2013 MISSIONS CONFERENCE
Coordinator Application
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe 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 28:19-20
Dear 2013 Missions Conference Coordinator Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in this year’s Missions Conference! We are so excited to finally get a chance to come face to face with you all, whom we have been praying for all summer! We greatly anticipate seeing how God is going to change our hearts and minds in Biola’s 84th Missions Conference.
We the Directors, Coordinators, and Staff will be functioning as an intricate unit and family this year as we put on the largest student-run Missions Conference in the world, all for the glorification of our God! While this is quite a task to undertake, we have faith that our heavenly Father will be guiding us every step of the way. As possible coordinators, you will be a vital part of the Missions Conference team, helping us complete our mission to educate, equip, and inspire the students of Biola to embrace their role in the completion of the Great Commission. As representatives of SMU, you will be an instrument working with the Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of students in order to cultivate a thriving and unquenchable fire for missions in and out of the United States.
We are so excited that you have chosen to trust God in your decision to apply for coordinator; we want you to know that we are praying for you and most importantly praying that God will reveal to us the plans He has for your lives, whether it’s to be a part of Missions Conference or not.
Missions Conference is an important part of Biola’s heart, and in order that God be maximally glorified we need invaluable help and support! Thank you so much for applying and we cannot wait to meet you face to face!
For His glory in the nations,
Rebekah Davis & Keaton Tyndall
(2013 Missions Conference Directors)
*If you have any questions or would like to discuss a position please feel free to e-mail us or stop by the Student Missionary Union.
Our joint office hours include Wednesdays 1-3pm. *
Frequently Asked Questions about Missions Conference
What is Missions Conference?
Missions Conference is an annual three-day event that educates, equips and inspires students to embrace their role in completing the Great Commission. Biola’s Student Missionary Union hosts the largest completely student run missions conference in the world. Classes are cancelled for the three days of the conference and students are required to attend at least 8 sessions/seminars. In addition to the main speakers, there are a variety of other activities on campus designed to help students experience different parts of the world. Some of the activities include Global Awareness, International House of Drinks, Cultural Events, Explorations, and Ethnic Lunch.
Are there different levels of involvement?
Yes. There are five basic levels of involvement, each with varying commitment levels.
1) Directors: Two students hired by the SMU president in April who give leadership and direction to the conference.
2) Coordinators: 12 students hired in the fall semester by the directors to help provide leadership for the staff and volunteers. The coordinators will oversee one of the six departments of the conference (i.e. Prayer, Sessions, InterActions, Logistics, Global Awareness, and Marketing and Hospitality).
3) Staff: 50+ students will work with the coordinators of their specific department to help achieve the department’s vision.
4) MarchCrew: Similar in role to the Staff, but they will help with specific logistical tasks in the weeks surrounding the conference. This staff will only be needed in late February and March until the conference, but are still a vital part of the Missions Conference team.
4) Volunteers: Students who work primarily during the week of the conference helping with everything from set-up to volunteering as an actor in one of the Global Awareness rooms.
I’m taking 18 units and I have a part time job…will I have enough time for MC?
You may or you may not. Much of this depends on the individual, but it can also depend on the specific position you are interested in applying for. Many staff positions are very compatible with a busy schedule and have a minimal commitment in the fall semester. Coordinator positions involve more time and planning, but there have been coordinators with very busy school schedules that have nonetheless excelled as coordinators. While being a coordinator can involve several hours a week, much of the ‘work’ can be very fun and it will definitely not feel like a typical job. In addition, although coordinators are volunteers there is a $500 commission paid to those chosen for the position (available during the second semester). If you are in doubt about whether you have the time, we recommend that you apply and then share your questions or concerns with us during the interview. It is our goal to help you make a well-informed decision about your involvement.
I’m a freshman… should I even bother applying?
YES!! Every year there are many freshmen and transfer students who serve with Missions Conference. We gladly accept applications from every student at Biola (including Grad students) for coordinator and staff positions. Sometimes the best new and innovative ideas come from those who have never seen a Missions Conference before.
What is Global Awareness?
GA is an interactive simulation in which several classrooms on campus are transformed to represent a specific country or region of the world. Students proceed through the rooms, view skits, and interact with the actors and various exhibits in an effort to increase their understanding of the world. There is a great deal of freedom for creativity on the part of the staff to make GA as engaging and interesting as possible. GA is an eagerly anticipated event of Missions Conference every year, especially by returning students.
COORDINATOR POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” - Romans 12:4-6
All coordinators are required to attend weekly meetings, one with all staff, one with coordinators, and one with the directors.
