Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to create a position for me based on my qualifications and skills, or do I have to meet the qualification and skill requirements outlined for the positions that currently exist—such as having a Master’s degree or extensive work experience?
The call which comes from the division is to meet a specific need in a specific location. It is not possible to create a position. Specific qualifications and special skills are needed to fill available positions. Most educational institutions require at least a Master’s degree. It is necessary for the faculty to have this level of education in order to maintain the accreditation of the institution, as well as to obtain work permits from the government.

What schooling options are available for elementary and secondary school children?
In special cases when there is no local Seventh-day Adventist school that meets the needs of the students, and when the parents wish to keep the children home, an educational allowance may be granted for attendance at a local non-Seventh-day Adventist international school. Home schooling and correspondence school are also an option. Special approval is necessary in these cases. (Click here for more information on home schooling.)

How long does it take to process a call?
It will take approximately six months from the time a call is voted at the General Conference until the IDE is ready for departure. Obtaining the necessary work permits/visas may delay departure further.

I heard that Interdivision Employees (career missionaries) have to serve for a six-year term. Is this true?
While a commitment of six years or more is preferred, due to the high initial cost of placing a family in the field, there are circumstances where shorter appointment terms are an option. (N 75)

While working overseas, how much will I get paid and how will I handle financial obligations that I already have in my home country?
You will be remunerated at the level necessary to maintain a lifestyle equivalent to that of a regular denominational employee. Because the amount varies from country to country, more explicit information will be given once you consider a specific call.

As an Interdivision Employee, will I receive retirement benefits?
Yes. IDEs are eligible to participate in a denominational retirement plan.

As an Interdivision Employee will I receive medical benefits for myself and my immediate family?
Yes. The IDE, spouse, and dependent children are eligible for medical assistance.

Do I have to arrange for tickets and pay for my family and myself to fly overseas, or do we receive assistance in planning for and purchasing tickets?
No. All travel arrangements will be made and costs paid by the base division office in consultation with the host division and the IDE. IDEs are not to make any travel arrangements unless specifically requested to do so. (N 05 30)

Once the Appointee has received tickets he/she should contact the airline twenty-four hours prior to flight time to reconfirm the reservations.

Where will I live and how will I pay for housing while overseas?
Housing will be provided either in a church-owned home or as arranged by the division or local host institution. There will be an appropriate rental charge.

I have heard terms like "Furloughs" and "Optional Annual Leaves" (OALs). What do these terms mean?
Furlough and optional annual leave are terms that refer to two options available to IDEs which allow them to temporarily leave their overseas assignment and return to their base division country. These are provided so the IDE might renew personal contacts, enjoy association with family members, and be renewed by a period of change and rest.

Typically a furlough allows an IDE to spend two months in the home country after serving overseas for 22 months, and an optional annual leave allows one month after serving 11 months. By accepting the furlough/OAL, the IDE is obligated to return to interdivision service.

What happens if I permanently return home before I complete my term of service?
No IDE is kept in overseas service beyond his/her will to stay. The IDE needs to indicate plans for permanent return well ahead of time so that the organization can find an appropriate replacement. The Permanent Return (PR) is then processed through the proper channels.

What happens if my child permanently returns home before I complete my term of service?
The return of a dependent child to the base division does not affect the term of service for an IDE.

Do I get educational assistance for my children?
There is educational assistance for dependent children based on the school level, ages of your children, and the school they are attending.

Do I get educational assistance for my children if they stay home or return home to continue their education?
Educational allowance and medical coverage is available for dependent children who stay home or return home to continue their high school or college education in harmony with policy. Travel assistance to visit the parents in the division where they are working is available for secondary students.

Can my dependent children accompany me to the mission field?
Yes. However accompanying children will be expected to stay there at least one year before permanently returning to the base division.

What happens for those who have completed a term of service?
The IDE may choose to continue in service for another term or may wish to come home on permanent return in consultation with the employing organization, the division, and the General Conference.

