Training You’ll Receive
Pre-Field / On-Field / Post-Field
STEM
recognizes the value (and necessity) of continuous Team Training —
pre-field, on-field, and post-field. As a matter of fact, our fields
require that you come trained and equipped for your mission. 
Not only
do our fields want you to have the best short-term outreach possible,
they want you trained to serve their people with cultural sensitivity.
They want you using appropriate methods in your mission outreach
activities.
STEM provides extensive and well-organized Team Training. Our polished, time-tested materials are written out and creatively designed. And they’re provided to every Team Member. Plus, most of this same written material is taught in-person by four primary groups of people who share the teaching/training load:
- Sending Partner Leaders (train you pre-field and follow-up with you post-field)
- STEM Team Trainers (train you pre-field)
- STEM Team Leaders (train you on-field and for post-field)
- STEM Field Facilitators (train you on-field)
Pre-Field
Sending Partner Leaders will normally organize 8–15 hours of pre-field training over the course of 5 meetings, using the training outlines and supporting material STEM provides for each Sending Partner. A qualified STEM Team Trainer will come directly to your church, campus, or organization for one of those meetings to teach the very important location-specific information and to answer all remaining questions. (STEM Team Trainers often use a combination of written handouts, PowerPoint Slides, video, and role play or simulation games during their Team Training session.)
Sending Partner Leaders receive one copy of the extensive “STEM Sending Partner Manual” which outlines and describes what needs to be taught over the course of Team Training Meetings. The Manual’s curriculum covers these 6 facets of short-term mission training:
- Spiritual Preparation
- Cross-Cultural Preparation
- Team Preparation
- Logistical Preparation
- Fund-Raising
- Ministry Preparation
- Sample Support-Raising Letters
- Fund-Raising Idea Packet (more than 30 ideas)
- On-Field Ministry Activities Preparation Packet
- a complimentary copy of Cindy Judge’s $7.95 book, Before You Pack Your Bags, Prepare Your Heart
- a complimentary copy of Peterson/Aeschliman/Sneed’s $19.99 book, Maximum Impact Short-Term Mission
Each Team Member receives a copy of his/her own “STEM Team Member Manual” with a “Location-Specific" supplement, and the “STEM Personal Daily Journal” (used to record notes and reflections from training, teaching, devotional, re-entry, and de-briefing times while on-field).
On-Field
STEM Team Leaders and Field Facilitators provide an arrival-day of site orientation and additional on-location training (4–8 hours). They’ll continue on-going mini training sessions during morning and evening Team devotions throughout your outreach. Your STEM Team Leaders also provide on-site de-briefing (mini sessions daily, and a 2–4 hour session the final day) and help train you for post-field re-entry back home.
- STEM Team Leaders will be shouldering the primary leadership responsibility for your Team while on-field (in the context of a “leadership trio” consisting of STEM Team Leaders, Sending Partner Leaders, and Field Facilitator Leaders). STEM Team Leaders use their “Team Leader’s Notebook” to organize the daily itinerary and ministry outreach activities, Team devotions, Team teachings, and behind-the-scenes logistics and administration.
- All Team Members use their “STEM Personal Daily Journal” which has been organized to easily allow Team Members to record their notes and reflections every day while on the field.
Post-Field
Sending Partner Leaders provide a final follow-up “team reunion” meeting.
STEM also provides you with several follow-up items when you return back home:
- Evaluations (done by Sending Partner Leaders, Team Members, and Field Facilitators)
- Follow-up material for each Team Member that provide options for next steps to take
- Complimentary subscription to Commissioned — STEM’s 3-times-a-year mobilization magazine (which also reports a summary of what your team did while on the mission field)
- Complimentary subscription to Mission Maker Magazine — an annual nation-wide, industry-wide full color mission magazine (this magazine is the #1 circulated mission magazine in the United States)
