The STM team is excited to announce our newest initiative, entitled Emerging Leaders! In the past, International Ministries has had outstanding youth and young adult programs for individuals to explore the calling that God has placed on their hearts. Emerging Leaders is the newest lens in which we will be walking alongside youth and young adults from 16 – 29 years old.

Emerging Leader’s Programing:

The first step of this initiative will be the Emerging Leader’s Cohorts. Starting with 4 cohorts, collectively no more than 30 individuals from all denominations. Ideally, each individual will walk through a 2 – year cycle with these cohorts, each year focusing on different steps in their faith journey.

As the Emerging Leaders Initiative grows and develops, there will be more opportunities for youth and young adults to explore their faith experience God’s mission through short-term mission opportunities.

How to apply:

The individuals will need to apply through an application process to join these cohorts. Keep watch on the “Journal Page” section for more information about application open and close dates.  When individuals are accepted, like stated above, the hope is a 2-year journey, but individuals can join and leave at various times. Information about the application process will be posted on the International Ministries Journal page.

Any young adults feeling called to serve on a short mission trip in-person or virtually before then, or aside from being part of this special Emerging Leaders Cohort, please do not hesitate to contact us at elc@internationalministies.org or visit the Global Service Opportunities listing.

What is involved within these cohorts?

These cohorts are designed to walk alongside the youth and young adults, supporting their faith journeys and discerning God’s calling on their lives.

Each year, these cohorts will kick off with a “Lessons Learned” weekend summer retreat. The list below is a taste of what will take place within these cohorts:

• Regular bi-monthly meetings
• Prayer Partners within each cohort
• Theological studies
• IM Missiology
• Relationship building within each cohort
• Roundtable conversations with current and retired global servants
• Role of the local church, denomination, regional association, special assistants, volunteers. Who are the “angels” in our midst?
• Attending local conferences
• Participating in cross-cultural short-term mission trips as a cohort and individually.

This is just the first of many steps that IM and STM will take to encourage, empower, ad educate youth and young adults, our Emerging Leaders, to show that their voices are being heard.

We pledge to listen, observe and invite our Emerging Leaders into partnership along this old Emmaus path with new lenses.

If you have any questions, please reach out to elc@internationalministries.org.