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MA Orientation Program


Since the MA program is designed to link individuals gifted in various vocations with ministries overseas urgently needing their help, it is essential that MAs are prepared for the unique realities associated with AG foreign missions. Toward this end, the AGWM Center for Missionary Orientation provides specific training for Missionary Associates.

This training covers a variety of topics, below are links to the various courses associated with each program topic. A brief introduction to the importance of each topic is provided, followed by a list of its courses.

The CMO offers a variety of topics for the MA Program:
FINANCES

There are many financial realities associated with being a missionary. Most people focus on the big financial issue of raising his or her budget; however, integrity and stewardship are also critical issues. An AGWM missionary proves to be a good steward of his or her resources as he or she becomes familiar with the various forms, reports, and budget responsibilities associated with his or her mission’s assignment. While the filling out and maintaining of such forms and reports may seem cumbersome or complex at times, it does not need to be so. The tutorials in this section simplify the process by explaining the significance of each form and/or report and showing how to fill it out. This section will prove to be a helpful resource allowing missionaries to refer back to when such information will be applied on the field in the future. We hope you find this section helpful. Here are the various courses in this Finances section:

FIN201 Understanding Your Monthly Statements
FIN202 Managing Funds: Utilizing the SDR and AER
FIN203 Understanding Your Budget
FIN204 Dealing with Taxes

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TRAVELING

There are many details, requirements, and expectations associated with missionary travel. This section provides courses on some of the most important items and details needed for safe and efficient traveling. One of the joys of missionary life is the opportunity to travel to new and exciting places, however, such joys can soon be overcome by regret and frustration if certain rules and practices are not understood and followed. We hope you enjoy this section on Missionary Traveling.

TR201 MA Insurance
TR202 MA Visa and Travel
TR203 Travel Health and Immunizations

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SUPPORT RAISING

For many missionaries, this topic is their “Mt. Everest.” Yet, even though such a task may seem daunting, time and time again, God has faithfully provided all the funds needed for missionaries to fulfill their mission. Nevertheless, the following tutorials help to break down this seemingly overwhelming task into manageable and practicalbe steps along with helpful advice. We are sure you will enjoy this section!

SR201 A Look at AGWM
SR202 Communicating Your Ministry
SR203 Mobilization
SR204 Raising Your Budget

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MISSIONARY LIFE: PERSONAL

Unlike many other vocations or careers, being a missionary is far more than just a job… it’s a lifestyle. This is why we speak of the “missionary life.” Vital to fulfilling ones call to missions is maintaining a healthy personal life and central to this life is a vibrant and growing relationship with Christ. Missions work—just like most forms of ministry—can become consuming. If missionaries are careless, they can fall into the trap ministering to others while neglecting the importance of nurturing ones own personal life with Christ. Out of such a personal devotional life flows every other dimension of the missionary lifestyle. Below, you will find important tutorials geared towards helping you maintain your personal life in God.

MLP201 Code of Ethics and Communion
MLP202 Understanding the Holy Spirit
MLP203 Maintaining a Personal Devotional Life
MLP204 Personal Accountability
MLP205 Personal Finances

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MISSIONARY LIFE: FAMILY

Missionary families come in many forms. Some may be married couples with no children and some with children; some may be single parents with children and some may be singles with no children. Whatever your situation, you are directly or indirectly connected to a family and the nurturing of such a family is vital for the healthy and successful missionary. This section focuses on two topics—maintaining a healthy family life and investing in ones children while on the field. Here we will discuss how to carve out time—in the midst of busy lifestyles—to invest in the health of ones family… however that may look.

MLF201 FAQ Session
MLF202 Healthy Living
MLF203 Investing in MKs

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MISSIONARY LIFE: MINISTRY

Even though that we are breaking down “missionary life” into four various dimensions, we need to understand that such is only in an abstract sense. In reality, missionary life is fully integrated in such a way that one can not really dissect ones personal life from ones family life, nor ones ministry from the same. Yet, in order to provide practical instruction, it is important to break these topics down in the way we have. In this section we discuss various topics that regularly and directly relate to the ministry work of missionaries within an AG context. Here you will find tutorials to help sharpen your unique skills and training while also helping you learn how to think theologically as a missionary. We are sure you will find this section practical and helpful.

MLM201 Utilizing AGWM Online Resources
MLM202 A Theology of Missions
MLM203 Missionary Life
MLM204 Managing Conflict
MLM205 Spiritual Warfare

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MISSIONARY LIFE: ON FIELD

Finally, we conclude your MA Orientation Program by discussing issues and topics related to the diverse realities one finds in his or her missionary context. Much of this material will be related to the cross-cultural challenges and opportunities unique to ones missionary location. Whether in Europe, Asia, Latin America, or Africa every missionary must be prepared for the distinct cultural realities identified with his or her geographic location. While much of these realities will be addressed through the expertise of ones regional director there are general principles that apply to any geographic region. Our hope in this section is to help the missionary begin to recognize the enormous role that culture and historical location play in many of the “on field” missionary challenges and opportunities he or she will face. We hope you enjoy this final section. After completing the final tutorial, be sure to take the final exam which can be found on the CMO Home Page.

MLO201 Cross-Cultural Interaction Exercise
MLO203 Indigenous Church
MLO204 Case Studies
MLO205 Personal Safety and Risk Management

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