ASSOCIATION OF FREE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS

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1 ASSOCIATION OF FREE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS AFLC Journey Missions Perspective Short Term Assistant God has called each of us to be involved in world missions and your personal involvement has led you to serve Him in a foreign field with AFLC Journey Missions. You are embarking on an adventure that will push you, stretch you, and grow you in many ways that you don t expect. You ll be pushed out of your comfort zone, but you ll know that the Lord is continuing to refine you. We are praying with you that this time in the foreign mission field will be a time of growth in your relationship with the Lord and an eye opening experience to the Lord s calling for your future. This application is the first step which can take up to 4 months. Upon completion of this application please turn it into the AFLC Journey Missions Department and you will be contacted within a week to set up a time for you to seek approval from the world missions committee. Following our initial conversation, we will have you start on the training materials. I m looking forward to working with you as your heart is burdened for the foreign mission field. The Lord is with you as you go to the nations and serve Him. Praying with you during this process. Serving Him, Jon Nelson Jon Nelson Department Head of AFLC Journey Missions

2 AFLC Journey Missions Journey Missions Application Short-Term Assistant To: Thank you for your interest in being a Short Term Assistant with the AFLC. Please complete and return this form and a recent photo to Jon Nelson at: AFLC Journey Missions, 3110 East Medicine Lake Blvd, Plymouth, MN or jon.nelson@aflc.org Personal Information Full Name: Mr. Mrs. Miss Ms. (First) (Middle) (Last) Address: (Street) (City, State) (Zip) Daytime Phone: Evening Phone: Age: Birth date: Citizen of (Country) Birthplace: Passport Number: Issue Date: Expiration Date: Marital Status: Single Engaged Married Separated Divorced Ministry Information Are you a member of an AFLC Church? Yes No What is the church name? If No, what church/denomination do you belong to? Please describe your ministry involvement in your congregation: Please describe other ministry involvement outside of your congregation: Briefly describe your previous (if any) missions experience (short or long term):

3 Why did you decide to apply for this ministry?: What experiences have you had with cultures other than your home culture?: What strengths do you have that will contribute to the ministry?: Is your family in agreement with you desire to be in foreign missions?: What are your expectations for this time serving as a STA?: What are your concerns and/or fears about this experience?: What are you praying that God will teach you and/or do in and through you on this trip?: Briefly tell your faith story: Are there any medical conditions of which AFLC Journey Missions should be aware?: Please list emergency contact info (Name, Address, Phone):

4 Short Term Trip Code of Conduct Short-Term ministry trips are about representing Jesus Christ and AFLC Journey Missions to people who may not know Jesus. Thus, as a participant of the AFLC Journey Missions Short Term Assistant (STA) program it is expected that you conduct yourself according to the highest standards of integrity and morality, so as not to compromise the team, the ministry partners or the image of Christ. In summary, we ask that you refrain from any behavior that may hinder your ministry or the ministry of the mission for the duration of your time; and we askthat you follow these guidelines, recognizing that, should you conduct yourself otherwise, you and the ministry are put at risk. By reading and signing this Code of Conduct you are agreeing to abide by AFLC Journey Missions guidelines for the duration of your time cross culturally. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the mission field, in which case you will travel home at your own expense. I will: 1. Make my best effort to attend all team meetings prior to departure, during the trip and post-trip. (If unable to attend, arrangements must be made with team leaders to cover the material presented.) 2. Go as a servant of Jesus Christ and adopt that attitude when dealing with fellow team members, missionaries, and other people I meet during the trip. 3. Be flexible in attitude, recognizing that schedules and activities may change. 4. Interact with all team members, not just those I knew prior to the trip. 5. Accept and submit to the leadership and authority of the team leader(s) and/or country host(s) and promise to abide by his or her decisions as they concern this ministry trip. 6. Respect advice given by the country host(s) regarding attire, eating and drinking, personal interactions, and traditions that will help me better understand and assimilate into the local culture. 7. Follow the guidelines provided by my team leader(s) and/or country host(s) regarding gift giving. 8. Be circumspect regarding what could be perceived as flaunting our wealth. It is not uncommon that the jewelry, cameras, electronics etc. that we bring on a trip cost more than those we visit may earn in years. 9. Be respectful in regard to photography. We all want to remember our trips with photos. Yet we must respect the dignity of our hosts. This is especially true of video recording. 10. Ensure that the team leader(s) knows where I am at all times. I will not wander off or follow my own agenda regarding the use of my time during the trip. 11. Refrain from using tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or illegal drugs at any time while on the ministry trip. 12. Refrain from inappropriate public displays of affection with team members and one-on-one social activities with nationals of the opposite sex. I have read and understand and agree to the above guidelines for conduct while on my short-term ministry trip. I recognize and agree that in the event that my conduct is considered so unsatisfactory that it jeopardizes the success of the trip, and that mediation during the trip has failed to correct my behavior, that my services with the ministry shall end, and I shall return home immediately at my own expense. I agree with the above expectations and certify the information in this application is true to the best of my knowledge. Print Name: Date: Signature:

