Volunteer Roles
Friendship Partner for international military students
Why? (purpose of this role)
International military leaders come to the fort for training and would love to have a local friend. As a Friendship Partner, you are committing to making yourself available as a friend – to offer friendship and hospitality. You are not committing to an unusual investment of time, money, or other resources. Being a Friendship Partner is not the same as hosting an exchange student or sponsoring a foreign visitor. It is friendship, plain and simple.
What? (goals of this role)
- Get trained
- Pray for the Lord to prepare you and lead you to the right person
- Wait for a match (and keep praying!)
- When matched, just invite them into your life as the Lord leads
- Time periods of 3 to 6 months, with your option whether or not to do it again.
Who? (others you would serve with)
How?
Prerequisites
This role requires a background check. This helps to steward the trust of those we serve and of our secular partners who share their internationals with us.
There are many reasons we can find to avoid connecting with Jesus' bride. But He still loves her and is working in and through her, so we need to lean in. And sporadic or virtual participation is not enough (unless you're in a closed country where there are no local believers).
Be trained on the attitudes and skills necessary for serving in a military context.
Be trained on the attitudes and skills necessary for serving in a military context.
Having military experience is not enough. Part of serving cross-culturally means always being a learner because we will never be an insider. This area is no exception as there are unique elements to serving Int'l Military Students and stewarding the trust of the fort.