Team Member

Description

Position Description
Team Members are missionaries who are fully funded by the IMB. As fully-funded missionaries, Team Members’ primary responsibility is to engage in the missionary task as a vital part of an IMB missionary team. Team Members are considered IMB employees and, as a result, receive full benefits and services. Team Members can serve either as either a mid-term or Long-Term member of a Missionary Team.

Funding Source
Team Members are fully funded through the IMB. Through the generous and sacrificial giving of Southern Baptists to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Team Members are financially supported and enabled to devote their time to the missionary task.

Role on the Missionary Team
The specific role that Team Members play on a missionary team varies from person to person, team to team, and place to place. Responsibilities could include evangelism, discipleship, leadership development and training, volunteer coordination, and a variety of other tasks. Regardless of the specific role, the primary purpose of a Team Member is to contribute to the missionary task as part of an IMB missionary team.

Qualifications
Some qualifications vary depending on whether a Team Member is serving mid-term or long-term. However, there are some standard qualifications that all Team Members must meet. All Team Members must be active Southern Baptists, permanent US citizens (or possess a 10-year green card), affirm the Baptist Faith and Message, and be medically cleared to serve full time with the IMB. Some pathways require college and/or seminary education.

Benefits and Services
All Team Members receive the following benefits: medical coverage, housing, visa support, financial support, tax support, children’s education support, transportation assistance, member care/counseling, risk management and evacuation, technology support, financial support to attend annual/biennial conferences, and retirement benefits for those serving long-term.

Additional Details

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university for some pathways
REQUIRED COURSES FOR SEMINARY STUDY
For long-term Team Members, a bachelor’s degree plus appropriate seminary training is required to better prepare new personnel for cross-cultural missionary service.
LONG-TERM TEAM MEMBER:
APPRENTICE (1st term of long-term service)
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES (12 hours)
Head of Household
The head of household needs 12 hours of graduate-level theological studies in the following areas:
  • 3 hours New Testament Survey
  • 3 hours Old Testament Survey
  • 3 hours Biblical or Systematic Theology
  • 3 hours Hermeneutics
Spouse
All long-term applicants who are not the head of household will be required to have a minimum of 12 hours of certificate, undergraduate or graduate theological credit.
  • 3 hours New Testament Survey
  • 3 hours Old Testament Survey
  • 3 hours Biblical or Systematic Theology
  • 3 hours Elective Course in General Ministry
CAREER (2nd term, following completion of Apprentice term)
For Career status, the head of household needs a minimum of 20 hours of seminary studies. No additional education is required for wives.
NOTE:
For those needing 30 hours of seminary credit for career status (depending on the job assignment), 18 hours must be taken in addition to the foundational courses. At least 12 hours must come from the core course list and 6 hours may be electives.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Must be a U.S. citizen at time of application in order to be considered for this role. Must be an active member of a Southern Baptist church.
FUNDING OPTIONS
Fully funded by the IMB
DURATION
Mid- and long-term opportunities 3+ years

Get Started

IMB JOURNEYMEN
IMB Journeymen are team members that are under the age of 30 who are sent by their church as missionaries for a 2 year term through the IMB. They are a vital part IMB missionary teams all over the world. Serving as a Journeyman allows young adults to both be on mission and explore the possibility of lifelong service as a missionary.

Get Started

Benefits & Services

Fully Provided
Health
Care
Housing
Children's
Education
Transport
403 (B)
Member
Care
Visa
Support
Tech
Support
Training
Not Provided for Mid-Term Team Members
403 (B)