Volunteer Opportunities
Giving welcome brief to international military students
Ministry area
Military
Gifts / interests
Time investment
15-90 minutes / week (depending on if there are new students to brief that week), not counting travel to and from Fort Gordon.
Purpose statement
It is critical to connect with the International Military Students (IMSs) as soon as they arrive in order to connect relationally and make the most of their short time here. The best way we know how to do that is to be a part of their reception briefing and Fort Gordon graciously allows us to do that.
Summary of goals
- Regularly pray…
- for God to bring internationals with prepared hearts… that they will want more than a US party experience… that they will be available.
- for good communication and coordination with the International Military Student Office (IMSO)
- for their trust
- Weekly keep in touch with IMSO to find out when new students are arriving and when we could brief them. Also confirm whether you’d need to bring your own laptop.
- Bring handouts, welcome gifts (e.g. jar of Georgia preserves), and slide presentation (e.g. thumb drive & laptop, depending on what IMSO has).
- Bring something that you can present on since their TV & HDMI cable did not work before (Mar 2023).
- Get there early. With the construction, parking and even finding a place to walk is hard. This also allows you to be available to get to know IMSO staff, if they have time.
- Conduct the brief and give out gifts. Give out and collect forms at end of brief.
- Don’t rush out… be available to chat a few minutes if they have time. But don’t feel like you have to stay there forever… 10-15 minutes is sufficient.
- Provide readable photos/scans of the forms to the Link military ministry team.