Please explain the permanent return process for Interdivision Employees who have completed their term of service.
Once a committee action has been taken approving the PR, a notification letter is sent to the IDE. The letter will instruct the IDE on what is required to bring the Interdivision Service to a close. 

How do I get started?
Click here to begin the application process

Why go through Adventist Volunteer Services?
You are identified as a part of the official program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• You qualify for insurance from Adventist Risk Management.
• Once you have been approved by the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee, you are able to appeal to the total structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for assistance in the event of sickness, trouble with a supervisor, an institution’s failure to honor an agreement, etc. while serving in the field.
• We offer a mediation and conciliation process for resolution of difficulties that no other organization offers.
• Volunteer service can lead to lifetime employment or even full-time missionary service with the Church.
• You establish a record of volunteer service which makes it easier to volunteer elsewhere.
• We strive to match you with the task that best meets your gifts, qualifications and calling.

Do I qualify?
Yes, if...

• If you are between 18 and 79 years of age (your must complete your service before your 80th birthday).
• A baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist® Church and have been in regular standing with the church for at least one year.
• Financially able to serve without expectation of reward or compensation other than (possibly) a small stipend.

How much will it cost?
Each Receiving Organization has different financial circumstances, so the way in which they can assist volunteers financially varies. Usually housing, a minimal monthly stipend (if any), insurance premiums and deductibles are provided. However, some Receiving Organizations cannot afford to offer volunteers a stipend or to cover their insurance costs at all. Carefully check the Finance section of each Service Request to see what financial assistance each Receiving Organization offers. Volunteers often pay their own airfare, airport taxes, expenses en route, excess baggage charges, and pre-embarkation costs such as the following: health evaluations/exams, immunizations, passport and visa documents, telephone costs, personal taxes in their home country and their country of service and deferred educational loans.

Can I purchase my own ticket?
DO NOT purchase your ticket until your name has been voted through the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee and your assignment has been confirmed by your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator. Once your assignment is confirmed as having been voted by the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee, you may purchase your own ticket. However, you may want to work with your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator, as he/she may offer a service and counsel which you may not find elsewhere. You may also seek counsel from your Receiving Organization Supervisor to see what they might recommend. If you do purchase your own ticket after your assignment has been confirmed, you are required to immediately attach a copy of your itinerary to your homepage, or to fax/email it to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator so they can attach it to your application and apply for your insurance.

What about insurance?
International volunteers approved by the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee are covered by the “Accident and Sickness Protection for Volunteers” (ASV) insurance policy for the entire period of their service (an additional 21 days of coverage is added after service end date for the purpose of travel time). ASV coverage includes accident and sickness (pre-existing conditions are not covered) with death and repatriation coverage, a personal effects floater policy for $3,000 and worker’s compensation coverage. Once your status on the online database is “Assignment Voted” and before your date of departure, print out the AIG Assist-travel Assistance Services document on your home page and keep the card with you while on assignment. Your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for enrolling volunteers with insurance effective the day of departure. This is why it is important to send your itinerary to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator before you leave. If they don’t know the date of your departure, they may not request insurance for you by the time you leave. Click here for more information about ASV coverage. Volunteers who will be serving in the United States or in Canada are covered with Short Term Travel (STT) insurance rather than ASV insurance. For more information on STT coverage, click here.

Do I need a visa?
Every country has specific requirements for citizens from different countries. Check the Travel and Visa section of your Service Request for visa requirements. Once your assignment has been voted by the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee, you should begin working with your Receiving Division Volunteer Coordinator and your Receiving Organization Supervisor to obtain your visa. Exception: volunteers located in the North American Division (NAD) should check with their Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator for information about the visa process.

Do I need a health exam?
Yes, you should be in good health and will need to visit a physician or medical professional and have them complete the Health Certificate to secure your health clearance. If you attend a college or university, you may ask the school nurse to complete the Health Certificate for you.

