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NAMB Missionary Designations
Career—A missionary or missionary associate. The missionary category is for a full-time worker, appointed and supported in full or in part by the North American Mission Board (NAMB). The missionary associate category is for the person who does not meet all qualifications for the missionary category. Candidates may be considered if they would make special contributions to missions work because of special skills, cultural understanding, and exceptional experience. Likewise, candidates who lack experience, but meet educational requirements, may be considered.
Apprentice—An apprentice is appointed to a two-year, nonrenewable term. This category is intended for candidates who have a seminary degree, and who have less than two years of service following seminary. The apprentice will be supervised closely by an experienced missionary or pastor.
US/C2—The US/C2 missionary is appointed to a two-year, nonrenewable term. This category is for candidates who have earned a college degree, and who are 30 years of age or younger. Single men or women and married couples without children are considered.
Mission Service Corps (MSC)—Long-term volunteer missionaries are approved and assigned through the Mission Service Corps, but do not receive financial support for salary or housing from the NAMB. MSC volunteers serve for four months or longer. MSC volunteers who serve 20 hours per week or more, who serve for at least two years, are recognized as part of the total NAMB missionary count. Individuals who have a marketable skill, who are open to serving in a dual career, may qualify as a Tentmaker missionary. The NAMB assists Tentmaker candidates in securing meaningful places of service, and shares information about tent-making opportunities. This is one of the fastest growing missions opportunities.
IMB Missionary Designations
Career—Career missionaries are aged 24-45 at time of appointment. Career missionaries make a lifelong commitment to cross-cultural living, language learning, and ministry.
Apprentice—Missionary apprentices have demonstrated potential for missions service, but may lack the required experience. They serve with a mentor for a single three-year term, and can be approved as career missionaries upon completion of their apprentice service with positive recommendations. Must be at least 21 years old and able to serve a full term prior to retirement.
Associate—Missionary associates are appointed to serve four-year terms, which are often renewed. This is a flexible category of service designed for those who are qualified for career service, except for age or education, or those interested in serving only four years. Salary and benefits are the same as for career missionaries. Must be at least age 30 at time of appointment and able to serve a full four-year term.
Journeyman—The Journeyman program is available for single college graduates who are willing to commit to two years of service overseas. Journeymen fill a variety of assignments around the world. Must be at least 21, but under 30 prior to orientation.
Masters and Masters Plus—The Masters program is designed for those 50 years of age or older who are available to make a two or three year commitment to serve overseas alongside career missionaries, utilizing the maturity, skills, and experience they have gained over a lifetime. The Masters program enlists people who have invested their lives in business or another field, have retired early, and now can offer career personnel support and encouragement in a variety of ways.
International Service Corps (ISC)—ISC is for singles, couples, and young families who are willing to accept an assignment from two to three years. Must be at least 21 years old.
Missionary at Richmond (MAR)—A MAR is a missionary who is assigned to a responsibility within the United States for one term of service, usually two to four years. Global MARs are those missionaries at Richmond who aren't assigned to a particular region during their MAR term. Why Richmond? The International Mission Board is located in Richmond, Virginia.
Last Frontier Missionaries—Last Frontier missionaries serve among unreached people groups where the majority of people have little or no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (An unreached people group is a people with no church movement having sufficient strength, resources, and commitment to sustain and ensure the continuous multiplication of churches. People groups are defined by the common factor of their ethnicity and language rather than geographic or political boundaries.)
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