Frequently-asked Questions
Information - Administration
What is the U.S. Center for World Mission? What do you do?
The U.S. Center for World Mission (USCWM) is a place dedicated to making the glory of God known, and to bringing all the people groups on the earth to obedience and worship of Him (as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ). The USCWM produces and publishes resources to motivate and equip Christ's body to join Him in His Biblical purpose to "bless all the families of the earth" (Gen.12:1-3). The USCWM also engages in a variety of activities toward ensuring, as soon as possible, that each distinct people group is "reached"—that a viable movement is established to evangelize and disciple each people group. It is also a community of people with a common vision to see the earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. in all the earth as the waters cover the see (Hab. 2:14).
Read a Welcome to the U.S. Center for World Mission from Dr. Ralph Winter founder of the USCWM.Where are you located?
The U.S. Center for World Mission is located in the north-central part of the city of Pasadena, which in turn is about 12 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. The physical and mailing address for the USCWM is 1605 Elizabeth Street, Pasadena, CA 91104-2721, USA
How do I get to the campus?
From the Foothill Freeway #210, which runs east-west through Pasadena, exit at Hill Avenue. Turn north on Hill you will go about two miles (towards the mountains), (four intersections with traffic signals) to Washington Blvd., a gas station on your right. Continue north two blocks to Elizabeth Street and turn right the USCWM is on your left about two blocks east to the 1605 E. building. You may park on Elizabeth or turn left to park on Sierra Bonita. After business hours, use the courtesy phone to the left of the door.
Note: As no overnight parking is allowed on Pasadena streets, Aylward House residents may use the parking lot south of the building, entered off Wesley Avenue. (For access to the dormitory used by the USCWM, Gladys Aylward House, go east on Howard, (one block south of Elizabeth Street), cross Wesley Avenue, and turn left at 1539 into the parking lot for Robert Speer Hall, if the barrier at the upper end of the parking lot is open, drive straight ahead to the white picket fence where a walkway leads to the front door of the House. Use the telephone to the right of the door to gain entry. If the barrier is closed after business hours, park in the "Loading Zone" and walk up the driveway to the white picket fence.)How do I get to the campus from the Los Angeles Airport (LAX)?
By car:
1. When you exit LAX, stay in the far right lane. Follow the sign that says, "To 105 East" Just at the end of the tunnel, take the 105 East Exit on the right side. Remain on "105 East (105 Norwalk)" for about 8 miles.
2. Take "#110 North to Los Angeles."
3. Stay on "#110 to Pasadena." The #110 Freeway ends in Pasadena and becomes a city street called Arroyo Parkway.
4. Drive north on Arroyo Parkway to Green Street, a one-way street. Make a right onto Green St.
5. Drive east on Green until it deadends at Hill Avenue. Make a left on Hill and drive north, under the #210 Freeway, and then follow directions above.
By public transportation from LAXUse PRIME TIME shuttle service, which operates red vans under the Orange sign outside the baggage claim on the lower level. The special discount for the USCWMis currently: $15.00 each way. If the driver questions this rate, have him call his office to verify it. Drop off for the USCWM is at 1605 Elizabeth St. Pasadena. (Note: some drivers know the William Carey International University better than the USCWM. The WCIU is right across the street from the USCWM). Please note that a shuttle service van carries a full load of passengers, dropping each off at his home address along the way. For a direct though more expensive non-stop ride, take a taxi.
How do I get dormitory accommodations at the USCWM?Call the Gladys Aylward House at 626-398-2415.(referral required)
What are the hours of operation for the USCWM?
Basic business hours: 9:00-5:00 Monday through Friday, Pacific time. Folks of like vision are welcome to join us for our morning meeting from 7:45-8:45.
Where can I buy mission books on campus?
The Mission Resource Center (MRC) at 1605 Elizabeth Street, Pasadena, CA sells mission books, videos, maps, prayer guides and cards, and also special materials for children. The MRC is open 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-5:00 Monday through Friday.
If I cannot come to the campus, where can I get mission materials?
For books and videos, at William Carey Library Publishers. Phone: 1-800-647-7466 For the bimonthly bulletin of the USCWM, Mission Frontiers, and the monthly prayer guide, Global Prayer Digest, phone the USCWM Records Office 1-626-298-2249, or e-mail at "records@USCWM.org"
Do you have a prayer ministry?
