FAQs:

Who qualifies for SMI?
Does SMI work with international students?
What degree programs qualify for SMI?
Does the student minister have to be enrolled full-time?
Is working with SMI limited to the internship or field requirements of a degree program?
What ministries qualify for SMI?
Do you provide ministry opportunities for the student minister?
How many hours are students required to work?
Does SMI provide scholarship funds?
Do you provide paid internships?
Can the student minister raise support for tuition?
How is SMI not a financial clearinghouse?
How long can the student stay with SMI?
Do you have a list of supervisors/mentors with whom you work?
How do you approve your supervisors/mentors?
What are the requirements or expectations of the partnering school?
How do schools partner with SMI?

Who qualifies for SMI?
SMI works primarily with graduate students pursuing careers in ministry. SMI deals with those who desire to work in ministry environments for the long term while allowing for creative, non-traditional ministry. Graduate-level students participating with SMI must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and must be involved in an approved ministry.

Does SMI work with international students?
International students who have obtained a permit to work off campus for practical training are eligible to participate with SMI.

What degree programs qualify for SMI?
Typically, degree programs involve schools of theology, but creatively, at times this involves other schools of graduate training. Those pursuing graduate training in other related areas such as counseling or missions may also qualify for SMI’s purposes.

Does the student minister have to be enrolled full-time?
No. Students need only be taking one class at the graduate theological or ministry related level of studies. This includes those involved in distance learning programs as well.

Is working with SMI limited to the internship or field requirements of a degree program?
SMI does not deal with the internship or practicum requirements of academic programs, exclusively. Students are encouraged to utilize SMI throughout their ministry related educational training thus giving them the maximum opportunity to develop their leadership potential and to increase their earning potential now through full engagement in a ministry apprenticeship.

What ministries qualify for SMI?
Students are contracted and required to work in a ministry position with a church or para church organization that enables them to have one-on-one involvement with individuals. The board of directors of SMI is flexible in recognizing creative types of ministries; however, certain standards are ordinarily expected for the approval of a ministry. A ministry requires two essential criteria:

The communication of spiritual truth based upon the Word of God, and
Its application to someone's life by means of evangelizing, edifying, discipling, training, counseling, or otherwise interacting with individuals.

Based upon the two essentials for a ministry, the following standards will be applied to these particular ministries. Mass ministries to large audiences require personal follow up outside the meetings themselves. Teaching a Sunday school class or bible study requires the teacher to minister to the class or group members personally outside the event. A music ministry requires an emphasis on the communication of the message and the spiritual development of the individuals involved. Counseling requires an integration of biblical truth into the process.

Student contractors may be involved in various types of ministries. These ministries may include, but are not limited to:

pastor/pastoral intern
youth work
college/career singles
evangelism/discipleship
counseling/chaplaincy
Bible teaching
music
Christian education
church planting
missions

Do you provide ministry opportunities for the student minister?
No. SMI contracts students to perform ministry projects in their cultural setting. Students are able to tailor design these ministry projects according to their individual callings and passions and have the freedom and opportunity to seek ministry environments within SMI’s guidelines as they determine to align with their ministry goals.

How many hours are students required to work?
Students are able to determine their schedules and perform ministry hours according to their availability and calendaring needs with flexibility. Because our program is designed for students to engage fully in a ministry apprenticeship throughout their educational preparation, students are required to commit to work consistently a set number of hours pers week with a minimum of 10 hours per week up to a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Does SMI provide scholarship funds?
SMI functions as a mission agency, not a scholarship program. It does not give grants for education.

Do you provide paid internships?
Organizationally, SMI does not have funds from which ministry directed students can receive compensation, directly; however, we do provide an avenue through which students can receive income for ministry involvement. Professional wages ranging from $16 t $28 per hour are resourced via ministry partners – family, friends and personal contacts who are willing to make tax-deductible contributions to SMI as sponsors of ministry projects.

Can the student minister raise support for tuition?
No. The IRS does not allow a donor to receive a tax deduction for contributing to the cost of an individual’s tuition. SMI allows students to raise support for the ministry of SMI and its program which compensates students for ministry involvement. However, with the check received from SMI, as with any other job, students are free to pay whatever bills they may have at their discretion.

How is SMI not a financial clearinghouse?
Through SMI, students receive a professional wage for a professional internship based on the number of hours they perform. While financial investment will always be one aspect of SMI’s program, it is not our primary focus. The goal of SMI is to encourage and enhance the personal and professional growth of future leaders in ministry. Through empowering effective leaders in ministry, SMI in partnership with graduate theological schools and ministry related programs complements and enhances the leadership development efforts of various degree programs.

How long can the student stay with SMI?
SMI promotes and fosters mentoring exchanges and personal development throughout the entire ministry related educational preparation and possibly beyond graduation through a one-year extension to allow for transition into a full-time ministry position.

Do you have a list of supervisors/mentors with whom you work?
Because SMI deals with ministry directed students nationally, it is difficult to maintain a database of supervisors and mentors. As with their ministry projects and opportunities, students have the freedom to recommend seasoned ministers as potential mentors for approval by SMI.

How do you approve your supervisors/mentors?
It is our desire that supervisors/mentors be seasoned ministers who are able to invest professionally in our ministry directed students in a healthy manner through personal mentoring and spiritual guidance. These individuals are recognized as possessing maturity, respected for their integrity, embrace accountability and are intentional in their level of commitment to provide a successful mentoring relationship and experience. SMI obtains a signed agreement from these supervisors/mentors to meet regularly with the student, serve as the local supervisor of the student’s ministry and fulfill SMI’s expectations of the mentoring process through reporting and accountability.

What are the requirements or expectations of the partnering school?
Our request of you is to make information regarding SMI available to those under your influence. Various schools in their commitment of partnering with SMI utilize the following avenues of communication:

educating personnel such as admissions recruiters and financial aid counselors about SMI
including SMI's web paragraph on the school’s website under options of financial aid: sources of income or in the school catalog
including an electronic link or digital presentation of SMI on the school's CD-Rom or DVD
placing SMI brochures, a specially designed insert of student testimonials or brief mention in inquiry, recruiting or admissions and/or acceptance packets
including an electronic link to SMI in outgoing electronic correspondence such as acceptance letters or financial aid reward letters
offering a brief mention or presentation during student orientation and preview days
including SMI brochures in information packets
openly displaying SMI brochures on campus
placing SMI inserts in campus mailboxes of students
including SMI's web paragraph in campus communications and newsletters

How do schools partner with SMI?
Contact the SMI Marketing Director who is available to dialogue with you regarding specific needs and relevant options and customize an optimal plan of communicating the opportunities SMI affords students at your school.