Converge Course

The Converge Course is your step-by-step guide to completing a personalized Missions Internship. This Internship path is for Students or Young Adults. There is no requirement to complete YWAM's Discipleship Training School. However, this Internship is ideal for YWAMers, for YWAM staff training, for second-level UofN Schools, or for continuing your missionary training while in university. 

This immersive discipleship experience will equip you to make a difference. The course includes highly relevant and insightful interviews for your pre-departure training arranged in 10 lessons. It is essential that you begin the Course several weeks before you travel to the field host location. 

The course is structured with five phases, including the pre-departure orientation phase.  The four additional phases are completed on the field to help you engage deeply with your host community. Every phase includes helpful information and assignments. 

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PHASE 1: Pre-Departure

The pre-departure Orientation consists of ten lessons with 50 short videos (2-5 minutes), and online questions for you to respond to course content and engage with fellow Converge participants worldwide.

Lesson 1 – The Changing Face of Missions

Lesson 2 – Understanding History

Lesson 3 – Prayer & Priorities

Lesson 4 – Knowing and Hearing God

Lesson 5 – Biblical Worldview

Lesson 6 – Right Relationships

Lesson 7 – Crossing Cultures

Lesson 8 – Justice & the Greatness of God

Lesson 9 – Calling

Lesson 10 – Final Reflections

All Converge participants are required to choose a Mentor from their own community, a faculty member, a pastor, a missionary, or any mature Christ-follower who will meet with you, pray with you, advocate for you, and advise you through this life-changing experience.

PHASE 2: Enculturation

Your Host will meet you at the airport, help you get situated in your housing, and give you some time to rest after your travels. In addition to showing you hospitality, your Host will give you some necessary instruction about the social and cultural “do’s and don’ts” and safety recommendations to help you navigate your new surroundings and pray for the people and place where you will be working. Your Host will introduce you to the people you will be working with and help you understand the field project's vision, history, and current status. Part of enculturation includes learning to use public transportation and finding local services (such as the bank, shopping, and medical facilities). The objective is for you to join in the rhythms of community life, ready to join Jesus in the neighborhood. During this phase, you will complete a Community Mapping exercise designed to help you engage with the community you will serve.

PHASE 3: Assessment

In addition to your regular weekly schedule, you will build new relationships, listening and observing how people live. You will build upon the mapping exercise by planning and conducting interviews to help you research and pray about your Field Project Report, a project you will design to meet a community need. Before you begin your Field Project Report, you will interview the project leader to discuss what you propose to design. Your Mentor may also help you regarding the development of your idea. When considering your Field Project Report, ask yourself: “If I were to move to this community, what would I do to make a difference for the glory of God?”

PHASE 4: Project

The Project is your unique contribution to your host organization and community during your internship. As you develop your Project, you will draw on what you learned in the Course and the Internship. The guiding question of your Project should be: “What can I do to empower the community and make a difference for the glory of God?” As you near your project's completion, you will write a Final Report documenting your project and reflecting upon your learning experience during your internship. You will articulate objectives and goals and describe the needed resources and challenges you faced during your internship. Your Final Report may take a traditional form, such as a document written in Word or a non-traditional submission, such as a photo-journal, podcast, website, or video.

PHASE 5: Debriefing

How much did you grow? Debriefing is a time to review and celebrate your experiences. You will meet One-on-One with your Host before you depart from the field and your Mentor online or when you return home.

Reporting

Copies of your completed Field Project Report and photos or a short video should be given to the Host, and your Mentor and uploaded to the Converge site.

AUDITING THE CONVERGE COURSE

You may audit the course and create your internship experience if you choose. Although the system is designed for our approved internships, anyone can enroll and learn how to make a difference. 

Download the course syllabus outlining the phases, assignments, and curriculum in more detail.