Our main focus is on behalf of the unreached, but we also pray fro a variety of needs on behalf of those who have these same priorties. Call the USCWM prayer room at 626-398-2220, or e-mail prayer@uscwm.org
Are you a member of ECFA?
No. We are members of the IFMA and EFMA, which has even stricter financial guidelines and is the recommended financial accountability agency for mission agencies.
How do I make a LARGE investment in the ministry of the USCWM, such as including the USCWM in a will?
Contact Lee Purgason at 1-626-398-2239
What is Your Statement of Faith?
Do you send missionaries overseas?
No.
Can you give me funding for my ministry?
Unfortunately - we are not in a position to fund other ministries or provide books or literature for them. We though are eager to see local resources mobilized for ministry. See www.missionfrontiers.org/2001/03/200103.htm
Basic questions
Why should I become involved in missions and Frontier Missions in particular?
It is the basic purpose of the God: winning His creation back to Himself. It is the primary message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. For example— Genesis 12:1-3, 28:14; Joshua 4:24; Psalms 67; Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:20; Acts 1:8, 26:17-18; Revelation 5:9. The world needs and wants to know God, and there is only one way. Those who have not had at least one chance to follow God deserve priority. Matthew 18:12 —lost sheep.
I am interested in missions: where do I start?
1. Acquire and read mission books, especially missionary biographies. Acquire from William Carey Library Publishers. - Recommended books
2. Get to know your own church's missionaries—get their newsletters, pray for them, give financially to their ministry, get and read their mission agency's magazine. Ask your pastor how you can help in this area at the church.
3. Involve yourself in the mission program of your church.
4. Take the "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" class: http://www.perspectives.org
Where do I start if I think I want to be missionary?
1. Become involved in the ministry of your home church, for spiritual growth and for ministry experience.
2. Let your pastor know of your interest and follow his recommendations.
3. Read books and watch videos about missions. a. Biographies of great missionaries b. Acquire the book Send Me by Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor and work through it. c. Missions books, videos, and teaching materials may be ordered from William Carey Library Publishers
4. Take the course "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement": http://www.perspectives.org
5. Get to know individual missionaries personally. This would include receiving their newsletters, praying for them, and financially supporting their ministry.
6. Contact missionary agencies you may be interested in and get their requirements for being a missionary with them. (Get these names from your pastor or from missionaries you know. An excellent resource is the "Mission Handbook: U.S. and Canadian Christian Ministries Overseas" 2001-2003 Edition, edited by Siewert and Welliver, published by EMIS, a division of the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187. See such web sites as http://www.christianmissions.net/)
7. Go on a short-term mission trip sponsored by your church or a mission agency that you are interested in.
Where can I get training if I want to be a missionary?
PERSPECTIVES on the World Christian Movement is a dynamic course where you'll discover what God is doing around the world and consider your part in His purposes. (more)
Insight -An integrated Christian worldview honors program. - College level (more)
World Christian Foundations -What is "World Christian Foundations"
Schools and universities with mission programs
What different kinds of missions are there?
Traditional-type organizations (church planting, Bible translation, evangelism)
Denominational missions
Relief and development programs (feeding, orphanages, economic development, etc)
Missions that support or do research (mission mobilization, education, communications, etc.)
Tentmaking - bi-vocational (acquiring a job on the mission field to enable one to do missionary work there)
Church missions committee questions
I have been appointed to develop a mission program in our church: what should I do and how do I get started?
Two excellent books to get started are: Missions in the 21st Century by Tom Telford Cultivate a Mission Active Church by Mike Pollard.
How do I develop mission awareness in the church?
ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment)has excellent resources to assist a church in reaching this goal.Where do I get the resources I need to be a good missions committee member?
ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment) helps churches mobilize their resources for effective involvement in world evangelization. They have printed resources and also hold national and regional conferences to assist a church to have a well-planned mission program. In addition, regional staff are available to assist the local church to develop a well-structured mission program.
Address: 4201 N. Peachtree Rd., Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30341-1207Phone: 770-455-8808 ; Fax 770-455-4822; E-mail: atlanta@acmc.org; http://www.acmc.org
Our church wants to go on a short-term mission: how do we get information?
