Getting Ready to Go! - Part Two

  CMS requires that its missionaries have at least a year (or equivalent) of Bible or theological college studies under their belts.  If the assignment is to ministry leadership or teaching position, then more formal qualifications will be required.  Indeed in many Majority World countries, a research degree is now almost a standard requirement for teaching positions in their training colleges.
  If you're getting ready to go, you'll need to factor in the time and expense involved in such studies.  Here are a couple of example pathways based on stories of people I know. 
  Andrew finished his undergraduate studies and did a Diploma in Education to qualify as a teacher.  He thought he might be a teacher in a mission setting overseas.  All the while he was actively involved in his local university student group, getting ministry experience in student work.  When he finished his DipEd he went straight to Ridley to begin theological studies.  As a Ridley student he began his application process with CMS and upon graduation went straight to St Andrew's Hall for CMS training before going overseas as a missionary working in university student ministry.  
   Emma completed medical studies and an internship.  She then took a year out to study at Ridley, before commencing specialist medical training.  She then took a posting in a remote area hospital which enabled her to support the local church as a CMS affiliate.  Mission remains high on her agenda and she is thinking about an overseas posting with CMS.   
  Jonathan finished his law studies and worked for five years, all the while remaining active in local church work.  He saved aggressively in order to be able to study full-time for the next four years, in preparation for full-time ministry either in the local church or as a missionary.  He ended up being ordained with the Anglican church, serving in local churches, doing more theological study and ending up the State Director of CMS Victoria.  Hey, that's me!
  Each of these stories indicate that planning to take some time out to do serious Bible or theological studies is essential and costly.  If you don't plan for it in a deliberate way, it might not happen.  So plan!
  Assuming that you're already a young worker, you might plan to:- 
- take a year out of full-time employment to do a GradDip or similar one year course
- chip away at subjects part-time while you work, aiming for at least one full-time semester
- develop an appetite for theological study, upgrade and take time out to complete a degree.
  I tell Christians that Bible college study is valuable for anyone who wants to increase their involvement in and passion for God's work in his world.  Do it!  You may even end up getting ready to go overseas with CMS! 

Click here for Part One! 
Click here for Part Three!