MissionPREP’s Mission Statement

MissionPREP desires to enhance the long-term effectiveness and reduce the attrition rates of Cross-Cultural workers by providing interactive, learning experiences in a multi-cultural context. These programs will be affordable and accessible in Canada, and will allow participants to develop knowledge and skills in adaptability, Christian witness and service in new cultural settings.

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The History of MissionPREP

MissionPREP traces its origins back to 1989 when a number of leaders of Canadian mission agencies recognized the need to form a training partnership in Canada for the preparation of new missionaries involved in cross-cultural ministry.

The training partnership was motivated by these concerns:

• Research had shown that a high percentage of missionary attrition could be prevented when new missionaries received effective pre-field training.
• Many Canadian mission agencies were dependent on their larger US counterpart for pre-field training.
• Competition between mission agencies needed to be replaced with cooperation and partnership in the area of pre-field training of missionaries.

December of 1991 saw the first 14 missionaries trained through this new partnership.
In June 1994 this training partnership merged with Missionary Internship Canada. (MI Canada is an affiliate of Mission Training International in Colorado, the leader in cross-cultural training in North America)

In 1998 a new partnership was formed with The Intercultural Ministries (TIM) Centre of Tyndale College and Seminary. Over the last three years the growth of MissionPREP has exceeded all expectations. In 2003 MissionPREP provided pre-field inter-cultural training to over two hundred missionaries.

As we look back on the history and development of MissionPREP we can see God’s hand of blessing upon the vision given 15 years ago. We give God the glory and praise for all He has accomplished through MissionPREP in the past and look forward to His continued blessing in the years ahead.

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Partners in MissionPREP

A broad range of individuals and Christian organizations have participated and have been served by MissionPREP. Some are mentioned below:

AIM Canada & USA
Canadian Baptist Ministries
Christian and Missionary Alliance Church
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
CrossWorld Canada & USA
Emmanuel International
Evangelical Free Church of America Intl.
Free Methodist Canada & USA
GEM Canada & USA
Interserve Canada & USA
Liebenzell Canada & Germany
Mission to Unreached People
MAF
Missionary Ventures
OMF
PAOC
Pioneers Canada & USA
Salvation Army Canada & USA
Send International Canada & USA
SIM Canada - USA
TEAM Canada & USA
World Partners USA
World Team
WorldVenture
World Vision
Wycliffe Bible Translators Canada

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The Training Context – Why Toronto?

“To the world via Toronto” is not simply a slogan. As the world’s most multicultural city Toronto offers the opportunity for you to team up with associates from most of the world’s major cultures. MissionPREP can assist in connecting you with ethnic churches of your target culture. Also, MissionPREP participants can sample many of their destination cultures right in the city’s ethnic neighbourhoods such as “Chinatown” or Little India”. Toronto is the stop-over for your visa to the world. Coming to Toronto is literally coming to the world that God has brought to our doorstep. Come, experience, discover and enjoy!

Discover Toronto: Toronto is your destination of choice for experiencing the cultures of the world. Here is a site that will help you explore and plan your stay in Toronto.

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MissionPREP Endorsements

MissionPREP is a vital part of equipping our people for serving in cross-cultural settings. We have been pleased with the dynamic of high caliber trainers using effective educational methodologies in a multi-cultural/multi-lingual setting. The synergy of many agencies and church groups working cooperatively not only heightens the experience itself but it provides a good model for ministry. MissionPREP gives us the confidence that one large aspect of our missionaries' training is competently covered …Additional benefits are the special care and orientation offered for children and the outstanding training for language learning.
Tim Jacobson
Training Coordinator, SIM Canada

Although we're based in the United States, we can't think of a better location in all of North America to have our candidates trained in language acquisition and cross-cultural adaptation. The City of Toronto's diversity and MissionPREP's expertise are the perfect match.
Jeff Bleijerveld
Assistant to the Director
World Partners USA

"MissionPREP is one of the most valuable preparation tools that we can offer to our folks heading to the field. The uniqueness of their location in Toronto and the fact that MissionPREP utilizes the ethnic diversity in their city for the attendees makes them a prime place for training overseas workers to succeed on the field."
Kim Brown
Prefield Coordinator
Pioneers

“What sets MissionPREP training sessions apart is the professional resources, experienced facilitators and creative teaching environments which channel that passion into effective learning experiences. MissionPREP provides the best non-formal missionary training in Canada.”
Jon Fuller Director of Personnel OMF Canada

Because MissionPREP is taught in Toronto, Canada it offers an incredible ethnic exposure.
As a result participants were able to work with their host target languages such as, Shona, Arabic, Swahili, Manderin, Japanese, Bulgarian, Bemba etc. With delight we discovered that PLANTS is based and taught from strong Biblical principles. Both my wife, myself and 12 year old son would highly recommend PLANTS and MissionPREP to others preparing for overseas ministry.
Missionaries with SEND Intl. USA

"We have found our experience in partnering with MissionPREP in preparing missionaries for cross-cultural ministry to be a truly beneficial experience. The interaction that our applicants have with peers from other mission agencies has reflected the kind of interdependence that we believe is essential in this type of ministry. Along with this we have found the course materials and approach to be practical and effective.
I would recommend the training of MissionPREP to anyone who is considering ministry in a cross-cultural setting and would like to encourage other agencies to consider becoming more actively involved in a partnership with them.
Paul Hooper
National Director for Training
Wycliffe Bible Translators - Canada

"We mandate MissionPREP for virtually all of our professional personnel preparing to serve cross culturally in the Arab world and Asia. MissionPREP is a creative, relevant and relationally-rich program and its team members wrestle hard with the issues of serving Christ effectively in our complex world."
Director of INTERSERVE Canada

"We have been very pleased with the results our missionaries have received from attending the PLANTS program of MissionPREP. They leave with a unique language plan based on their learning style and an attitude that they, indeed can, and will learn the language they will be ministering in. I highly recommend the program."
Gene Van Den Bosch
Associate Director
EFCA International Mission
Recruitment & Mobilization

MissionPREP is the best cross cultural training program I know offering dynamic, interactive programs, taught by experienced and innovative leaders, which effectively prepare Christians for short or long term cross cultural assignments. I am honoured to recommend MissionPREP to you.”
Mark Middleton
President, GlobalTalk
National Representative, Haggai Institute Canada
Executive Director, Canadian Centre for World Mission

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