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What is STIM?

STIM is three weekends of cross-cultural training in the spring semester and one weekend in the fall (upon return) for students who would like to spend their summers on missions projects.

Participating in STIM allows students the opportunity to have help connecting with a missions (sending) agency, help and accountability in fundraising, but most of all training on how to build relationships and share the gospel in a cross cultural environment.

It involves a significant commitment of time in the spring semester and of course in the summer, but one that we believe is well worth it.

Why Student Training In Missions?

We believe that God's heart is for the nations and that there is coming a day when people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will worship God.

We believe that all who follow Jesus are called to participate in the advancing of this promise.

We believe that the summers during college year provide an excellent opportunity for students to have a first hand experience in cross-cultural ministry.

We believe that the training you receive through STIM is applicable for the rest of life – whether here or in another culture.

We believe that crossing-cultures is more challenging than one might expect – often in subtle ways – and STIM provides a place to prepare for some of those challenges, to get to know yourself and the way you handle unfamiliar situations BEFORE you leave.

How Does STIM Benefit You?

Topics in our STIM weekends cover some great stuff! From the Biblical basis for missions to building trust and communicating the gospel in another culture, to how to handle culture shock. Our September weekend gives the opportunity to process the summer, apply what you’ve learned and readjust to our own culture with a team you are familiar with.

It is an opportunity to prepare and to fundraise with a team.

You get to go overseas with a team of students you know already. (Students who go through STIM will participate in various summer projects in teams of 3-6.)

How Does STIM Work?

Weekend Training:
There are three weekends of preparatory training in the winter/spring semester and one reentry weekend in the fall. Full participation in ALL three weekends is required.

Training will be held at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, NC (near Raleigh, NC ).

The summer experience:
After your training you will spend 5-8 weeks immersed in another culture. Your STIM trainers will match with a summer mission agency which involves you in active Christian ministry and allows you to see and interact with local missionaries or a local church.

Overseas Placement

The STIM application provides you the opportunity to list the three projects offered by STIM that you are most interested in participating in. The STIM trainers will work to place you on one of these three projects. Consideration is given to our ability to place you on a team and of course to the summer dates that you are available.

The agencies that we work with are ones that we have partnered with before and feel confident that they will provide a good summer experience.

It is possible to be placed on an InterVarsity global project (lead by IVCF staff with a team of students made up of other IV students from the region or the country.) STIM training is a separate entity from Global Projects and is not require for participation in a Global Project.

Is It Safe?

While we cannot guarantee that nothing will go wrong, programs are chosen based on the STIM trainer’s belief that they are well organized and supervised. The agencies we use all have good track records as far as safety goes. Each mission agency has it’s own set of safety guidelines and policies. We’ve never left anyone in another country!

How is STIM Funded?

We believe that fundraising is biblically based and provides and opportunity for the STIM student to involve his or her IVCF chapter and church in the mission experience. Fund raising is an opportunity for the STIMer to be challenged in faith as he or she trusts God to provide finances for the training and summer experience.

Each STIMer is responsible for raising his or her own support. The cost for the four weekends and the overseas experience is usually $3500-$3900. (This does not include passport fees, immunizations, personal items, and expenses incurred in fund raising such as postage.)

The STIM training includes instruction, help and encouragement in fund raising as well as accountability in this area.

What is the Commitment Involved?

STIM is a big commitment, but those who go through the program find that it is well worth the time and effort involved.

Your commitment includes:
Attendance at all training weekends
Completion of reading and other assignments in preparation for each weekend
A willingness to work at raising your support
The ability to carve out time in your schedule for this extra responsibility.

STIM
STIM 2010
Weekend Info
STIM Assignments
Contact STIM Staff
Fundraising Info

Forms to Download:
2009 STIM Brochure
Response Card
Sender Covenant
Chapter Covenant

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Encourage STIMers
Chapters - Get Involved!
Perspectives in Fundraising
Donor FAQ
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