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Confused by all the Names? Future Missionary Fellowships, Fellowships of Future Missionaries, Future Missionary Clubs, Pre-Candidate Fellowships are the various terms currently used to essentially describe the same thing to different audiences. Future Missionary Fellowships (Fellowships of Future Missionaries) This is a new term launched as this website was birthed in late 2007. This may be the best name so far for public and general Christian and church audiences, although we would like to explore a way of describing missionary wanna-be’s without using the word “future”. Write us with your suggestions. Future Missionary Clubs This term was coined in 2004 by those participating in and leading the experimental group. None of the group members understood the term “Pre-Candidate” and they felt it was confusing. The term club does have some negative implications of exclusive membership or other possibly negative secular associations and meanings. But it was the initial term used to publicly promote the idea to future missionaries and to churches and can be seen on the current brochure. Pre Candidate Fellowships This is a term that likely is only understood by mission agency directors and recruiters and full time mission mobilizers. It comes from the fact that most North American mission agencies call a new missionary applicant a missionary “candidate” (a person on their way to becoming a full fledged missionary). This is the name we are proposing for the new category of ministries (just like “mission agencies” is a category and “campus ministries” is a category). Our hope, prayer and dream is that 5-10 years from now we will see several new ministries emerge that we might call “Pre Candidate Fellowships”, yet each would have their own exclusive ministry or agency names. The term describes the category. What’s In a Name? We think Everything! It is our opinion that too much emphasis has been given to creative marketing and at times even gimmickry in the creation and selection of names of some ministries and agencies. They may be catchy and cute but rarely do they tell the purpose or function of the ministry. We believe that a name should communicate ones identity, function, and purpose. We are advocating a simpler and clearer practice of using terms and names that clearly tell readers what the function and purpose is, rather than a catchy name. People will more likely remember the name if the name is built on solid meaning. We would like for people to offer their suggestions as we look towards a name for this new kind or category of ministries which would be clear and communicate well to all audiences. Write us with your suggestions for names at: pcfquestions@gmail.com Nevertheless, we do want to encourage anyone who feels called to launch new ministries in this new category (we currently call the category Pre Candidate Fellowships) to be creative and have ownership by coming up with some clever names for Pre Candidate Fellowship ministries (i.e. FutureMissionaries.Org, Monthly Missionary Meeting, Missionary Wanna-Be’s, etc.). We only suggest that consideration is given towards clarity versus confusion. Revised:
January 20, 2008 |
