10 Steps to a UWM Field

1. Initial Contact: United World Mission listens to you in order to learn your gifts, passions, and sense of calling. We work hard to sense your “sweet spot”. We talk about possibilities and opportunities and get you in touch with field leadership in order to get a clear picture of what your role would potentially look like.  And if you're not completely sure what field, that’s okay too. It is not unusual for people to come to an “Assessment & Orientation” week because we share similar visions and values. And flowing out of our time we can help narrow the list for your prayerful consideration.

2. Church Connection: Going to work overseas involves more than just you. It’s about bringing with you those who know you, love you, care about you and those who have invested in your life. You need to talk things through with your church leadership. We’ll also contact your church leadership too so that we can include them in the process. This way you’ll never go at it alone. We always want to work in partnership with you and your church.

3. Application: It's more than just paperwork! It's our way of getting to know you, your experience, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses. We wish we had the chance to grow up with you but since that didn’t happen we use this option to get up to speed with you.

4. Assessment, Orientation & Appointment: By the time you come to Charlotte for this final process you’ll already have had several discussions with our coaches, field people and maybe others. Communication is a high value with us. During your time in Charlotte we’ll have face-to-face conversations to discus options, get to know each other better, ask questions, and work together to sense God’s direction. Together we make assessments as it relates to your preparedness, any fears or unknowns, etc. We also share with you a lot of nuts and bolts information about getting to and serving on the mission field and a strategy map to get there.

5. Partner & Support Development: When you leave Charlotte you’ll be prepared to start discovering your support and building a team of people who will be part of your ministry. You’ll learn how to share your mission vision, unpack your story, and include others in your process and future ministry. Your support team will pray for you, encourage you, support you financially, and help in other ways.

6. Training: When you reach 60% of your support you are eligible to transition into practical pre-departure training at a ministry center in Western North Carolina.  The Center for Inter-Cultural Training prepars hundreds of missionaries from many mission groups for effective service throughout the world. Click here to find out more about the Center for Intercultural Training.

7. Joining the team: Once you finished your training and completed you partner and support development you’ll prepare to depart for your field of service and join the team. They’ll welcome you and help you get settled into life and ministry. You’ll begin to make your first mistakes and of course many successes – we’ll love and pray for you all the way!

8. On Target Follow through Training: Besides being guided by your team and team leader, you participate in a year long follow up training course called “On-Target”. You’ll be guided as you apply what you've learned in pre-departure training classes. Our desire is to see you become successful and experience everything God has for you.

9. Team Strategic Planning & Evaluations: You participate in team strategic planning meetings; receive an annual personal development review for your growth and for accountability.

10. Regional Conferences & Pastoral Care: We build in special times of intentional relationship building for ministry development, personal and spiritual growth, and fun!