Do I need immunizations?
For travel to some countries, you may not need any immunizations. For travel to others, you will. To check out what immunizations are necessary for the country where you will be serving, visit www.cdc.gov. Once you have been voted by the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee, you may ask your Receiving Division Volunteer Coordinator or your Receiving Organization Supervisor for counsel on what immunizations you will need.

Do you provide training?
Yes, through a required course entitled “Preparation for Mission,” which is available from the Institute of World Mission at Andrews University.

Depending on your location and circumstances, you may take the course in one of the following ways:

• You may take the course through group training on an Adventist college or university campus.
• You may take the online course, Preparation for Mission, which was prepared by the Institute of World Mission at Andrews University. You will need to have submitted your online volunteer application in order to create an account to take the online course. You will find further instructions on your home page. For more information, contact iwmonline@andrews.edu.
• You may complete the course by correspondence. If you do not have regular Internet access and will not be able to take the class online or on-site on an Adventist college or university campus, you may download the Passport to Mission textbook online or order it for a cost of approximately $7.00 by contacting iwmonline@andrews.edu. Then you may write out the study questions and send them by fax or email to IWM at Andrews University. You may also send your course work to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator, who will then forward it to IWM for you. Before purchasing the book, however, contact your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator to see if they can provide you with it.

What skills do I need?
Most positions require individuals with specific qualifications both because of the expertise needed and immigration requirements. However, some positions allow for limited qualifications. For information on the requirements specific to each position, check the Qualifications section of each Service Requests which interests you.

How do I get started?
Click here to begin the application process

We’re not getting the Adventist Mission DVD at my church, can you add us to the list?
Please visit www.eAdventist.org and search for your church. If it is listed, check the address to see if it is correct. If it is NOT listed, are you a company or church plant? If so, please forward name and address to Sherri Ingram-Hudgins at NAD-ITS.

We used to receive the AM DVD at our church, but it has not come in a few months. Why is this happening? Who do we contact?
Please visit www.eAdventist.org and search for your church. If it is listed, check the address to see if it is correct. If it is NOT listed, are you a company or church plant? If so, please forward name and address to Sherri Ingram-Hudgins at NAD-ITS.

What it is:
A video resource containing 12-15 mission stories, varying in length from two to ten minutes.

Where it’s from?
The Office of Adventist Mission at the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Cost for your church?
Free (options for individual members are currently being explored).

How is this different from Mission Spotlight?
Through the new Adventist Mission DVD, we will have specific messages and stories to communicate to church members around the world. We will introduce you to those who are currently doing mission work, and to those whose lives have been changed as a result. 

Who is the intended audience for the Adventist Mission DVD?
It is for all members and friends of the church family.

Do we have to sign up to receive future Adventist Mission DVDs?
No, a copy will automatically be sent to your church.

How often will we receive a new Adventist Mission DVD?
We plan to send a new Adventist Mission DVD each quarter.

Do these stories correspond to this quarter’s mission offerings?
Some do, and some do not. The overall goal is to share stories that will show what mission offerings have accomplished, to thank members for their support, and to report on what still needs to be done.

Should we show all of the mission segments at once?
We recommend that the segments be shown over the course of a quarter. Also, it helps to remind members that ongoing support to the worldwide mission of the Church is important. 

What if we don’t show all of the stories before the quarter ends?
No problem. Just save them for another opportunity, or check out the suggestions below.

Ways to Use the Adventist Mission DVD 

• Show mission stories during the announcement period before church begins
• Use it at prayer meetings or vespers
• Share with the junior, earliteen, and youth departments
• Let the Pathfinders use it at club meetings
• Show it to homebound members on a portable DVD player
• Loan it to the church school to connect mission with a geography class
• Lend it to members who want to see it again
• Use the DVD to inspire members to organize fundraising events for missions
• Play the DVD continuously at a fundraising activity where the proceeds will be used for missions