5 ASSOCIATION OF FREE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS Short Term Assistant (STA) s Policy AFLC Journey Missions The Short Term Assistant program is intended to provide practical and logistical help to missionaries on the mission field. The STA program is also intended to deepen mission awareness, interest and commitment in the assistant. The program can be a tool for the assistant to confirm a call to prepare for foreign missions. The assistance that the STA provides on the field can take many forms, from manual labor, to help with a missionary s children. The term Short Term Assistant describes any person who travels to the mission field to work for a length of time of two months or more, unless otherwise approved by the World Missions Committee. Requirements: A. Age - An STA going to a field without his/her parents is required to be at least 18 years old. B. Education - STA s under the age of 22 are required to have a high school diploma. C. Request for Assistance - A written request from a missionary, or national leader on the field, for an STA must be presented to and approved by the World Mission Committee. D. Disease Prevention Each STA must seek and follow the advice of a travel clinic for the location to which they are traveling. E. Health Insurance Applicant needs health insurance that is effective in the country of travel as well as a travel insurance policy F. Contact Information Applicant needs to leave emergency contact information with the World Mission Trips Department G. A background check is required at the expense of each applicant. Procedure: A. A missionary wishing to have an STA will contact the World Mission Office expressing the need and prospective candidates before contacting the candidates. B. The prospective STA must be approved by the World Missions Committee before an agreement is reached with the assistant to go to the field. C. If financial assistance from the Women s Missionary Federation (WMF) is desired, the WMF must be consulted well in advance of the STA s departure for the field. D. With the guidance of the World Missions Office, the STA is responsible for the following: 1. Raising all funds needed for travel, documents, and living expenses while on the mission field. 2. Travel arrangements to and from the country. 3. Securing all shots and medication necessary. 4. Securing passports and visas as necessary.

6 E. If the initial contact comes to the World Missions Department from the STA, a letter of invitation must be secured from the missionary on the field desiring to work with. F. The STA must have a job description in place before departure to the field. This job description will be developed by the missionary requesting and STA. G. Before departure to the field, an STA needs to go through the proper training given, including being required to listen to the Crisis Management MP3s on the specific aspects that have the highest risk in the assessment (Included on jump drive in this packet). H. The STA is required to not promote any special projects that are not on the AFLC World Missions Approved Project List. I. Yearly donations received for a STA are limited to the current yearly expenditure for a single, full time, called AFLC first term missionary. Each STA will be assessed 5% of the funds sent in for them to pay for administrative services. Time limit: A. The start date of the STA s term of service will be defined in agreement with the World Missions Director B. Length of the STA s term of service will vary according to a variety of situations and conditions such as but not limited to: The people group Linguistic limitations and/or time needed to gain a minimal working knowledge of the language Geography Travel costs Working agreements with the local church body C. A review of the STA will be made no more than two years from the start date of his service, and every two years thereafter. 1. The Review will be conducted by the World Missions Director with assistance at his discretion from any or all of the following, where they exist: The Missionary being served by the STA The Field Conference The indigenous leadership in the country/area of service 2. The Review will assess areas such as: Need for continued service Compliance with this Policy Manual Role in the midst of changing needs Health 3. Outcome of the review will determine Duties going forward The continuation or termination of service as an STA

