A covenant is an agreement between two parties for the performance of some action. It is a foundation for you and your student missionary(ies) to know, understand, and work toward the same objectives and goals. The covenant is intended to supplement and be in harmony with the job description you submitted on the project request form, but is not a substitute for it. The following are guidelines to assist you in the development and implementation of a covenant. A sample covenant is below these instructions.

What to covenant?

• Expectations. The expectations of what has to be done and when should be very clear. Your missionaries must know what is expected of them in advance in order for them to be adequately prepared.

• Behavior. Clear communication of appropriate behavior for the culture will increase the success your missionary has with you and the field of service.

• Relationships. Make a scheduled time each week for you and your missionaries to meet to review goals, answer questions, and provide support by developing a quality relationship with you as their supervisor.

• Finances/Resources. Provide the appropriate materials and resources the missionary will need in order to complete the assigned tasks or communicate the need for the missionaries to bring these resources with them to the field. Resources not listed on the project request form should be kept to a minimum. Significant additional costs for resources that are not listed on the project request form is inappropriate. Let them know from the beginning what will and will not be available for ministry on the field.

• Learning. Personal and spiritual growth needs of the missionaries must be a part of the covenant. These are not assigned, but are mutually agreed upon in discussion with the missionary. Personal and spiritual growth materials are available online for you to use with your student missionaries at thetask.org/students/approved.

• Supervisory Structure. When, where, and how will evaluation take place? When and where will the supervisory conference occur? How long will the meeting take?

• Schedule. It is vital that the student missionaries understand when work and other expectations should be accomplished. They must have time for preparation or study needed to effectively carry out their tasks. It is mandatory that the missionary should know when they are to work and when they are to be off.

Form of the Covenant

• Needs/Objectives. Write down broad-based statements of what the missionary should accomplish.Goals. List goals necessary to achieve the objectives. Each goal should be specific, attainable and measurable.

• Action Plans/Tasks. List specific actions necessary to accomplish the goals.

• Evaluation. A date and place should be set to evaluate the accomplishment of objectives, goals and tasks. This should be constructive, not destructive! Your missionary should grow and learn from this time, not dread it. The evaluation should stick to the agreed upon items of the covenant.

Student Missionary Covenant