1. Marketing & Hospitality Coordinators (2):
· Assist the co-directors with general office responsibilities such as records, data entry, making phone calls, editing, letter writing, and taking minutes at meetings
· Help the MOs to feel welcome and informed both prior to and during the conference.
· Oversee the MO (“Missions Organization”) registration process as well as providing them with the most up to date information throughout the conference
· Oversee the activities for missionaries and students to interact including setting up meals, housing, sports events, etc.
2. Global Awareness Coordinators (2):
· Oversee the organization of the interactive simulation
· Creatively communicate the greater vision of Missions Conference through the presentation of global events and issues
· Brainstorm new innovative ideas for set design, script composition, and prop and costume selection with their staff.
· Meet on a weekly basis with staff (often outside normal meetings) to check progress, ensuring that each component is completed in a timely fashion relative to the conference date.
3. InterActions Coordinators (2):
· Bring the world to Biola students in order to help them better understand how God sees it.
· Facilitate the planning of interactive activities and events such as Ethnic Lunch, Cultural Events, Drink House, Market Place, Explorations, and Campus Decoration providing the students with the opportunity to experience different cultures.
4. Logistics Coordinators (2):
· Facilitate the physical organization of Missions Conference
· Act as a channel through which all equipment requests and room reservations are directed to Biola Facility Services.
· These persons possess knowledge of the overall movement of physical resources on campus during the conference.
· Oversee MO display and [possible] seminar equipment logistics.
5. Prayer and Worship Coordinators (2):
· Call attention to the importance of prayer, especially in a missions context, through the organization of a Prayer Labyrinth and Prayer room.
· Establish a prayer support network for the conference
· Help to organize student devotionals during the conference.
· Act as a liaison between MC and the SMU Prayer Department, communicating their vision for the year, to enable and facilitate partnership on various levels.
6. Session Coordinators (2):
· Integrate various forms of worship into the main sessions, including worship through drama, video and/or power point, and special musical performance.
· Oversees overflow sites
· Work with Directors to plan and finalize schedules for main sessions and seminars.
· Coordinate parade of nations and parade of majors in main session.
· Work with Directors to find bands and facilitate their needs before and during the conference.
2013 Missions Conference Coordinator Application
Commitment required of all Coordinator positions:
o 6 month volunteer-based commitment: An average of about 6-8 total hours a week
o Weekly meetings with all MC Staff: Up to Two hours
o Weekly meetings with all “MC CORE” (Directors and all Coordinators): Up to Two hours
o Weekly two on two meetings with Directors & Co-Coordinator: One hour
o Attendance on two retreats: Coordinator Retreat: October 5-6th & Staff Retreat: October 27th
o Preparation before Conference
o Attendance at the Conference: March 13-15th
o Clean-Up After Missions Conference
o Debrief Coordinator Retreat April 12-13th (Subject to Change)
Please type all answers.
Name: Student ID: Phone:
Year: Major: Email:
Units this semester: Next semester: Box number:
Involvements outside of your normal course load (i.e. job, sports team, other ministries, etc.) and hours per week you commit to each activity?
1. What positions are you interested in? Why?
2. What experiences have you had in the past that enable you to serve in the position you are applying for? Make a list.
3. Please briefly share about your relationship with the Lord. Hit the highlights: how and when it began, some of the significant things you’ve learned about Him along the way. What is God teaching you right now?
4. Think about what you feel your spiritual gifts are. Tell us about three of them. Now, ask someone who knows you well what they think you are gifted at and list three.
5. Think about places you need to grow and tell us about three of them. Now, ask someone who knows you well what he or she observes as your areas of growth and tell us about three of those.
6. What personality types do you work best with?
7. What characterizes a good team? What do you expect from a leader? What do you expect from yourself?
8. How do you see yourself as a leader? List 3 strengths and weaknesses.
9. Share with us a scripture verse that has impacted your life recently and why.
10. What is your greatest hope?
11. Why are you personally concerned about missions?
12. Describe your family. What is your role?
Additional Questions: (These questions are solely for the purpose of creating team dynamics and will definitely not be used against you in the interview process.)
Can you drive? (Do you have a car on campus?):
Can you play guitar?:
Are you planning on being here during interterm?
Do you consider yourself to be more Type A or Type B?
References:
Please provide contact information for the following references (i.e. their name; relationship to you, the applicant; email; best phone number to reach them at)
1.) Personal Reference
2.) Pastoral Reference
3.) Teacher or Employer Reference
This Application is Due in SMU Office (upper SUB)
Hard Copy by: 12:00pm, September 21st.
Be sure to sign up with the secretary for an interview when you turn in your application.
[Applications turned in after the deadline will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the MC Director at or phone (x3103) if you foresee any difficulty in meeting this deadline.]