Even if you feel called to a career in intercultural ministry, the idea of moving to a new country can be daunting and overwhelming—especially if you’ve never traveled outside your home country before!
At Bethany Global University (BGU), we give students the chance to experience what life looks like overseas while they pursue their degrees with hands-on opportunities to learn, grow, and work alongside seasoned ministries around the world.
In this blog, we dive into how BGU will prepare you for your future career and what you need to consider before deciding to go abroad.
How Bethany Global University Prepares Students to Go Overseas
Whether your future career takes you overseas or stateside, BGU’s goal is to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to thrive. Our Christian university trains cross-culturally minded people to share the Gospel wherever they are called to in the world.
BGU takes the concept of a Christian study abroad program a step further, teaching students how to engage and live in a different culture before they graduate.
Starting their junior year, students pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree go overseas for 13 months on Global Internship. The first two years are spent on our college campus located in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Students are prepared to go overseas through:
- Courses in Bible & Theology
- Mentorship from seasoned Christian leaders and missionaries
- Engaging in our Christ-centered community
- Growing in practical job skills through our work college scholarship program
We value the importance of students being prepared before moving overseas or working in intercultural ministry. For many of our students, going on Global Internship was their first experience living and working in another culture.
There are three areas to consider before deciding to pursue a career in intercultural ministry and moving overseas:
1. Passionate Love for God
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
-Mark 12:30
Growing in your faith is important, no matter where you are in the world.
Having a strong relationship with God is important before you journey overseas.
Your faith will be strengthened while at BGU. Our program can help prepare you for your future ministry and mission work!
2. Love for people
“The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
-Mark 12:31
As followers of Jesus, we desire to see people start to follow the Lord. Having a caring heart for those who do not know God is vital.
We love people around us because Christ first loved us!
3. You are Willing to Go
While this may seem obvious, your willingness to go and live overseas is meaningful and shows you can do it. You may need more training beforehand, which is the reason BGU exists!
The idea of moving to a new place, let alone overseas, is not something every person considers.
Your willingness and desire to go and experience a new place in the world matters. Continue pursuing this desire while praying about it!
Want to hear a story from a BGU graduate? Through Saba’s time at BGU, she discovered her passion for ministry was not just stateside, but global. Watch her story here.
Ways to Prepare While You’re in High School
While you are in high school, you can prepare for your future ministry.
A few ways include:
- Mentorship – Ask your pastor or a trusted person in your church to mentor you.
- Local Church – Involve yourself in a local church.
- Volunteering– Find ways to serve your community (Food shelf, homeless shelter, serving at your church, etc.)
- Evangelism – Look for opportunities to share your faith alongside a trusted ministry or church member through evangelism.
- Short-term Trips – Experience a taste of life overseas and meet long term missionary by going on a short-term trip.
We would love to talk about which program is best for you. Request info here to get connected with our Admissions Team.