Sparks Ministry

So our next step in the MTW application process is “Interview and Orientation”, or “I&O” as it’s affectionately called.  We’ll be traveling to Atlanta for a week of I&O September 21-25 and we’d appreciate your prayers for that week.

We asked for prayers about this in the last e-update, but I realized that many of you might be wondering what I&O is and why we would need prayer for this.

I&O is the final step in the process of becoming an approved missionary with MTW.  Before you can attend I&O, you need an invitation from a team and you must have submitted an application with references from your pastor, session, and a few others.  If you are applying for long-term service, there is also a week long assessment that you must complete before I&O.

Now that we have everything that we need to go to I&O, we have a few psychological tests to complete before the end of August.  There is a Bible test, the Meyers-Briggs Inventory, the MMPI, and a marriage inventory.  Whew!

As you can probably guess, I&O has two main components.  There is the final interview portion, which includes reviewing our psychological tests with a psychologist as well as an interview with MTW staff.  The other part is an orientation.  This includes an orientation to MTW policies and procedures as well as training in developing a support team.  Once we are approved at the end of the week, we will begin raising the additional support we need to return to Ukraine.

Although I&O has some enjoyable aspects, it can also be pretty intense with all that evaluation.  Please pray that we would be relaxed and authentic in all of our interviews and assessments.  Please pray as well that we would get good rest during the week.