The best programs are those conducted by established mission agencies. Check with the mission agencies you already know or have relations with. One list of agencies is The Christian Missions Network: http://www.christianmissions.net/missions/index.html
Conference: National Short-Term Mission Conference
Video: "Go Prepared" by TCCI. Phone: 407-857-8224; E-mail: tcci@tcci.org; www.tcci.org
Web sites: Mission finder: www.finder.org
Short-Term Missions: http://www.ShortTermMissions.com
Pastors questions
Why should I be involved in missions, and Frontier Missions at that?
The basic purpose of God is that of winning His creation back to Himself. It is the primary message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; for example: Genesis 12:1-3, 28:14; Joshua 4:24; Psalms 67; Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:20; Acts 1:8, 26:17-18; Revelation 5:9.
The world needs and wants to know God, and there is only one way. Those who have not had at least one chance to follow God deserve priority. Matthew 18:12—lost sheep.How do I get the church involved in Missions?
1. Pray for God's guidance and empowerment.
2. Envision what God wants to do through your church.
3. Inform yourself and your church concerning the issues of missions—that is, what God is doing, what God wants to do, and how God wants it done. Read extensively yourself in the area of missions. Take The Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class. And have the church take study classes like the Vision for the Nations study program.
4. Partner with mission agencies. God's ministry is always in cooperation with other believers. We can't do it by ourselves. If the church is a part of a fellowship or denomination then this partnership would be with the mission office of that fellowship or denomination. If independent, then it is in partnership with the mission agency or agencies that one has had a relationship with.
It is through this partnership that one gets the names of people groups and missionaries that one can support and partner with.
5. Involve the people of the congregation in the learning process, in praying for people groups, in praying for specific missionaries, and in vision trips to the mission field led by your partnering mission agency.
6. Encourage the congregation to reach out around them to those who may be of a different culture or language both in daily contacts and in the world.
7. Empower the people of the fellowship with the information, tools, authority, and support to fulfill the dream.
Recommended Books:
Cultivating a Mission Active Church by Mike Pollard
How to Get Your Congregation Involved in Missions by David Mays
Order from ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment) Consider adopting an unreached people group - Adopt-A-People Campaign
With all the needs in the church and our community, how can I get the church involved in the world and its needs?
It is God's will. Acts 1:8. It is part of its extension to go from our Jerusalem to the ends of the world. It builds a church's faith as it reaches out beyond itself and assists others.
Understanding the unreached (Where can I get resources to understand and witness to the Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist people in the community?)
Where do I find the mission related statistics on the world and its peoples?
Information on the world today: The book Operation World, 21st Century Edition, by Patrick Johnstoneand Jason Mandryk. Order from William Carey Library Publishers
Global Mission Statistics Summary of basic statistical information
Web sources for statistical information: U.S. Government: The World Factbook
Global Evangelization Movement -
Mobilization questions
How do I find out about people groups?
From one's own denominational mission board or a mission agency one is familiar with or has worked with. Most boards and agencies are waiting to assist a church with this information.
What are the best sources for finding what is going on in a specific people group or part of the world?
Joshua Project II - http://www.joshuaproject.net/
Adopt- A-People research - http://www.adopt-a-people.org/research-sites.html
"Operation World" 21st Century Edition, by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk: a country-by-country prayer guide with an excellent list of web sites in Appendix 2-B, pages 722-729.
How many Unreached People Groups are there?
10,000 out of 24,000 groups. An unreached people group is here defined as one not yet able to reach its own people without outside help. It does not mean there are no Christians or witnesses among them.
Where can I get resources on understanding and witnessing to my Hindu, Muslim, or Buddhist neighbor?
Personnel questions, for those considering service at the USCWM
What opportunities are available for serving at the USCWM?
Contact the USCWM Personnel Office. Phone: 626-398-2330 ; E-mail: serve@uscwm.org
How is your ministry and staff funded?
We are a faith mission. Each missionary on our staff becomes a member of the Frontier Mission Fellowship (FMF) and is responsible before God to raise his/her own support from supporting churches and ministry team partners. For individuals and churches who would like to support our missionaries, the Personnel Office stands ready to provide names of members in need of support.
Are there paid position openings at the USCWM?
Only few, and normally these positions are quite temporary, pending the arrival of a supported member of the FMF.