Individual Preparation Media & Business

Here are some things you can be doing to prepare you for Media & Business:

  • Learn as much as you can about the various forms of media you will be working with. Talk with or be mentored by someone that is an expert in this field.
  • Find out about business etiquette and practices where you will be serving: customs, negotiating techniques, acceptable behavior and dress, etc.
  • A good book that will help you understand other cultures is Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier.
  • Set goals for what you would like to accomplish. If you know you will be working to get picture files or business files in order, set a goal of how many you want to finish per day.
  • Pray for opportunities to share your faith through friendships/relationships you will make.
  • Work on your testimony, practice communicating with International students on your campus, who use English as their second language. Develop a clear presentation of the Gospel. Avoid church words and phrases. Instead, think about what an International student will understand. For instance, if you use the phrase “walking the aisle”—that means nothing in other cultures or people who have never been to church, except going from one part of the building to another!
  • Develop a clear presentation of the Gospel. Develop or find simple Bible studies on basic discipleship (assurance of Salvation, Baptism, quiet time, sharing your faith, place of Scripture in new believer’s life, etc.).
  • Begin collecting small gifts that you can give away. Anything with something USA or TN on it is good. Examples: key chains, bookmarks, stickers, pens, pencils, and postcards. Local businesses may donate these. Your church or BCM may want to help you collect these items. Also take pictures or your family, friends, school, etc. to use as conversation starters.
  • Think of 4‐5 activities that could be done with the village children. These might be games, songs or crafts. Collect what is needed for them.
  • The basis of your ministry will be building relationships through which you can share your faith. Read one of the books below to help you prepare for sharing through your relationships:

Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels

Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels

Peppermint‐Filled Piñatas by Eric Michael Bryant

Questions to all of Your Answers by Roger Olson

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

More Ready Than You Realize by Brain McLaren

God’s Blogs by Lanny Donoho

Getting Your Feet Dirty: A down‐to‐earth Look at Following Jesus by Don Everts

The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey

  • Work on your scripture memorization.
  • You may be living with a host family. Purchase a hostess gift to thank them for letting you be part of their family for the summer.
  • Physical exercise—walking and a lower fat diet. You need to be in good physical shape.

Read a good book on Prayer Walking like: Prayer Walking: Praying on Site with Insight by Hawthorn and Kendrick or Walking the Talk by Dan Crawford and Calvin Miller.

  • Regularly be involved in Prayer Walking. Prayer Walk your campus. Prayer Walk your city. If you have never prayer walked before, find someone who has and ask them to go with you.
  • If serving overseas, learn common phrases you would use in your field in the language of the people you will be serving with. Go beyond “Hello” and “Goodbye.”
  • Find ways to involve your home and local church. By asking them to:

Pray for you and your people group

Help collect small gifts for you to give away

Conduct a Prayer Walk at your church

  • Visit these websites to find out about your state or country and people group:

http://www.joshuaproject.net/index.php http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.infoplease.com/states.html http://www.peoplegroups.info/