Center for World Missions

Global Outreach International Missions

Process of Intern Selection and Preparation for Internship

Students from college and university campuses across the nation will be recruited at events such as World Missions Workshop and Missions Emphasis Week as well as through contacts in their respective areas. Students participate in an application process and are interview following a review of their application and character references. Only students who demonstrate a sincere interest or who have committed to long-term, cross-cultural missions will be accepted into the internship.

Following acceptance into the internship, students begin preparation for the internship. The first school semester is dedicated to learning about more about long-term, cross-cultural missions in a general sense through weekly meetings, activities, and multimedia material. Interns will also be preparing for their trip by learning how to fundraise, to obtain visas, to buy plane tickets, to obtain information of their particular internship location, etc. Though we guide interns through these different aspects of missions preparation, we use these processes as teaching tools. At the end of the Fall Semester, interns participate in a prayer retreat.

The Spring Semester is dedicated to preparation for the interns’ respective fields. Students, through various multimedia materials, learn about the culture, the ministry, and the language of their respective locations. Toward the middle of the Spring Semester, Interns are required to attend a retreat located at Harding’s Global Village, HUT, for a time of team-building, pre-departure briefing, cross-cultural experience, and prayer.

Finally, a weekend the Fall Semester following their internship, we offer a debriefing session for interns. It is a time of fellowship, relaxation, and discussion of the internship. Interns also fill out an evaluation of their internship at this time. Interns are encouraged to share their stories at the different regional fellowships they are required to attend throughout their preparation time prior to the internship.