What is InterVarsity Link?
InterVarsity Link is the ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA® which provides opportunities for people to work with a student ministry through our partnership in the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). InterVarsity Link exists because of our partnership with the IFES. InterVarsity Link recruits, trains, sends, cares for and receives home InterVarsity staff who serve students overseas. In many ways, InterVarsity Link is like a “region” of InterVarsity/USA. And in other ways it operates like a mission-sending agency. Essentially we “loan” staff to IFES movements who ask for help to pioneer new ministries, to strengthen existing movements, and to develop national leadership.

Who should apply?
We’re looking for four types of people to serve with InterVarsity Link.

The first are recent graduates who love Jesus, love working with students and have some campus ministry experience, have a demonstrated cross-cultural call, will commit to two (or more) years of overseas service, will eagerly learn the language of the country in which they are serving, and will, by God’s grace, raise the necessary financial support prior to going overseas.

The second are those with work experience and a call to missions demonstrated through ministry in the local church, short-term missions experiences, and cross-cultural relationships who can use their vocational skills to gain access into countries and onto campuses.

The third are experienced campus staff who have a cross-cultural call, are looking for a new challenge, or who want to use their experience in a global missions context.

The fourth are college graduates who are interested in a 1-year program that can prepare them for longer-term ministry in the U.S. or E. Asia.

How are Link staff related to InterVarsity?

Link staff are employees of InterVarsity/USA. They have all the benefits and responsibilities as all other staff in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA®, while gaining the personal and professional benefits of cross-cultural ministry. Many InterVarsity/USA staff use their ministry expertise to serve the IFES through InterVarsity Link. And many Link staff return to US campuses as InterVarsity/USA staff, having been trained in ministry and cross-cultural issues as a result of their years on Link staff.

What do Link staff do?

Most Link staff are involved in leading and coordinating student ministry on university campuses. Some are pioneering new ministries. Others are working to strengthen existing ministries. Several are doing International Student Ministry. A few serve in administrative or specialized roles. All spend time learning the local languages and work under the ministry direction of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students or a member movement.

Ministry activities are similar to those of InterVarsity/USA staff: evangelism, one-to-one discipleship, prayer meetings, small group Bible studies, large group worship and teaching, multi-campus events, weekend conferences, evangelistic and training camps, team meetings, and staff conferences and training events.

How is student ministry with the IFES different from what I’ve experienced with InterVarsity?

Student ministry around the world has a lot in common. As part of the IFES, we share common ministry purposes and values. At the same time, each student movement is distinct, with its own challenges and cultural expressions. We have a give-and-take partnership with the movements and staff with whom we serve. God uses this cross-cultural partnership to transform His people and to accomplish His purposes among students in each country, on each campus. Link staff are challenged to think in new ways, to try new methods, to love and serve in ways that mean “love” and “service” to students in another culture. Language and culture learning are part of the job description as long as staff are overseas. Team building, too, requires time, energy and effort as members of multi-national teams with staff from other IFES movements work together to reach students. The differences between American and InterVarsity/USA ideas and ideal “campus ministry” and “team” differ greatly from staff and movements in other countries. While we have much to contribute to student ministry in the IFES world, it’s our job as Link staff to observe, learn and adapt, not to force our ways of thinking and doing on others.

Where can Link staff go?

Link staff can virtually go anywhere in the world. But because we are equal partners with movements around the world, we only go where the IFES extends an invitation. While most staff go to their country of choice, IFES leadership and local team leaders have the final say regarding placement. Since Link began over 25 years ago, Link staff have served in over 45 different countries.
Why does Link require a 2 to 5-year commitment?

The InterVarsity Link minimum 2-year commitment for staff is necessary to establish trust relationships and to contribute meaningfully to the work of the IFES. Language and culture learning take a great deal of time and energy. Relationships in most cultures are built only over time. At the end of 2 years, staff are just beginning to learn what’s necessary to thrive in their new home and to understand what it takes to succeed in campus ministry in another culture. This is why team leaders and others with greater responsibility must commit to 3-5 years of service. This is the practical minimum required to begin a new ministry or to establish a new team.

How do Link staff spend their holidays? What about coming home during the summer?

We do not encourage staff to return to the US for Christmas during their first year. Typically all cultural adaptation and language learning is lost and must be started from the beginning if the process is interrupted at this point. Although holidays away from family are very difficult, especially if it is the first time away from home, it has huge ministry and personal pay-offs if staff will choose to use this time to the advantage of the gospel and personal adjustment to new realities.

We also suggest that staff spend the summer between year 1 and 2 in country whenever possible. This is prime time for language learning, culture immersion, and relationship building. There are exceptions made when staff are in intense politically, spiritually, or physically taxing environments, if they need to do fund-raising, if there are family situations that require them to be home, or other reasons why staying in host city/country may not benefit them or the ministry. But often we ask staff to visit a neighboring country or other Link staff friends rather than returning home for a rest. Any decisions about leaving the country at any time need to be discussed with the team leader and with the Link Staff Coordinator so that a mutual decision is made with the long-term in mind.

Can Link staff receive visitors from home?

Yes! We highly encourage Link staff to have family and friends visit them on the field at any time.

What kind of training do Link staff receive?

