Welcome to Missionary Orientation

Missionary Orientation will take place from July 14 – 18, 2025 at ABWE International Headquarters located at 522 Lewisberry Rd., New Cumberland, PA 17070.

This week, you’re our guest! As such, all applicants don’t need to pay for training, housing, or most meals. The only costs you’ll have to pay for are travel to and from Missionary Orientation, a rental car if you choose to rent one (we recommend carpooling if you’re staying in the same location as others), and an evening meals or two. But you can get reimbursed for your travel from your missionary account after it’s opened and if funds are available within 90 days.

Although continental breakfasts will be provided either at your hotel or at the guesthouse, lunches and most dinners will take place onsite . Snacks and drinks will also be available throughout the day. If you want to bring your favorite water bottle, you can fill up at our water bottle filling station. For those with special food restrictions, you can signify that in the registration form, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. If you have any questions regarding food restrictions, please contact our Training team.

You’ll receive an email just before Orientation from us about your housing arrangements. You’ll either be staying on our property in one of our guesthouse’s comfortable rooms or in a nearby hotel. Check-in on Sunday is at 3 p.m. for both the hotel and guesthouse. That email will include all housing details for your time with us. Again, please contact us if you still have questions after receiving that email.

Have little ones making the trek? We’ve got you covered! ABWE has a newly-renovated nursery onsite for children up through age 4. All our childcare providers have completed rigorous background checks and received all Pennsylvania child protection clearances. We want to ensure your peace of mind, knowing that your young children will be well cared for! All we ask is that you come get your child from the nursery during meals. Our caregivers need breaks to eat too! We’ll have highchairs and booster seats available.

We encourage you to attend the summer Orientation if you have children ages 5 or over. Children ages 5-17+ years old will have their own MK Orientation following the themes of the adult orientation. The MK Orientation will be held offsite at a local church with their own programs and meals. This program is during the July Orientation only.

Shorts and T-shirts are appropriate for the children’s programs.

Our typical staff dress code is business casual including jeans.

There will a be a few occasions to dress more intentionally. 1) On Tuesday, you’ll give your testimony of how God called you into missions as well as answer the question, “How does your planned ministry fit into the ABWE vision?” 2) You’ll have your portrait taken on Wednesday. This portrait will be used for ABWE publications, your profile picture for the website, the appointment committee, and other internal uses. 3) On Thursday, the Lord willing, you will be appointed! There will be a celebration where you will receive a certificate and have your picture taken with the president of ABWE and your Executive Director. For those going to restricted access countries, all pictures will only be used internally.

P.S. Temperatures in the training room can vary, so you may want to bring a light sweater or jacket!

Your week of Missionary Orientation has been carefully planned to help jumpstart your missionary journey. You’ve already passed the “Identify” stage as a person who is interested in some form of missionary service. In the next stage, we’ll see if we are a good fit for each other.

This is where you are at Missionary Orientation. At this point, you’ve been on the phone with several people from ABWE and have filled out our application. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we will continue that process, spending time together to confirm that we are the right organization for you.

Thursday is the day for the New Missionary Appointments, when you’ll officially be activated and become a missionary with the ABWE family! This is a special time where you will celebrate with our staff what God has done in your life.

This stage begins at Missionary Orientation but will continue throughout your time with us as we encourage you to become a lifelong learner. We’re excited to help you grow in your walk with God, as well as develop the skills you’ll need in the role to which he has called you. After Missionary Orientation, you’ll work with your Executive Director to craft a personal development plan based on your experience, country of service (if applicable), and your ministry role. Friday is a full day dedicated to partnership development training. This will equip you to begin discovering the financial and prayer partners God has prepared for you in advance.

This final stage occurs when you have finished your development plan and raised the necessary funds and prayer support. Then, you’ll launch into the ministry to which God has called you!

• A laptop or tablet to access Microsoft Office products (Two if you are a couple)
• Headphones to do your online training
• Any paperwork that ABWE sent to you ahead of time to be filled out
• Documentation to prove you are eligible to work in the United States (passport, combination of a valid drivers license and social security card or other paperwork)
• Leave some room in your suitcase! You will be given several gifts and books while you are here.

• Once you are sent your ABWE email address credentials, please set up two-factor authentication and then email us and let us know that you successfully got into your email inbox.
• Download Microsoft Teams (free download) to the laptops/tablets that you are bringing with you.
• Watch this 7-minute video on how to use Teams. If you need help, someone will be available to assist you on Monday morning. All documents and PowerPoint presentations will be available on Teams during and after Missionary Orientation.
• On Tuesday, each individual will be given 3 1/2 minutes to share how God called you into missions, what you plan to do and where, along with conveying your thoughts on how what you plan to do fits into ABWE’s vision of multiplying leaders, churches, and missions movements among every people.
• Take a look at a sample schedule to give you a better idea of what to expect.

While you’re here at Missionary Orientation, you’ll have time to work on child safety training and personal security training online if you have not already completed those.

After Missionary Orientation is finished and you have gone home, there will be a few virtual appointments that we will set up with you as you continue the onboarding process. For those of you going overseas, you will have a virtual appointment with Dr. Miriam Wheeler, our Missionary Health Care Director, who will go over your health forms with you. This appointment is for placement purposes to ensure a good fit with where you are planning to go and what you are planning to do. For everyone, there will be a virtual appointments with your Executive Director and Pre-field Coach. The purpose of these meetings will be to finalize your Individual Development Plan going forward as your prepare for your future ministry.

We know you’re excited about coming to Missionary Orientation (we are too!), but we also want you to be mindful of your digital footprint—especially those of you wanting to go to restricted fields.

In light of this, you will receive cyber security training while at Missionary Orientation. Please be careful what you post on social media about ABWE and your future plans until you have had this very important training.

What you post can impact where you can serve or put teams or national partners in danger.  Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.