Liebenzell Missionary Training

Liebenzell Mission Germany has an intensive missionary training program, which I have had the privilege to take part in this past year.  Most of their accepted candidates come to them after having finished a degree, often through the Liebenzell university in southern Germany.  Many missionary candidates come to Liebenzell Mission after having completed an apprenticeship in a practical trade (such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, etc.), and then study to become an ordained minister by the Liebenzell university.  They then apply to become missionary candidates and, if accepted, are sent to Canada for nine months of additional training.

In Canada, they live together with missionary trainers in a house in Toronto.  Candidates attend English school to improve their English, as that is the international language of Liebenzell missionary teams.  They also are partnered with an immigrant church in Toronto and assist in their ministries.  Once a week, there is a full-day training at the house, led by the missionary trainers.  This usually includes: a devotion and worship time, a morning lecture, lunch together, and then an afternoon cross-cultural activity or guest speaker.  

We have covered a lot of different topics in our weekly meetings - these are just the topics from the first half of the year!  We covered understanding yourself - your personal and cultural history, understanding other cultures, ethnocentrism, cross-cultural communication, cross-cultural ministry, cross-cultural stress, cross-cultural leadership, multi-cultural teamwork, and spiritual warfare.  We have also visited with other missionaries, ministries, immigrants, authentic international restaurants, and gone on a scavenger hunt in Toronto's Chinatown.

This fall, shortly after the German candidates arrived in Canada, we went on a retreat.  We spent a few days in Red Bay (near Sauble) getting to know each other, and enjoying the fall colours and beautiful water before the snow came.  It was a lovely time together.

This year's missionary candidates at the Lion's Head overlook near Red Bay.

After Christmas, new interns come to live at Liebenzell House, so the candidates move out into the city - some into apartments, and some into refugee homes to serve as resident assistants.  The weekly meeting at the house continues.  Candidates may participate in some additional training programs run by other organizations.  The candidates also visit both the Liebenzell Canada and US branches, to build their knowledge of how each country branch operates, the differences that missionaries sent from different countries may have in terms of fundraising and other branch-specific things, and to build relationships with the branch staff.

The candidates return to Germany in May, just in time for the big spring missions festival that Liebenzell Germany holds.  They are commissioned at this festival, and spend the remaining spring and summer months preparing to leave - fundraising, packing, and visiting with family and friends.

And then, at the end of the summer, the new missionaries head out into various parts of the world to serve with Liebenzell.  This year's group has a couple and two single ladies heading to Malawi, two couples heading to Zambia, and a family of four heading to Chile.

I have a few more weeks to meet together with the group in Toronto, and am thankful for the time I have had with them to learn more about the German side of Liebenzell, and build friendships with my future neighbouring co-workers!