Approved candidates come to Madison, Wisconsin for a two-week intensive orientation and training program in June. All Link staff going to Europe or the former Soviet Union also receive a week of IFES training at the beginning of their assignment. Depending on the Team Leader, on-the-job training may be part of on-going staff life. Money can be budgeted for appropriate conferences and training as part of staff development. All Link staff are expected to prepare themselves through reading, relationships, and prayer both before they begin their assignment and as long as they are working overseas. Language learning is a required part of on-going training.

What does InterVarsity Link do for its staff?

A team of supervisors and administrative assistants in the office in Madison work full-time to serve Link staff. Even though our relationship with Link staff is mostly a long-distance one, here is how we serve Link staff:

Preparation

• Orienting staff to InterVarsity/USA, InterVarsity Link, IFES and cross-cultural issues
  
• Enabling staff to find the right tools and training events before going and during their time overseas so that they are empowered not only to be successful InterVarsity Link staff, but godly ministers of the gospel and living demonstrations of Jesus

Practical

• Taking care of the administrative side of this ministry well so that staff are free mentally and physically to serve students
  
• Providing guidance and support in fund-raising efforts
  
• Interfacing with other support personnel at the National Service Center to manage financial accounts, donor relations, and administrative personnel issues
  
• Providing an ongoing “safety net” in case of overseas emergencies
  
• Ensuring that staff are accountable personally, spiritually and in major areas of ministry
  
• Advocating for staff welfare and unique needs with InterVarsity/USA and the IFES

Pastoral

• Making sure that staff are spiritually, emotionally and relationally able to begin and to continue cross-cultural ministry
  
• Ensuring that pastoral care is available on site
  
• Offering a perspective on personal, team and ministry issues as those who’ve lived and worked overseas before and share the calling
  
• Encouraging spiritual growth and development as people who have walked with Jesus through the same doubts and fears that staff will experience
  
• Assisting with reentry issues when staff return to the States
  
• Praying according to God’s will for staff so that we have the joy of participating in God’s work in and through them while they’re on Link staff
  
• Intervening for the purpose of conflict resolution when necessary

What about fund-raising? How much do Link staff have to raise?

Link staff, like all InterVarsity staff, raise their full financial support. Annual budgets for single staff range from about $30,000 – $40,000. Budgets for staff families range from $40,000 – $80,000. All budgets depend on placement, personal needs and InterVarsity/USA Human Resource & IRS guidelines. Budgets include salary, travel and ministry expenses, medical and crisis insurance and overhead. InterVarsity Link provides training and assistance in raising support. All Link staff must be 100% funded before departing for their assignment.

What about overhead?

All InterVarsity staff share the administrative costs of the ministry of InterVarsity. So Link staff too have national overhead as part of their budget. Like all areas and regions, InterVarsity Link charges overhead in addition to national overhead. InterVarsity Link overhead only covers some of the office and ministry expenses related to staff care and services. The InterVarsity Link Supervisory team in Madison also raises their own support.

How can I get overseas with InterVarsity Link? How long does the process take?

InterVarsity Link application process involves the following steps.

1. The InterVarsity Link Preliminary application form can be downloaded on the InterVarsity Link home page or one can be sent to you by calling (608) 443-3751. For more information, contact Renee
   
2. Approval of preliminary application.
   The InterVarsity Link team in Madison will review the preliminary application and contact the applicant. If approved for further consideration, the applicant will be asked to complete the following:
   
3. References. References are required from your pastor, your InterVarsity staffworker or other campus ministry staff, your roommate (or spouse), a peer, and someone who has been under your leadership. If you are an InterVarsity student, your staffworker and Area Director will be contacted by phone. (All references must be received by InterVarsity Link before we review your application. Delays from references will delay the application process and have consequences for fund-raising and placement.)


4. Health assessment. All InterVarsity Link applicants are required to take an extensive physical and mental health assessment. We have a partnership with International Health Management (IHM) in Toronto, Canada, which administers the tests and personally interviews you by phone and then in person during InterVarsity Link orientation. When you request a Link application, we tell you how you can request the assessment materials from IHM. It takes up to 4 weeks for this assessment to be completed from the time you return the finished tools to IHM. InterVarsity Link cannot complete the application process without receiving the results of your assessment from IHM. There is a $100 fee to help defray the cost of this assessment, to be sent to Link before the application will be processed.


5. Interview. All applicants are interviewed in person (whenever possible) or by phone.


6. Placement decision. Because InterVarsity Link makes placements under the direction of IFES leadership in the region and the city for which you apply, final placements cannot usually be confirmed until the beginning of June.


7. Orientation. Link staff, once accepted, are required to attend a two-week InterVarsity Link orientation held in Madison in June.


8. Fund-raising. 100% support must be raised prior to getting permission to leave the US. Target dates for leaving the country are mid-Aug. to mid-Sept.

1. Spiritual growth – growing in intimacy with God through the Word, prayer, community
   
2. Vocational excellence – studying, doing the paperwork, submitting to authority, using God’s gifts with the team and students, doing whatever it takes to do the job well
   
3. Financial responsibility – raising 100% support, keeping track of income & expenses, managing money, ending service with InterVarsity Link without deficit or debt
   
4. Cross-cultural hard work – working hard to learn the language and culture and applying cross-cultural principles
   
5. Relational health – walking in forgiveness with people in your life and communicating with donors and prayer partners regularly about yourself and the ministry
   
6. Physical and psychological safety – following the Risk Management policy, communicating with your Staff Coordinator regarding emergencies, and being sensible about living life overseas.