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Missionary Training at ABWE

Field Prep Seminar Attendance Requirements

Field Prep Seminar training is designed to be most effective when the participants experience it within a few months prior to their departure to the field. Thus, the following requirements are intended to help coordinate the timing of FPS attendance with departure for field ministry, so as to enhance the value and impact of FPS training.

1. Pre-field missionaries should plan to attend the last FPS that will be offered prior to their departure for the field. Career missionary pre-fielders must communicate with the Pre-Field Department regarding the appropriate seminar. The final approval will be granted by the Pre-Field Department. These, and perhaps other, criteria will be used in making that decision:

• Completion of Pre-Field Development (PFD) assignments. Prior to attendance to FPS, a pre-fielder should have completed most, if not all, of his or her assignments. See the Pre-Field Ministry graphic below. As a requirement for FPS attendance, completion of PFD assignments is just as important as the appropriate support level.
• Amount of committed support confirmed by the Missionary Finance Department
  • Already being received regularly, or…
  • Official "intent to support" forms, or…
  • Printed (mail, email, fax) statements of official support, or…
  • Phone conversation with a pastor or other similar church official, or…
  • Some other support commitment approved by the Missionary Finance Department
• Status of Outfit & Passage fund
• The rate at which their support has come in since the beginning of their pre-field ministry and the consequent projected rate of future support
• Credible evidence of future support
• Time availability to concentrate on the final support raising process
• Special circumstances, such as late term pregnancies

The general target level of committed support for FPS attendance is 85%. Each case will be evaluated separately, based upon the criteria stated above. In some cases, FPS attendance will be granted prior to the 85% level. In some other cases, the Pre-Field Department may conclude that the additional 15% of support will not likely be gained prior to the next FPS.

2. The deadline for approval to attend FPS is on Friday, two weeks prior to the beginning date of the seminar.
   
3. Pre-field missionaries who attend a FPS, but do not depart for the field within a year and a half after the FPS they attended, will be required to attend FPS again. In other words, if two Field Prep Seminars occur between the time a person attends a FPS and the time that person actually departs for the field, that person will be required to participate fully in another FPS prior to leaving for field ministry.
   
4. The LANCE portion of the seminar is required of all FPS participants except:
• Those who are assigned or opt for a two-week PILAT program (at CIT in North Carolina or MTI in Colorado) as part of their pre-field development program.
• Those whose experience, training, or field assignment provide a justifiable reason not to attend.

The final decision concerning participation or excuse from the LANCE program will be made by the CEIM Division, in consultation with the appropriate missionary administrator.

5. AMP (short term) missionaries are expected to attend the summer PreAMP program during the annual ABWE Missionary Conference at Messiah College, if at all possible.   AMP (short term) missionaries, for whom it is absolutely impossible to attend a summer PreAMP program, may be permitted to attend an April or November Field Prep Seminar, but this must be approved by the AMP department.  AMP (short term) missionaries who attend an April or November Field Prep Seminar will be expected to follow the same general procedures as career missionaries, with some additional flexibility with regard to required support levels for FPS attendance. Because of the highly individualized nature of AMP ministry assignments, each case will be considered separately by AMP and CEIM leaders. CEIM, in conjunction with AMP and the Missionary Finance Department, will make the final decision regarding AMP pre-field missionaries and their participation in a FPS.
6. Department roles in the FPS attendance approval process:
   • Pre-Field Department
     • Communicates with career pre-field missionaries and consults with the Missionary Finance Department and CEIM as a basis for approving or denying participation in a particular FPS, based upon the criteria stated above.
     • Communicates the names of approved FPS participants to the CEIM administrative assistant as early as possible and at least two weeks prior to the beginning of FPS.
   • AMP Department
     • Communicates with short term pre-field missionaries and consults with CEIM leaders in the process of approving or denying participation in a particular FPS, based upon the criteria state above.
     • Consults with the Missionary Finance Department, if it is deemed to be helpful or necessary, based upon the specific ministry appointment for the pre-field AMP missionary.
   • Missionary Finance Department
     • Provides information regarding existing support levels, and other related financial data.
     • Conducts a more thorough assessment of the missionary's support levels and support requirements (as needed for FPS attendance requirements) in the cases of "border line" required support levels.
   • CEIM
     • Makes plans for FPS based upon the list of career missionary pre-fielders that are approved for FPS participation by the Pre-Field Department and the AMP Department.