THE PROGRAM

Next Steps, established in 2007 as a summer training program, continues to flourish! This UPCI Global Missions Short-Term Missions program  is the perfect bridge between AYC and AIM, our first-level associates program. It’s also great way to get experience you can use for a life-time of service!

Each assignment is a total of eight weeks. Three weeks are spent in a classroom-like environment for on-the-field training with plenty of time for networking and scouting out the area. Then comes the five glorious weeks of missionary apprenticeship, allowing participants to actually do the work of a missionary.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Each applicant must be at least 18 years old before departure to the field. There is no age limit. If you’re 92 and in good health, go ahead and click that Apply link when you’re ready. For everyone else, click that Apply link whenever you’re ready.

APPLYING ONLINE

The process is simple. Talk with your pastor first before proceeding to the application, it’s the first question we’ll ask.

Once you’ve submitted the application, you’ll be directed to pay the $100 non-refundable application fee. Once you’ve paid the fee, you’ll be directed to fill out a Insurance Liability Waiver (signed by a witness, so have someone handy). Once we have all three pieces, we’ll work to get the rest on your behalf (Pastoral Recommendation, Missionary Input, Regional Director Input, approval by the Global Missions Administrative Committee, and a Global Missions project/account number). Whew!

ASSIGNMENT BUDGET

Each Next Steps Assignment has it’s own budget. Included are three main categories.

• Airfare – you purchase your own ticket unless otherwise instructed (rare).
• Tuition – you make two non-refundable tuition payments in the Spring before departure which covers accommodations and other prepaids of varying degrees
  (i.e. transport, some food, some excursion).
• Incidentals – you hang onto these funds for expenses on, or related to, the field (i.e. laundry, food, transport, entrance visa, medical insurance, required vaccines, etc.)

**The expense of obtaining a passport is not included.

The total budget is indicated on each location page and the apply page. The Anatomy of a budget is usually ready by the first of November and sent to those who are approved.