The Department of Missions of the Baptist Missionary
Association of America sponsors Volunteer Student Missions
(VSM). The purpose of VSM is to give the youth of our association
who feel that God may be calling them to service, the opportunity
to experience, first hand, life on a mission field.
Each applicant must be a member of a church affiliated
with the Baptist Missionary Association of America. Any person
attending college, or of college age, may apply. A student
may apply during his/her senior year of high school, but must
have graduated from high school before his/her time of service.
Married couples are also eligible.
A Student Missionary will serve on a mission field
between four and eight weeks during the summer. The exact
period of time and dates are worked out between the student
and the missionary with whom he/she will be working.
Each year the Department of Missions surveys our missionaries
asking them if they would like to have a Student Missionary.
On the application form, each applicant is asked to select
four mission fields in the order the he/she would prefer.
The applicant is then matched with the missionary.
The prospective Student Missionary contacts the Department
of Missions stating his/her desire. An application is sent,
and when returned to the Department of Missions, the application
is reviewed and processed. The Department of Missions reserves
the right to contact any other references they may choose.
After the application process is completed, the staff of
the Department of Missions then personally interviews each
applicant. Interviews are held at the Missions Office in Little
Rock, Arkansas. All applicants must be interviewed before
they will be allowed to serve, and it should be understood
that not every applicant is approved. These personal interviews
have proven to be a very spiritually rewarding time for both
the Missions Directors and the applicant.
Before final approval is given, a letter of recommendation
must be submitted from the church where he/she is a member,
and also a letter of consent from the parents or legal guardian.
If a married couple desires to serve as Volunteer Student
Missionaries, they should submit separate applications.
Each person is responsible for raising funds for his/her mission
trip. Personal funds may be used, or help solicited from family
members, friends, local churches, and Volunteer Student Missionaries
are encouraged to get appointments with churches to share
their vision for missions.
Funds are needed for travel to and from the mission field,
to pay for room and board while there, and other expenses
that might be incurred. The Department of Missions will make
all travel arrangements. One-half of the airfare must be paid
on the day of Orientation. The remaining balance must paid
before receipt of the airline tickets.
Immediately upon returning home from their mission trip, a
Volunteer Student Missionary must give a complete report of
income and expenses, and a copy of the day-by-day log that
was kept during their service with the Department of Missions.
Each Student Missionary must attend an orientation seminar.
No one will be allowed to go to the mission field who has
not attended orientation!
All VSM must have their application returned to the Department
of Missions by December 31.
