MISSION AGENCIES

Agency Task Group Suggestions/Charter

Summary of the task:

To consult agencies in order to find ways to help them deal with GenXers. Some of this may involve helping agencies to better train their Mobilizers and candidate committees. Chuck Micheals, Wycliffe Bible Translators, will lead the process along with SIM and Finishers and possibly, other agencies.

There is a general consensus that the GenX age group is under-represented in mission agencies. Agencies have not made an intentional adaptation to engage this age group with their key values of self-discovery, flexibility, relationship, mentoring, sense of community, opportunities, options and finding a fit.

The Underlying Question Is,

"Will a mission agency attempt to fit a GenXer into its style or adjust its culture to fit GenXers?"

Which Culture Should Change?

This culture change might be to accept - even embrace - short-term assignments as a mission strategy for accomplishing a goal or recruiting for the longer haul. Use the short-term to intentionally demonstrate flexibility, relationship, mentoring, community, and other core values of this generation. Agencies spurning someone who is willing to offer three years or consecutive summers will be viewed as inflexible and not customer-centric.

Define long term as 2-3 years, and longer than that as career missions.

Assist in mentoring through personal issues such as a broken family or school debt.

Some agencies are successful in attracting GenXers. Launch a secondary initiative to develop a platform to share recruiting experiences and best practices. Include in this initiative informed GenXers to act as a focus group.