This is an article from the March - April 1998 issue: Laying a Firm Foundation for Mission in the Next Millennium

Mission Training File: Next Step

LaunchedPartnership aims to increase missionary effectiveness,decrease attrition

Mission Training File: Next Step

Next Step: The North American Mission Training Partnership Launched

Mission training stakeholders, after two years of deliberate exploration and preparation, agreed to cooperate on a common goal: increasing missionary effectiveness.

Sixty leaders from mission agencies, training schools and churches gathered on January 31 at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs to affirm the purpose and mission of Next Step and pledge themselves to improve the preparation of North American cross-cultural workers.

Formally named The Next Step: North American Mission Training Partnership, this new network hopes to harness the synergism created when mission agencies, churches, and trainers work together to find solutions.

Preparing cross-cultural workers includes working at all stages in the life-span of the missionary, from people expressing initial interest to the veteran missionary on the field.

The primary areas of focus will be on character, ministry skills, and knowledge.

Thirty-five charter partners make up the initial roster, but Next Step President Woody Phillips, CEO of United World Mission, noted that many others could benefit from this working partnership.

During 1998 the partners have set forth several projects that will provide tools for those preparing cross-cultural workers. In addition, regional events provide opportunities to learn better ways to equip missionaries. The annual conference each January will feature practical workshops for partners and guests.

Fourteen training institutions have linked with Next Step, including Columbia International University, Mission Training International, Fuller School of World Mission, Agape International Training and Link Care Center.

Churches joining include The Chapel in Akron,Overlake Christian Church in Seattle,and Atlanta's Perimeter Church.

Mission agencies make up fifteen of the initial partners,and include the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, SIM, The Evangelical Alliance Mission, Mission to the World, Gospel Missionary Union, Greater Europe Mission, United World Mission, World Team and Frontiers.

Several other agencies,training institutions, and churches sent representatives and are in the process of completing the partnership application.

One of the key ideas embraced by Next Step is "the right training, provided at the right time, will make a measurable difference in the effectiveness of cross-cultural workers."

By working cooperatively, Next Step partners aim to improve every aspect of training so that the effectiveness difference will be seen in the lives and ministries of today’s—and tomorrow’s—missionaries.

For more information: New partners are welcome to join Next Step, and the charter membership extends through March 31. There is a $150 one-time enrollment fee, then a nominal renewal assessment each year.

One of the services Next Step provides is a web site on which a wide assortment of cross-cultural training is listed. The site may be reached at http://www.thenextstep.org

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New materials published by Next Step will also be cataloged on the web site.

Additional information about The Next Step may be obtained from Rick Smith, Executive Director, at: 6190 Balboa Street, Cocoa, FL 32927-8838 Phone: 407-639-1181 Fax: 407-639-152 Email: [email protected]

<Record Attendance at Annual ACCESS Conference> One hundred forty three participants from 75 organizations—double the previous record—met in Pasadena January 15-17 for the annual ACCESS Conference (Association of Christian Continuing Education Schools and Seminaries). ACCESS represents major evangelical schools and ministries involved in distance education

The conference theme focused on Global Access and examined the critical issues related to extending education across cultural barriers, including contextualization, technology, cooperation with global partners, and accreditation.

<World Christian Foundations Seminary in a Suitcase> Gain an M.A. or complete a B.A. from a regionally accredited Christian school wherever you live.

Gain the essentials of a seminary education with a global and missiological perspective. For more information:

M.A. Level Steve Burris School of Graduate Studies Hope International University 2500 E. Nutwood Avenue Fullerton, CA 92831 Phone: 714-879-3903, ext. 604 Email: [email protected]

B.A. Level Tim Tomlinson Northwestern College 3003 Snelling Avenue,St. Paul, MN 55113-1598 Phone: 1-800-308-5495

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