The Missionary Assistant program gives opportunities for volunteers to serve alongside a foreign missionary in a number of capacities from preaching and teaching, children’s and youth ministry, manual labor, and anything in between.

Current countries where Missionary Assistants can serve are (in alphabetical order):

• Brazil
• India
• Paraguay
• Switzerland
• Uganda

As a Missionary Assistant looks to serve in our mission field, we desire for them to experience these 4 keys elements:

1. Real ministry--participation in strategic kingdom changing work, not meaningless tasks
2. Discipleship--personal investment and mentoring by missionaries and national leadership
3. Hospitality--warmly welcomed and well taken care of in a wide variety of ways
4. Partnership--meaningful interactions with long-term workers, locals and the national church

That can depend on the country and the time of year you go. If you are going in the summer, chances are you will be with another other Missionary Assistant and may even participate with a Journey Missions short term team. You will be with the missionaries and/or national leadership even if you travel as an individual Missionary Assistant.

You must be 18 or older to volunteer with the Missionary Assistant program. Historically Journey Missions has sent assistants ranging from 18-30 primarily, but are open to working with any adult looking to follow the calling the Lord has given to them. For those who desire to be involved as a Missionary Assistant and are currently in their career or even retirement years, we’re excited to find a great location where they can serve and use their vocational skills.

The Missionary Assistant program is an unpaid volunteer program. We do have a general expected field costs per month and can adjust this for the time period in which you will be serving. This monthly amount includes housing, food, ministry expenses, and transportation on the field. It generally does not include your passport, vaccinations, and visas if applicable. However, you can include these expenses into your support raising cost.

We encourage our Missionary Assistants to raise support from family, friends, and their local church in order to pay for their time as a volunteer. Not only is this a huge gift to you, but it gives you the chance to partner with the body of Christ, and bring others in on your ministry. If you have never raised support, don’t worry! We will provide resources and help coach you through it.

We also urge our Missionary Assistants to invest in their own ministry by contributing from personal savings or working in creative ways to cover some of their internship costs.

Yes, we have program of independent training and studying that you will be required to finish prior to your time serving on the mission field. The training is geared to give you a look at various topics like culture shock, the purpose of short term missions, and how to be a good partner while serving internationally.

Journey Missions is not an accredited educational institution and as a result we don't provide college credit. However, if you are already enrolled in a university and they require an internship or cross-cultural practicum, we are more than happy to facilitate it, provided that we meet the qualifications of your school. Our missionaries and/or national leaders can mentor you and "sign off" on any requirements necessary for the practicum credits.

It is not necessary to speak the language of the country where you are going, but we do highly recommend that you try to learn some of the language before you go. And while you're serving, your new local friends appreciate when you make an effort to learn and use as much as you can!

Journey Missions would not send you to one of our mission fields if we didn't think it was safe for you to go. Many of our mission fields are in smaller cities and we do hear of petty crime among these areas, but if you listen to the missionaries and national leadership you should be fine. We have never had a serious safety incident with any of our mission team members or Missionary Assistants.

The living arrangements vary by mission field. Most fields have housing in either a dormitory, guest house, or small apartment. If you are on a team you will most likely be grouped with other Missionary Assistants, but males and females will be housed separately.