Barb’s Work

The application includes standard application questions, information about their Christian faith, their connection to a Protestant church, names of the church pastor and their involvement in Christian ministry at church and elsewhere. Then references are gathered. We ask for 3 references from a Christian leader (pastor, mission leader at a church), a friend and a work colleague. If anyone wants to serve overseas they are also asked to fill out a Confidential Questionnaire.

After the references are turned in and are approved an interview is done with the applicant. That’s where Barb learns more about their desire to serve, inquires about their skills in greater detail and asks about other issues related to their family and to themselves personally.

Intern and they move on to a criminal background check and on passing that Barb begins the Hire process.

In all there are more than 50 steps from start of contact to placement on the field. There are really no shortcuts to this process as legal issues needto be addressed as wellas makingsure they meet Wycliffe standards of acceptance.

Usually, a job has already been identified for the Volunteer or Intern by the recruiter or field HR team. Great care is given to make sure skills match and that the location of service is good for the individual as well. Not every location has schools for missionary kids and not every location has easily accessible health care facilities, etc. We work hard to have a place of service that not only accelerates and supports the work of Bible translation, but will allow them to serve successfully.

After consulting with the field supervisors an acceptance email is sent to the Volunteer or

Once the Volunteer or Intern is hired by Wycliffe then it is time to help them get ready to serve. That means helping them get needed orientation (cross-cultural orientation, training on how to handle finances, etc.), then making sure required training is completed in the area of child safety training, harassment prevention training, security training and signing needed documents dealing with policy about Wycliffe’s HR policy, agreement with Wycliffe’s doctrinal statements and even documents related to the unthinkable situation of kidnapping and or death. All pretty sobering things we had to sign 38 years ago!

As that is ongoing, Barb then begins to set up a budget for the person, helps them learn how to begin to raise support. Yes, interns and some volunteers have to raise their own financial support, just like we have had to do all these years as Wycliffe does not pay a salary. All funds come from interested churches andfriends. Barb also helps them with a timetable for getting to their place of service and also helps many purchase their airline tickets. However, she is still not done!