Non-ELCA Global Mission mission service opportunities

Companions in Global Mission Service - other organizations The following are other churches, organizations and institutions that offer various ways in which you can serve around the world. You may wish to contact them for more information. While this list in no way constitutes an endorsement by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, these churches, organizations and institutions do have similar mission understandings to that of the ELCA and therefore may be helpful to you. Lutheran affiliated organizations Worlwide Region or country-specific Disaster relief organizations Church-related organizations Other non-profit organizations/networks

Lutheran Affiliated Organizations - Worldwide
	Lutheran World Relief extends the hand of Christian love to people overcoming poverty and injustice in 50 countries. Check here for a limited number of employment and volunteer opportunities. In addition, study tours also are available.

	Global Health Ministries (GHM) helps provide a gift of life -- both physical and spiritual -- through Lutheran health care work across the world. The web site provides links to agencies placing health care professionals in international volunteer opportunities.

	The World Mission Prayer League is a Lutheran missionary family representing approximately 120 full-time, long-term missionary volunteers and thousands of national church partners, currently serving in fifteen countries on four continents in ministries of disciple-making, leadership formation, health and education, agriculture and Christian development.

	Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is a global mission advocacy organization that offers ministry opportunities in various parts of the world through congregational education, projects, travel and volunteerism.

	Youth Encounter is an international Christian organization that relates with Christian communities of all traditions, strengthening the church through Christian faith, ministry and leadership of its youth. International Music Ministry Teams and Captive Free National Music teams provide for one-year traveling volunteer service. Community Based teams are stationary for the year of service.

	The Center for Global Education at Augsburg College provides cross-cultural semester and short-term educational opportunities to the Two-Thirds World. More than 7000 people have participated in these travel seminars which are well-known and respected for exposing travelers to a variety of points of view, especially the perspectives of those struggling for justice and human dignity.

Lutheran Affiliated Organizations - Region or country-specific
	The Lutheran Center in Mexico City is a place for renewal and transformation, offering a variety of cross-cultural immersion and encounter experiences. Some of the work is accomplished through AMEXTRA, a Mexican organization committed to the holistic renewal of the economically poor.

	The ELCA Wittenberg Center is a place for learning in the heart of Luther land in Germany. Study tours and conferences are a regular part of the program. Some volunteer opportunities are available.

	Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh helps provide health care and community development ministry in Bangladesh. It offers short- and long-term mission experiences in health care, education and community development. An ESL program is also operated in cooperation with ELCA Global Mission.

	Short-term mission projects are much more than eight days of carpentry or interaction with children, they are experiential opportunities to put faith into action. Through the St. Andrew's Lutheran Church Jamaica Program, discover how God is working through your life to change the life of another. Join other Christians who have the same passion to live out their spiritual gifts and share their blessing.

	Lutheran Border Ministry offers immersion trips in the border region between Mexico and the United States. Groups of adults and youth, and synodical leaders have ventured to La Frontera in order to better understand their neighbors to the South.

	Cristo Rey Lutheran Church of El Paso, Texas, a former mission congregation and recently recognized church of the ELCA, is doing ministry in the heart of a low-income Hispanic district 2 miles from the Mexican/U.S. border. Border immersion experiences of 3 days to 2 weeks are offered. There are opportunities to serve, be served, and learn about the issues affecting the lives of people on both sides of the border.

	Guyana Mission provides short-term (10-14 days) medical and construction opportunities several times each year. Coordinated by Fellowship Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Guyana Mission involves participants in projects supported by the Lutheran Church in Guyana. Join Christians from around the country in living out their faith in service, worship and learning.


Disaster Relief Organizations
	Lutheran Disaster Response is a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It responds to disasters in the United States and in some instances utilizes volunteer work.

	The Church World Service Emergency Response Program on occasion offers opportunities for volunteers to work with disasters both in the United States and in other countries.

	National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a partnership in disaster response. Links to other disaster response agencies are listed.


Church-Related Organizations
	The Network for International Congregations is a network of congregations in more than 65 countries with a special ministry among English-speaking people living in lands other than their own, seeking community as they struggle to understand another language, culture and a way of life.

	The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel is an initiative of the World Council of Churches. Its mission is to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in their non-violent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the illegal occupation of Palestine.

	The United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia supports a Christian presence in its related schools in Asia by emphasizing projects and programs that reflect its commitment to Christian values, perspectives, and concerns. Part of this involves providing for scholarly exchanges within Asia and between Asia and the West.

	Catholic Network of Volunteer Services includes a comprehensive searchable directory to Catholic and other Christian overseas volunteer organizations (most focus on areas such as social justice, relief and development).

