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For Parents

 

GoCorps is a pathway for twenty somethings to invest two years of their career in global service. Our program invites this generation to use their degree and passion overseas by connecting them to strategic long-term projects, ensuring they’re trained and mentored, and streamlining the process of getting them there.

 

We are glad your son or daughter is considering serving with GoCorps. We realize you may have some questions and concerns. Please watch this video to hear from our executive director and some alumni about the history of GoCorps, common questions, and how this experience shaped them.

This new season your child is entering into is like no other. We believe it is one of the best times to stretch yourself outside your comfort zone and give yourself to those who need it most. During their time with GoCorps, your son or daughter will participate in some of the most pressing economic, social, and spiritual issues of our time, receive valuable global experience and professional mentoring, learn a new language, and add a unique experience on their resume that sets them apart from their peers.

We look forward to the ways your child will grow personally, spiritually, and professionally through our program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our teams are a safe place for your child to serve. As with anything in life, overseas travel is not guaranteed to be risk free. However, we take every precaution to make sure our Goers are given the safest environment possible in the communities they serve. Goers serve under the direction and supervision of their team leader, and it is these team leaders who are responsible for training and equipping the Goers to live and work safely in the country that they are serving. Most of our team leaders have served for many years in the region, so they are experienced, knowledgable regarding the local culture, political climate and other considerations that need to be taken into account when making decisions for the leadership and safety of their teams.

GoCorps teams are in many different locations around the world and while most of the countries we go to are considered low-risk, we don’t want to limit the gospel to exclude places perceived as more dangerous or risky. Whatever the context, your child’s safety is a priority and necessary steps are taken to provide a safe experience.

Goers join an existing team that have been in the country for a number of years and understand the political and cultural climate and how to maintain a safe presence. The team leadership is also trained in assessing risk and handling sensitive situations. Team leaders actively monitor safety on a frequent, on-going basis and communicate to us if the location is no longer deemed safe for Goers. Emergency evacuation plans are also in place for teams in more sensitive locations.

GoCorps placements are funded through personal support raising. Each goer will develop a team of individuals and churches to partner with them financially and prayerfully to launch them to their global service apprenticeship. GoCorps places a high priority on giving all of our Goers the best professional training, resources, and one-on-one coaching available to ensure that their fundraising process will be successful and quick! The funds Goers raise cover everything they need for a successful two years of service, including living expenses, ministry funds, insurance, student loan payments, etc. Goers will raise all of these funds in a three-month support raising period prior to launching to their team.

GoCorps partners with multiple US-based Christian non profits that align with our common Statement of Faith. You can see our current partners here. Goers will serve with an existing long term team on the field through one of these partner organizations. GoCorps chooses our partner organizations through a rigorous vetting process to ensure theological soundness, financial accountability, and effective care and leadership of goers. All Goers serve on a team of like-minded believers and are never placed alone.

The places Goers stay varies per placement. Most often, Goers will stay in apartments within the community they serve. Occasionally, they will stay in a home stay with an approved local family during the first initial language learning stage. Many times goers stay with other single members of their team, and sometimes they are able to have local roommates. The team leader helps determine the best housing for the context.

The team they are joining helps the Goer arrange their housing in country.

Goers receive a set salary from their organization to cover cost of living, student loan payments, health insurance premiums, ministry expense requirements, etc in their context and role. Goers raise the funds necessary for this salary through the three-month support raising period prior to launching to their team.

Yes, all of our Goers have health insurance for their two years. Their organization will help them determine the best health insurance policy for their needs. In many cases, Goers may be allowed to stay on a parent health insurance plan, which would lower the cost of their placement.

GoCorps was established in 2009 as a unique partnership of missions organizations purposed to create a pathway for more Goers. GoCorps began sending Goers in 2010 and has since sent almost 200 recent graduates overseas through our program. However, while this unique partnership has been around for just under a decade, all of our partner organizations that your child will serve through have been around for 55 - 125 years (see our partners here). This rich history and collaboration between well established organizations is one of the things that makes GoCorps a great opportunity for your child.

Betty Mae and Kevin T. - Parents of Goer

When asked about what our daughter was doing in the Philippines, our short answer is teaching at a school for children from several orphanages or homes. In reality she was following God's call to use the gifts He blessed her with and the skills she learned starting in kindergarten until she graduated from Clarion University.  At school each day she taught classes like Bible and Physical education but more importantly she was a listening ear and loving presence to individual kids who were hurting.  GoCorps equipped Leah to do the fundraising that seemed daunting to us and connected her with a sending organization that met her on the ground when she got to Manila.  After serving for 2 years, Leah chose to return for a third year because she believed God had more to teach her.

 

 

Susy G. - Parent of Goer

Our son decided his senior year of college to go overseas long-term after graduation to share God's love. GoCorps provided him with the information and resources to select an international Christian organization that was a good fit of his talents and skills. GoCorps also provided him with excellent training and tools for raising of support. Overall, it was a wonderful learning and growing experience for our son and the refugees whose lives he touched. GoCorps was the organization to open the door and we are thankful for their support of our son throughout the process.

Jodi E. - Parent of Goer

My college daughter came home one day and said. “I have a huge heart for Muslim people. I want to bring Jesus to them.” I was a good listener, but then the conversation got hard. She felt called to the Middle East. I prayed for my words to be encouraging. I cried a few times (Few is defined as 100). GoCorps connected her with CRU and 9 months later, she went to the Middle East for a year. She still works for CRU. I love that GoCorps spent time with my daughter, getting to know her and her gifts and connected her with the organization that would match her theological beliefs as well as her spiritual gifts. I couldn’t be happier with the way that it all went. She is in her happy place sitting at the University sharing the Gospel with veiled young Muslim women.

Dave M. - Parent of Goer

My wife and I have been so encouraged to see a program such as GoCorps that enables recent college graduates to connect with international missions in a meaningful way immediately after graduation. There are so many obstacles that can prevent young people from engaging in helping a hurting world and sharing the hope of Jesus, but GoCorps has found a way to address many of these barriers. Experiences such as these can be so powerful in forming a Godly and global worldview and finding what God has in mind for the future. Thanks so much for the part you have played in Jonathan’s life!

 

 

Jonno S. - Parent of Goer

When our daughter Alyssa presented us with the idea of her serving in a foreign country for two years, for me, not once did fear of her endangerment or concern of her spiritual stability come into play.  Of course, as parents, my wife and I had our concerns for our eldest of four daughters; where is she going to live, what and how will she eat, how will she get around, who will her friends be, etc. were all questions any parent would be expected to ask.  

In essence, our main question remained this: Is she doing what God wants the way He wants her to do it?  The answer was, “Yes.”  

Nearing the completion of her two-years assignment, I had the opportunity to travel to Southeast Asia, along with my sister and youngest daughter (13yrs at the time).  We experienced a fraction of what she experienced: how she lived, what she ate, her circle of friends, the group of missionaries who resided there or nearby, and environment surrounding.  

Alyssa had amazing friends, ate amazing food, and resided with amazing people.  All of this was attributed to the Amazing God whom we serve.  As she transitions from being a “go-er” into being a “sender”, I know the same Amazing God moves ahead of her to provide everything necessary for her to complete this stage of her assignment. That same God can open amazing doors for others, and Alyssa has the opportunity to be an active participant in the process.

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