Excellent STM Is Characterized by:
Standard #6:
APPROPRIATE TRAINING
An excellent short-term mission prepares and equips all
participants for the mutually designed outreach, and is expressed
by:
6.1 Biblical, appropriate, and
timely training
6.2 On-going training and
equipping (pre-field, on-field, post-field)
6.3 Qualified trainers
In all our STMs, we strive to employ biblical, appropriate, and timely training for all participants (senders, goers, receivers) which equips them to implement the mutually designed program (1 Cor. 9:25-27; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). We acknowledge that relevant training will benefit all STM participants, fostering understanding, growth, and spiritual fruit while helping to prevent offense, damage, and poor stewardship. We further acknowledge that training should take place during each stage of the STM (pre-field, on-field, and post-field) by qualified trainers, and that regular evaluation of training results should take place. Although training is unique to each mutually designed outreach, there are some training ‘norms’ (below) that usually apply to all participants (goers, senders, receivers).
6.1 Biblical, appropriate, and timely
training
We pledge to provide on-time biblical and appropriate training
for all participants (senders, goers, receivers) emphasizing the
character traits, knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for
effective ministry in an intercultural context. The outcome of such
training should result in a clear understanding of how to correctly
do the task or assignment while maintaining effective relationships
with other participants. We further pledge to have our participants
agree to follow all guidelines, policies, and training the given
STM requires.
SENDING SUPPORTERS Our STM assures that
sending supporters
are trained for one or more of these six primary sending supporter
roles:
(i) Prayer supporters - how to intercede for given goer-guests and all aspects of the STM during the pre-field, on-field, and post field stages
(ii) Financial supporters - how, where, and by when to provide financial support
(iii) Logistical supporters - how to make arrangements during the pre-field process to provide any needed logistics help during the STM process
(iv) Emotional supporters - how to provide moral and emotional encouragement
(v) Communication supporters - how to call, write, or produce communication to the other ‘back home’ sending supporters and all others with whom the goer-guests need to stay in touch while on-field
(vi) Re-Entry supporters - how to meet with the returning short-termers and ask ‘intelligent questions’ in an emotionally safe environment; how to help steer goer-guests to appropriate referrals or assistance if there are unresolved issues or certain unmet needs
GOER-GUESTS Our STM assures that
goer-guest leaders
and
goer-guest
followers are trained in these six primary areas:
(i) Cross-cultural training - such as cross-cultural theory, communication, and simulation games, simulated settings; host culture/people specifics; language training and rehearsal; re-entry training
(ii) Personal preparation - such as biblical basis for mission; purpose of outreach; MISTM theory; goer-guests’ responsibility to all participants; personal spiritual preparation; team covenant development; team building/team spiritual preparation; prayer and spiritual warfare training; debriefing; follow-up training and integration
(iii) Logistics training - such as airline or other round trip travel arrangements; travel documents; prescriptions, immunizations, health, and hygiene; on-field housing, transportation, food, dress and site orientation; packing; risk and liability issues; customs and immigration; policies [cancellation, dating, smoking/drinking, photos and video, begging, etc.]
(iv) Intended activities preparation - including training for and rehearsal of the mutually designed on-field activities
(v) Financial preparation - such as budget development; fund-raising plans, money management, and funding deadlines
(vi) Additional items unique to the given STM
HOST RECEIVERS Our STM assures that
field facilitators
and key
intended receptor
leaders are trained in these ten primary areas:
(i) Logistical support for goer-guests
(ii) Program delivery support for goer-guests
(iii) Identifying our strategic field activities leveragable through goer-guests
(iv) Blending our field-supplied leadership with their sending entity-supplied leadership
(v) Risk management and security issues for goer-guests
(vi) Cross-cultural training (grasping the goer-guests’ worldview)
(vii) Recruiting from goer-guests for field needs
(viii) Outcomes follow-up
(ix) Relational issues
(x) Reinforcing issues or concerns and other pre-field training during on-site orientation (such as cultural issues, appropriate conduct, purpose and philosophy of the outreach, explanation of risk management and security issues, and other items agreed to in the mutual design of the outreach)
KEY QUALITY INDICATORS
6.1.1. How do you include biblical/spiritual issues throughout your training process?6.1.2. What training do you provide for sending supporters?
6.1.3. What training do you provide for goer-guests in cross-cultural sensitivity, personal preparation, logistics, on-site activities, finances, etc.?
6.1.4. What training do you provide for host-receivers in logistics, field activities, leadership issues, risk management, cross-cultural and relational issues, etc.?
6.2 On-going training and equipping
(pre-field, on-field, post-field)
We pledge to provide such training during the entire STM
process:
-
Pre-field - many of the items listed above
-
On-field - ongoing training, re-entry
training, debriefing
- Post-field - debriefing and follow-up
KEY QUALITY INDICATORS
6.2.1. When and how is pre-field training provided?
6.2.2. When and how is on-field training provided?
6.2.3. When and how is post-field training provided?
6.3 Qualified trainers
We pledge to provide trainers who are experienced and
knowledgeable in the items listed above, and who can provide
effective training and facilitate beneficial learning. We pledge
that our training program will implement timely and thorough
evaluation of the STM training as a means of improving our training
program.
KEY QUALITY INDICATORS
6.3.1. Who trains your sending supporters, goer-guests, and host receivers? Who trains your leaders?6.3.2. What training and materials are provided for your trainers?
6.3.3. How are trainers selected and what criteria are used?