Missionary Candidates Training

The missionary associates who were commissioned

By Owen Wilkie

They came from Wisconsin, Kansas, Puerto Rico, Texas and several other states.  Some were ordained ministers and others were laypeople from various professions.

These 42 career missionary candidates and 35 missionary associates gathered at the Assemblies of God Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, during the week of October 19, for the third and final AGWM candidate orientation of 2009.

They came because God had called them to take the message of Jesus’ love and compassion to Zambia, Northern Asia, Scotland, Honduras, Europe, Eurasia and to other nations and people groups around the world.  Others came to be part of ministries such as HealthCare and Convoy of Hope.

The Candidate Orientation week included intense training sessions, interviews, worship and fellowship. 

Frank Vice, itineration manager for AGWM U.S. Relations, commented:  “The new candidate missionary orientation recently ended.  There were young singles and couples with a desire to start their ministry on the field as ‘missionaries in training.’  Also, seasoned ministers and laypeople, with a heart desire to serve our Lord Jesus in another part of the world, came telling how God had called them.  During our time of explaining the process of itineration, they demonstrated faith that God will supply their needs.  Thank God He is still calling workers into His harvest.”

The session concluded on Friday evening with the commissioning service of the 35 missionary associates.

These missionaries and missionary associates will be returning to their districts to begin visiting churches to share their missionary burden.  Contact your district office to get the names of the new missionaries in your area.

Owen Wilkie is the Web editor in U.S. Relations for the Assemblies of God World Missions