7 Accountability to the World Missions Committee A. The STA shall be directly accountable to the Missionary being served B. Where the STA is not directly under a missionary the STA shall be directly accountable to the World Missions Director or his designee. C. The STA shall submit monthly reports to the World Missions Department. D. Before commencing service the STA shall sign an agreement with the WMC as to Crisis Management sessions Financial Accountability A. The STA must have reasonable assurance of adequate financial support before approval of a start date. B. The STA must have an adequate plan for the coverage of medical expenses that may arise during the expected term of service. C. The management of finances for the ministry of the STA must be handled in one of the following ways: 1. By the World Missions Office / AFLC Accounting office. 2. By the STA s local church designated leadership, having agreed to World Missions policy regarding STAs finances. (The following information is an opportunity to receive a grant from the WMF, this is not for funds approval) Women s Missionary Federation Guidelines for Short Term Travel to Foreign Missions Recognizing the benefits that mission trips hold for the mission field and missionaries, the WMF, and the individual, the National WMF implements the following guidelines to encourage trips: 1. Those desiring financial assistance must do so in writing detailing how the trip will benefit the women on the field in service to our Lord. 2. A written report will be given to the National Board upon return from the field. The individual may also be asked to write an article or speak at the annual conference, or a district rally. 3. Preference will be given to the individual whose trip will most directly benefit the WMF. 4. Preference will be given to the mission field that the National Board determines is in the greatest need of encouragement. 5. The board will seek to assist one individual per year. If more requests are made, we will notify local WMFs of the need so that they may send in support if they desire to do so. 6. Those requesting financial assistance should understand that we cannot promise full support and should seek assistance from other sources. 7. Financial assistance will be determined by the availability of funds.

8 Background Check: ASSOCIATION OF FREE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS AFLC Journey Missions Social Security #: Permission to Obtain Background Check (This form authorizes the church/organization to obtain background information and must be completed by the applicant. The church/organization must keep this completed form on file for at least two years after requesting a background check.) I, the undersigned applicant (also known as consumer ), authorize AFLC Journey Missions through an independent contractor, to procure background information (also known as a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report ) about me. This report may include my driving history, including any traffic citations; a social security number verification; present and former addresses; criminal and civil history/records; and the state sex offender records. I understand that I am entitled to a complete copy of any background information report of which I am the subject upon my request to AFLC Journey Missions if such is made within a reasonable time from the date it was produced. I also understand that I may receive a written summary of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Signature: Date: *This background check form must be returned with the application*

9 ASSOCIATION OF FREE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS AFLC Journey Missions RELEASE OF LIABILITY: By traveling on this trip you affirm that you are fit to participate in the trip and accept all risks to your safety and health. All travel involves risks, and travel to some countries involves a heightened risk to your health and safety, including risks from terrorism, criminal acts, and illness. You understand and freely accept these risks, and you generally and specifically release and hold harmless AFLC World Missions and their officers, agents and employees from any liability and any claims for (i) any physical, mental, emotional or other injuries whatsoever that you may sustain related to this tour; (ii) delays, damages, illness, injuries or death, or for the loss of or damage to property, from any cause (including negligence) and however occurring; and (iii) any accident, illness, injury, damage, sickness, loss of personal property, delay, or other Injury or claim of any kind related to or arising from strikes, armed conflicts, social or labor unrest or strikes/work stoppages, war or acts of war, terrorism or terrorist acts, acts of God, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws or acts of local or government authorities, criminal acts, weather or climatic conditions, volcanic eruption, earthquake, disruption of advertised schedules, refusal of visas, or any other causes beyond their direct control. Signature Date *This release of liability form must be returned with the application*