseas. Or feel free to give me a ring on 01865 204879. There is also a tasty opportunity for a short Easter break to somewhere very far away for those considering future gospel work overseas.