- Search Positions to see what is available. Note the accommodations, visa requirements, financial responsibilities and qualifications for each assignment. Once you’ve found your first choice, click the “Add to My Interests” link. When you click this link, you will be taken to the login page for the Adventist Volunteer Service online database. If you do not already have an account on the database, you will need to create one in order to make an online list of your call interests.
- Create a New Account. Creating an account is not the same as applying to be a volunteer. You may create an account solely for the purpose of making a list of call interests.
- Begin Online Application and follow instructions.
- Download the Reference Form and send it to THREE individuals. These individuals should return the completed reference forms to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator or your College Coordinator if you attend a Seventh-day Adventist® school. Completed references should not be sent directly to the General Conference AVS office. One reference must be completed by a pastor/church official and the other two should be completed by professionals from your school or workplace. References should not be filled out by relatives or personal friends.
- Download the Health Certificate and have it completed and signed by a doctor or medical professional. Attach it to your online application or email/fax it to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator or your College Coordinator. If you are attending a college/university, you can ask the school’s nurse to fill out the form for you.
- Download and carefully read the Beneficiary Form. Complete, sign and date the form by hand (for legal and insurance purposes, we cannot accept typed signatures on this form) and attach it to your online application or email/fax it to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator or your College Coordinator.
- Download and carefully read the Release of Liability Form. Complete, sign and date the form by hand (for legal and insurance purposes, we cannot accept typed signatures on this form) and attach it to your online application or email/fax it to your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator or your College Coordinator.
- Download the Statement of Ethics and the Conflict of Interest documents. Print them out, read them carefully and keep them for future reference while on assignment.
- Print out two copies of each of your completed forms, including your completed online application. Take one set of copies with you on your volunteer assignment. Leave the other set of copies at home in a safe place. Tell a trusted family member where you have left it.
After You Have Applied
- Orientation is required for all international assignments and must be completed before your application can be approved by your Sending Division. Orientation is available through:
- Group training on an Adventist college/university campus
- The online course, Preparation for Mission, prepared by the Institute of World Mission program at Andrews University. You will need to have submitted your online AVS application in order to create an account to take the online course. You will find further instructions on your home page. For more information, please email: Eraldo Guedes at [email protected].
- If you are having trouble with the Preparation for Mission online course, please contact IWM for assistance and they will be happy to assist you, please contact Alex Ott at: [email protected]
- Before you are assigned to a call, your application must be screened and approved by:
- Your local Mission/Conference Volunteer Coordinator, or the chaplain’s office of the Adventist college/university you currently attend.
- Your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator (click here for Division Contacts).
- The General Conference Adventist Volunteer Service.
- The Receiving Organization that the Adventist Volunteer Service sends your application to for consideration.
- The Receiving Division.
- The General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee.
- Be prepared to wait a month or two for the assignment process to be completed. Your application papers may need to be submitted to several organizations. Check your status on your AVS home page regularly.
- Take special note of all expenses for your call (you will find expenses on the Finances section of your Service Request). Begin raising money! See the Getting Ready manual for a sample fundraising letter.
- DO NOT resign from your job, sell your home or purchase your airline ticket until your Sending Division Volunteer Coordinator confirms your assignment by stating that it has been approved by the General Conference Mission Personnel Processing Committee.
- Pray that the decisions being made on your behalf are God’s plans for you. Remember that if you are accepted for a certain position, the Receiving Organization is now counting on you to follow through on your commitment. Often times, there is disappointment and maybe even expense to the Receiving Organization if you change your mind suddenly and decide to go somewhere else.