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The Intercultural Ministries Embark Conference & Retreat will be held February 2-9, 2020 aboard the Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas.

For more information and FAQs, please visit the Embark site by going here.

There are multiple resources available for teaching ESL in your ministry.  We have a few missionaries and other individuals who have developed high quality curriculum that is making a huge difference in the lives of those using it. 

 If you plan on using ESL curriculum to share the gospel, you may be able to receive BGMC funds to purchase curriculum.

Please see below for some resources that are available.

Steve & Sheri Woodward - Intercultural Ministries missionaries

• Steve & Sheri have created informational videos which can be accessed here.
• Feel free to share these videos with anyone who may benefit from this resource.

 International Learning Center

• ILC offers an ESL curriculum which allows you to share the gospel as you teach English. This has been used by multiple missionaries.
• To learn more click here.

Maintaining a full budget is important for the health of the ministry and family of our missionaries. Each year missionaries are able to update their budget to be sure that it meets their needs. If a missionary is up for appointment renewal, they will need to complete a new budget.

Missionary Budgets
It’s important that missionary budgets are adequate for ministry. If a budget is too large, it may be difficult to raise the full amount. If the budget is too small, there may not be sufficient funds for ministry.

• Salary amounts are based on the cost of living for each area.
• If a fully appointed missionary expects that they may apply for a Speed the Light vehicle, they must have no less than $400 in their budget. In addition to the $400, missionaries must be fully funded when all funds have been raised and must be on time in all reporting for one year.
• Intercultural Ministries missionaries are required to give at least $300 monthly to MBA or retirement. Missionaries paid through a corporation or church are not eligible to participate in MBA through U.S. Missions. A statement of retirement giving would be required as proof of giving if a missionary does not do MBA.
• U.S. Missions requires that there be $100 put into the class 48 fund monthly so missionaries are able to attend U.S. Missions events and conferences.
• Additional funds should be set aside for General Council, district council, and other ministry-related events. Once this is in the budget, missionaries will need to contact their Accounting Specialist to set up a fund for this amount to go in monthly. There is no set amount that is required and the Senior Director’s approval to use these funds is not necessary. To have additional funds set aside in another class, please contact Karen Converse to have this set up.

Self-Support
While the desire is for a missionary to have a healthy budget, there may be a need to use personal income to offset the budget. If you have outside income that could be applied to offset your budget, you may complete a self-support form. Examples of personal income that could be used are social security, spouse income, retirement, and rental property. Self-support may not amount to more than 30% of your budget. If a missionary has a self-support form on file, a new form must be completed if a budget is being updated.

For monthly report forms, STL reports, MBA forms, and other information, please visit the U.S. Missions website for missionary forms. http://usmissions.ag.org/missionaries/forms  

If you have questions or you would like to update your budget or complete a self-support form, please contact the Intercultural Ministries office.

See all past newsletters

AG Center for Leadership & Stewardship Excellence (www.CLSE.ag.org)  

The CLSE is a resource for AG credential holders that can provide help for retirement, medical grants up to $1,500, and school loan assistance.

Aged Ministers Assistance (www.ama.ag.org)  

Aged Ministers Assistance is a fund designated to help provide the daily needs of food, housing, and medicine for aged Assemblies of God ministers and their spouses who are living on substandard incomes. Missionaries and ministers may be eligible to receive monthly or medical assistance.

OVERSEAS TRIPS
 
Please keep in mind that all overseas or out of country ministry trips taken by missionaries, missionary associates, and spouses require approval and Mission Assure insurance. Canada is the only country that does not require approval and insurance. Having the correct approvals and insurance in place protects you as a missionary, your team, U.S. Missions, and the General Council of the Assemblies of God.  
 
Approvals are not necessary for personal trips or vacations that will involve no ministry, but we do appreciate knowing that you will be going on a trip so that there is no confusion whether or not you required approvals. If there is any question about whether or not you may be asked to minister, it is always best to have approvals and insurance in place.  
 
The approval process may take up to eight weeks. However, the process could take less than one week, or longer than eight. Missionaries are not to purchase plane tickets until all approvals and insurance is in place. Please see below for the approval process for trips outside the United States:  
 
FOR MISSIONARIES NOT WORKING WITH AN AGWM MISSIONARY
 
• Complete the U.S. Missions Travel Form available on the AGUSM missionary forms site. Send this form along with an invitation to minister to Vanielle.
• The Intercultural Ministries office will contact AGWM to obtain their consent. 
• After we notify you of AGWM’s consent, you will be contacted to purchase insurance from AG Financial Mission Assure. Insurance must be purchased from Mission Assure. There are no exceptions. 
• Go to www.agfinancial.org/mission-assure to purchase insurance. 
• Once at the website, scroll down to the section titled “To Get Started” and click the button to download the forms. You must use the forms that are provided by Mission Assure. Use of AGWM forms are not acceptable.
• After all forms are completed, you may begin your application for insurance. When asked, be sure to select that your trip is not affiliated with AGWM.
Please note: A witness must sign your Assumption of Risk.
• Once all forms are uploaded, complete the application and purchase your insurance. You will receive an email receipt from Mission Assure confirming your purchase. 
• Forward or send your email receipt to the Intercultural Ministries office along with a copy of the signature page of your Assumption of Risk. We will need the signature page of each person traveling with you for our records.  
• Once we have received the forms and receipt, the Senior Director will seek approval from the U.S. Missions Executive Committee (USMEC). 
• After the USMEC has given their approval, we will contact you letting you know that you may make your travel arrangements, including airfare.
 
FOR MISSIONARIES THAT ARE WORKING WITH AN AGWM MISSIONARY
 
• Complete the U.S. Missions Travel Form available on the AGUSM missionary forms site. Send this form along with an invitation to minister to Vanielle. 
• Contact Jan Rhea ([email protected]) and include your U.S. Missions Travel Form and invitation to minister. She will obtain AGWM approval and will handle the purchase of your insurance. 
• After you have purchased insurance through AGWM, notify Intercultural Ministries that you have completed that process. 
• Once our department has received your notification, we will confirm with AGWM.
• The Senior Director will seek approval from the U.S. Missions Executive Committee (USMEC). 
• After the USMEC has given their approval, we will contact you letting you know that you may purchase your plane tickets