	Christian Peacemaker Teams is a grassroots effort that is informed by the scriptural encouragement for creative public ministry and enemy loving in the spirit of Jesus. Teams are trained in the skills of documentation, observation, nonviolent intervention, and various ministries of presence -including patience - through which it is hoped to make a striking difference in explosive situations and bring about objective of violence reduction in crisis situations.


Other Organizations
	Action Reconciliation Service for Peace is a German organization that offers possibilities for volunteer service in Germany, especially in areas of social justice, holocaust education, and with social service organizations.

	Beyond Borders works to build understanding and solidarity across economic and cultural borders, based on the belief that we all grow richer when we reach beyond what divides us. Beyond Borders facilitates cultural immersion experiences in Haiti, both short-term (1 week) for small groups and longer term (1 year) cultural apprenticeships for individuals and couples. Both of these programs provide participants opportunities to find new meaning and strength toward building a world where God's peace and justice reign.

	Bridges to Community, Inc. is a non-profit community development organization that takes volunteers to developing countries to work, learn, and reflect. Through the process of living and working with local communities on construction, health and environmental projects, Bridges promotes cross-cultural learning, a deepening awareness of our global interdependence and a commitment to the common good.

	DevNetJobs is a gateway for International Environment and Development Jobs.

	ELDIS is a gateway to information on development issues, providing access to online resources. ELDIS provides a guide on where to find a job in the development sector. Country profiles and a selection of recent development news, announcement and newsletters are also available on the website.

	Heifer International offers discovery travel opportunities to small groups of like-minded folk who want to see what the world is really like and don't mind getting their shoes muddy to do it. HPI discovery travel provides an unique opportunity to visit families in remote communities and encourage them in their struggle for a better life.

	Idealist, Action without Borders is "the global clearinghouse of nonprofit and volunteering resources." Click on "Volunteer Opportunities" for a listing by country of volunteer and internship opportunities.

	InterAction is a diverse coalition of more than 165 US-based relief, development, environmental and refugee agencies working in more than 100 countries around the world.

	International Medical Volunteers Association has a very comprehensive site on volunteer opportunities in the health field. Designed for those contemplating international health service as well as for those already involved.

	International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) is an alliance of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations based in North America, that are involved in international volunteer and internship exchanges.

	Peacework arranges international volunteer service projects around the world for colleges, universities, and service organizations.

	Reuters Foundation: AlertNet provides global news, communications and logistics services to the international disaster relief community and the public. The jobs link relates to positions with non-governmental aid agencies working in international relief and development.

	The ReliefWeb Humanitarian Vacancies Section is a free service intended to improve the response capacity of the international humanitarian community. Over 250 humanitarian organizations have posted vacancies.

	Seeds of Hope, Inc., is a private, independent group of Christians caring for the poor and hungry of God's world. The web site has a listing of many Christian volunteer agencies providing international and domestic service opportunities.

	Sunbeam Association for Mission (SAM) purchased Sunbeam Boys Home in Jamaica in 2001. SAM provides an opportunity to serve on a mission team to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to be a part of the lives of the boys at the home and the people in the surrounding area. A "Sponsor a Boy" program is available. Boys at the home are ages 6 - 18. Volunteer teaching positions are also needed. SAM is a non-profit organization comprised of ELCA congregations and individuals from several denominations.

	Third World Opportunities provides servant event experiences at two Mexican orphanages. These are cross-cultural opportunities to become informed about the developing world and to learn about servanthood as a developmental rather than charitable response.

	Vital Links for Humanity, a Christian organization established in 1999, is dedicated to the improvement of health care in SE Asia through educational programs, exchange of expertise, and provision of vital medical equipment and supplies. Vital Links recruits Christians with a heart for mission for short term assignments from 2 weeks to 1 year.

	Volunteer Abroad is an on-line source for international volunteer positions, teaching positions around the world, Jobs Abroad, study abroad, etc. This is a sub-site of www.goabroad.com which offers travel services, travel gear, and travel insurance.

	Volunteers for Peace (VFP) is a Vermont-based organization which has been coordinating international voluntary service since 1982. It has no religious or political affiliation. Services include providing consultation and a placement service for workcamp hosts and volunteers, linking people with more than 3000 programs in over 95 countries in Western, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and North, Central & South America.

	Founded in 1955, World Concern serves more that four million poor and marginalized people each year though projects in 27 counties.

	World Servants offers short-term mission trips and experiential cross-cultural training events. They partner with churches and other organizations to ensure that the short-term mission teams are prepared to really make a difference -- in their own lives and those of the community they serve.