Lengths of service

When people are first checking out SIM, they are probably asking a lot of good questions: 

• Is SIM the right missions sending organisation for me? 
• How do I apply to SIM? 
• How does SIM prepare me to become a mission worker? 

Individuals in this stage are called “Applicants.” This application process is a two-way street: SIM is praying about whether this seems like a good fit for the Applicant to join SIM. At the same time, the applicant is praying about whether SIM is a good fit for them.  

Applicants will submit their online application and provide 4 references. Once SIM has received the application and references, one or two members of the Personnel and Member Care Team will interview the applicant. 

Following the interview, a recommendation regarding the application is made, along with any further comments/suggestions for placement and preparation.  

 Our Mission Mobilisers and Personnel Team walk alongside Applicants and help them complete and submit all further required information and required documents (Doctrinal Assessment, Psychological Assessment and medical forms). 

Once all screening assessments are completed and a final recommendation made, the Candidate will be personally advised of this decision. Once accepted, the Candidate will then become an Appointee. 

At this time, we start working out the details of a cross-cultural placement. This process involves agreeing on placement, and this includes four different entities to be in agreement. These four different parties collectively sign our Stronger Together commitment to confirm the placement of an individual serving cross-culturally as a mission worker.
The four parties involved are: 

1. The mission worker or mission worker family 
2. The mission worker’s church 
3. SIM Australia 
4. The receiving SIM entity overseas where the mission worker/family will serve. 

 SIM Australia wants to help in the right ways. We don’t go to a country thinking we have all the answers. We have mission workers worldwide who are praying for you…praying for more workers to join them in the harvest field. But they also pray that you will come willing to serve, be flexible, and be submissive to how they have prayerfully been doing ministry for many years. We send mission workers out who are willing to work under the Field Leadership. 

When placement is settled, SIM Australia gives you a new title for the next stage of the process in becoming a mission worker, “Appointee.” Appointees have now been appointed to go to a specific location overseas. Appointees start working on various training tasks, including support raising, orientation and training, to name a few. Some of these training courses are done in-person at SIM Australia, some may be online trainings, and some in different locations. When Appointees have completed all the training requirements and have raised enough financial support, they are now ready to go to their chosen location as “Active Mission workers”! 

You have now become a mission worker! Your journey has just begun! SIM will continue to assist you through your entire service as a cross-cultural mission worker. We have an entire department dedicated to supporting and caring for our members. 

As you can see, the assessment process is thorough, helping individuals discern their next steps in becoming a mission worker and serving cross-culturally.