Need a break from the books? Ready to apply what you're learning to serve others? Trying to discover God's purpose for your life? God can use you wherever you are if you're willing to trust Him and say YES to His call! Each year, hundreds of students choose to step out in faith and take a semester or an entire school year to serve others full-time. It's challenging, faith-building, and life-changing.
If you are a student at a Seventh-day Adventist university, your first step is talking with your campus Chaplain or Student Missions Director. They will guide you through the process of applying and finding a place to serve. They also usually provide support with fundraising, loan deferment, scholarships, training, and travel arrangements. Below is an overview of the basic steps, but your Student Missions program will include other important steps.
Questions and forms should be sent to our Processing Coordinators.
If you are NOT a student at an Adventist university, please review How to Apply as Long-Term Volunteer.
Adventist members from outside of North American Division should contact their Division Volunteer Coordinator to apply.
The main qualifications to serve as a long-term volunteer include:
As you begin this journey, it's important to spend time in prayer, and ask friends and family to pray with and for you too. Ask God to prepare your heart for service and guide you through the process.
Even if you are not yet sure, you can always contact your Chaplain or Student Missions Director in your Spiritual Life or Campus Ministries office. They can help guide you through the process of deciding whether or not to go, finding a call, applying with Mission Trip Connector, fundraising, travel arrangements, training loan deferment, and even scholarships.
The following documents and forms need to be completed and turned in to your Student Missions Director. If you choose to attach them to your application, please let your Director know.
Watch helpful walk-through video "Volunteer forms for application completion" explaining these forms.
We ask all of our applicants to complete a criminal background check and child-protection training through Adventist Screening Verification. The steps are outlined below:
For help with registration, passwords, usernames, background checks and website questions review Online Help/FAQs, submit a Helpdesk Email Form, or call 1-855-326-1860.
Adventist Screening VerificationIf you are from Oregon Conference, please follow the Oregon Conference background check process. Once complete, please ask them to email us confirmation of your eligibility.
At this time, we are not able to use Adventist Screening Verification for Canadians. We ask those from Canada to provide our office with a scanned copy of the Enhanced CPIC.
A missions orientation training based on the book Passport to Missions is required for all our volunteers serving outside of the United States or Canada. Check with your Student Missions Director to find out if this training is offered on your campus. If not, you may enroll in the free online Learn Mission: Passport to Mission course.
These free online courses are designed to help you prepare for your mission service. You will find information on how to enroll on the homepage of your online application. Most can finish the course in a few weeks, but you may go at your own pace until the end of the cohort.
LEARN MISSION - Online Training
Once all is complete on your application, your Student Missions Director will approve it on the MTC system, and the Office of Volunteer Ministries will review it and work with your Director if anything is missing. Next, we will vote to approve you as an NAD volunteer at our weekly Appointees Committee, and you will receive a notification email of your approval. In the unusual case that your application is not approved, you will be notified by your Student Missions Director.
After the approval, your application is sent to your first-choice call. Mission organizations are encouraged to contact you and make a decision within two weeks, but they may take longer. If they accept your application, it will move on to final approval. If they deny, we will check with your Student Missions Director before sending your application to your next choice.
This is the final step in the approval process, when the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee votes your assignment. This usually happens within a week of your acceptance by the mission organization. You will be notified after the vote.
If you are serving internationally, you are responsible for your travel arrangements. This includes:
For more information about insurance, see the Medical Emergencies Coverage.
It is best to read through the call you are interested in to find out what expenses the volunteer is expected to cover. For example, most calling organizations cover the cost of their volunteer's insurance and a small living allowance, but ask them to pay for travel to the location. The expenses vary depending on the organization, so it is important to check the call.
If you have applied or served as volunteer in the last two years and there have been no changes to your health, you will only need to submit the following to reapply:
Unsubmitted online applications may be deactivated three months after they are started. Submitted applications may also be deactivated if you stop or postpone the process, but we will check with you before we do this. To reactivate your application, contact a Volunteer Coordinator.
Though there are not as many, there are some calls that can accommodate married couples and even children. This information is listed on the call. Let us know if you would like help finding options. Please note that the following guidelines for couples and families: