Mission Service Corps (MSC) is a task force of missionaries who give full or part time service for four months or more. They provide their own support in an assigned mission/evangelism ministry. The assignment comes through the Mission Service Corps Department of the North American Mission Board.
Our Vision Statement:
Connecting self-funded missionaries and mission opportunities to help fulfill the Great Commission in Kentucky.
Our Mission Statement:
To mobilize long-term self-funded missionaries to assist churches, ministries, and associations in connecting all people to Jesus Christ.
MSC Missionary (definition):
A missionary is a person who, in response to God’s call and gifting, leaves his/her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the Gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission.
The genius of MSC is that it is structured so that every Baptist can be directly involved. For some, involvement means going; for others, it is sponsoring someone else to go. For still others, it means praying for those who go and those who sponsor; and for many, it is a combination of these.
The Plan:
1. Distinctive characteristics - though MSC has many dimensions, the following characteristics distinguish it from other volunteer mission programs.
- Missionaries serve full or part time in their mission assignments.
- Missionaries serve for a minimum of four months.
- Missionaries provide their own support or are supported by sponsors.
- MSC/Tentmakers use specific vocational training to support their ministry.
2. General guidelines are followed.
- Applicants must complete application forms that include endorsement by their pastors.
- All personnel are screened and assigned by the MSC Department of the North American Mission Board.
- Sponsorship funds should be sent through an appropriate non-profit Southern Baptist organization (i.e., local church, association, state convention, or NAMB).
1. Qualifications. People are carefully screened to serve in specific ministries requested by field personnel. Applicants must exhibit spiritual maturity, church involvement, community witness, acceptable health status, professional expertise, and mission commitment.
 2. Procedures.
- Forward completed application to Mission Service Corps Director, Kentucky Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 43433, Louisville, KY 40253.
- When the completed application is received, it is evaluated for possible field assignment by NAMB, the applicant is consulted, and an assignment is made.
1. Types of sponsorships available:
- Self-sponsorship- a volunteer missionary with sufficient funds may serve for four months or more at his expense. Also, NAMB and Mission Service Corps has an area of service called tentmakers, people who accept a missions assignment and obtain employment for financial support.
- Sponsorship by an individual, a group, or a combination –a friend, another individual, family members, or a group may cooperate in contributing toward his or her total sponsorship. Some missionaries may have their financial needs underwritten by a combination of the above sponsors.
- Tentmaker- a missionary may serve in an assigned missions or evangelism ministry while working in a secular job for support.
2. Suggestions for securing a sponsor – Though comprehensive guidelines exist to help those who want to serve but have insufficient support resources, these simple suggestions may be helpful.
- Attend MSC Orientation.
Many questions related to this issue are answered during MSC Orientation.
- Talk to your pastor.
Since many different groups make financial demands on the Christian community’s resources, your pastor will be a valuable counselor in obtaining sponsorship.
- Form a prayer group.
The prayers of sympathetic, concerned friends for appropriate resources will open doors for you.
- Share with your church.
After you have consulted with your pastor, he may feel it appropriate to share with the larger church family your commitment to serve. This may bring you a stronger base for various types of resources.
- Attend MSC Support School.
These 3 day schools are offered throughout North America several times a year and give resources and specific help for those who are securing total financial support.
| Why Missions Service Corps? |
There are many people serving as volunteers in positions and ministries that already fit the parameters of MSC. They have been doing the ministry for some time; why should they become a MSC missionary now? The following reasons answer that question:
1. Prayer Support is available for assigned MSC Missionaries.
MSC Missionaries can call in requests to the Intercessory Prayer Line (1-800-554-7729). This request is then relayed to everyone who calls in to obtain special requests. Also, "adoption" by local churches and mission groups provide the MSC Missionary with encouragement, ministry resources, and prayer support.
2. MSC is a “GOING” organization.
- It is an official part of the cooperative Southern Baptist Convention effort, approved in 1977 and is part of a national and international strategy to reach the world for Jesus.
- Currently over 2,000 MSC Missionaries are serving throughout the United States and its territories.
- MSC is publicized frequently in most Southern Baptist publications and recognized at many state and national meetings. Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Sunday is the fourth Sunday in February and is used to recognize MSC and other aspects of volunteer missions.
- There is a special bond of fellowship between MSC Missionaries.
3. Special Training is available through the MSC:
- Orientation prepares the missionaries to serve through personal development, spiritual maturity and professional knowledge of available resources. Participants in an Basic Training become a support group and relationships are developed that will last a lifetime. Strength comes by knowing that others share in their “call”. Contacts with professional NAMB staff members provide an additional basis of support and assistance. Orientation also expands the participants vision of what is being done and what they can do.
- Supervisory training teaches supervision as a ministry and addresses aspects such as initial discussions, covenants, counseling, structure, recognition, problem solving and others. Seminars are scheduled several times a year throughout the U.S. Atleast one is held in Kentucky each year.
4. MSC Missionaries have been endorsed by their local church and assigned by the NAMB. This gives them the credibility necessary to perform their ministry.
5. The North American Mission Board has included in its missionary count MSC missionaries who have served and are entering their third year of service. Missionaries who meet this criteria are referred to as MSC Home Missionaries.
6. Many persons are called to be missionaries early in their life. For a wide variety of reasons they do not respond at that time. MSC gives these people an opportunity to fulfill their “call”.
7. Many resources are available to MSC Missionaries. Networking with MSC makes the missionary aware of people and materials available to them and how they are obtained.
8. A structure for supervision is a part of the MSC system to provide the best possible opportunity for a good relationship between the missionary and the supervisor. This structure includes:
- Supervisor training.
- Presentation of supervision at MSC Basic Training, stressing the missionary’s responsibility.
- A negotiated covenant between the supervisor and missionary which delineates both task and personhood goals. This covenant provides a written basis for the relationship and for the performance evaluations. This written agreement can prevent task related misunderstandings. Covenants can be renegotiated at the request of supervisor or missionary.
9. Each local church is encouraged to have a commissioning service for newly assigned MSC Missionaries. This service is very meaningful for the missionary, it calls attention to their ministry (and possibly additional support, if desired) and increases involvement of the local church in missions. The Lord has called several people to be missionaries as a result of the commissioning service.
10. Being a MSC Missionary encourages the person to tell many others about the opportunities to serve. Missionaries produce additional missionaries.
11. Guidestone of the SBC has developed a special medical insurance policy for MSC Missionaries. The missionary becomes eligible for this group policy when assigned.
12. Very limited financial support from the North American Mission Board in unusual situations:
- travel assistance for job interviews.
- moving expenses
- emergency situations.
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