The North American Lutheran Church’s International Mission Team aims to connect congregations with international partners by supporting global workers.
How to Become a Global Worker
Global workers are individuals who have a sending agency to manage their practical needs, health insurance, finances, and other support. New global workers are recommended by their sending agency. However, not all sending agencies are Partner Agencies of the NALC. When an individual mission worker requests to become one of our global workers, they are invited to connect with a sending agency. We recommend one of our Partner Agencies (often SON, ALWM, and WMPL), and then alert these agencies that we have had this inquiry so they can consider vetting that mission worker.
After being recommended by a sending agency, the new global workers are vetted by the General Secretary, which includes a background check. Once a global worker is vetted, they are recommended to the Executive Council for approval. NALC global workers are not required to be NALC clergy or members. However, new global workers will be commissioned at the next NALC convocation.
Grant Process for Global Workers
We grant $12,000 each year ($1,000/month) to help support them, and the money is granted to their sending agency for their support. The application deadline for these grants is typically November 15, and the grants are approved by a committee consisting of the Mission Team, General Secretary, and Treasurer of the NALC in January. Once approved, the sending agencies are notified of the grants and are required to sign and return a “Grant/Contribution Agreement Acknowledgment.” The checks are then sent to the sending agency. Additionally, the sending agencies may receive grants to help support our global workers in the field.
Updates from Global Workers
Information about the global workers will also be posted on the NALC website. NALC global workers are expected to give updates regularly, which will be published in the NALC newsletter.
For more information on any of our ministry partners, please contact the Rev. Carol Fryer at [email protected].
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:18-20 ESV