Going on STINT: Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  1. What does STINT stand for?

    STINT stands for Short Term International.

  2. What are International Campus Staff?

    International Campus staff are staff members from Canada who choose to become a resident team on one of our partnership locations. These staff are crucial in helping a young ministry become self sufficient by training local students and new staff in the basics of evangelism and discipleship. The goal of each partnership is to establish an ongoing movement led by national staff and students and international campus staff are the key to making that happen. Establishing a resident team of international campus staff is the foremost goal of an international partnership.

  3. Who will I go with?

    We are big believers in team, and no intern will be placed in a location without a team. Many times this team will consist of students from particular schools who have planned on being overseas together (in other words, start recruiting some friends to go with you). A typical team will be somewhere between 4 -6 people with a team leader (man) and an associate team leader (woman). Together they will give leadership and direction to the whole team.

  4. How long is a STINT?

    STINT typically runs from August to August. We ask that each STINTer would stay at least one year to complete the internship. As well, upon returning to Canada, C4C gives 2 weeks for each stinter to take time to update their supporters, church(es) and people here in Canada all as part of their stint experience.

  5. Where can I go on STINT?

    In Canada, we currently offer STINT opportunities to our 4 partnerships countries. These countries are the Orient, South East Africa, North Africa, and Panama.

  6. How do I apply for STINT?

    Instructions for applying for STINT can be found here.

  7. How long does the application process take?

    Once you have sent in your full application, including all references, it usually takes only a week or two for you to hear back from Human Resources. The key part of this process is making sure all of your references are sent in. Your application begins to be processed only when all parts are received by Human Resources.

Once I am there…

  1. What will I do on STINT?

    You will be on a team that is responsible for beginning or continuing to build a movement of evangelism and discipleship at your location. Your main activities will involve sharing your faith, doing basic follow up, possibly leading a small group, planning retreats and weekly meetings, and training students to be leading the ministry after you have gone. You will spend time praying for these goals as a team and working together to make it happen.

  2. What does a typical day look like?

    You and your team will work at building a weekly schedule that focuses on fulfilling your goals in ministry. An average day will involve meeting new friends and sharing your faith, or meeting with old friends and sharing your faith. Evangelism is the mainstay of your year on STINT and most activities revolve around it. During the course of the week you will also have team meetings, team prayer, team socials, outreaches (socials for the students you meet) and possibly language classes (in East Asia for sure). A typical day might look like this:

    • 8 Breakfast & QT
    • 9 Language Class
    • 12 Lunch with team leader
    • 1 Read / work on training / a break
    • 2 On campus meeting new people
    • 7 Dinner with Mahmet and Omar
    • 8 Outreach Social with friends from English Department

    Or it may look like this:

    • 8 QT
    • 9 Team prayer at our place
    • 12 Lunch as a team
    • 1 Meet Natasha for follow up
    • 6 Dinner with Yulya
    • 7 In Dorms meeting new people

    Of course many STINTers say that there is no typical day, so mileage may vary depending on where you are, how developed the movement is, and even security.

  3. Will I be trained in ministry?

    This question partially depends on the location you are doing your STINT. For the most part however, you will have the opportunity to complete much of the same training that you would receive as a first year staff member. Much of the training centers on being able to clearly communicate your faith and do basic follow up.

  4. What does the ministry look like?

    In most cases you are part of a team starting a very new ministry. You will spend a lot of your time meeting new people, sharing your faith and doing basic follow up. It most cases it is very very relational. You are making friends and talking about Jesus. You are building relationships and bringing people to a point of decision. After you see people trust Christ you begin to do basic follow up with them and begin to help them develop the skills they will need to walk with God.

  5. Where will I live?

    In most cases you will live in apartments near campus. In some cases you may actually live in a dorm setting on campus.

  6. How is the communication between there and home?

    Email has changed the world and in most locations you can get good reliable email services. There are also phone cards that enable you to communicate substantially cheaper that the normal national rates. Most people in locations we go have cell phones as well. For family and friends that want to call you, there are many cheap phone card services that have great rates to places all over the world. In other words, it is fairly easy to stay in touch.

  7. Is language a barrier?

    English is a global language. Most of your time will be spent with students who are studying English. You will quickly learn the basics of language to be able to get around. You’ll also make friends who will be able to help you with things like shopping, paying bills, and other necessities of life. In some places there will be long term International Campus Staff who will be able to help as well.

  8. Will we go to church?

    This will vary by location. In countries where a local church is not available or there are language issues, you will most likely meet as a team and to have praise and worship, and a teaching time. Many times STINT leaders will make use of recorded messages from a church or other source, or they may teach something themselves. In other locations where formal churches are available, going to church will likely be part of your regular schedule. Obviously, the details will be highly dependent on your particular assignment.

  9. Will we take Holiday breaks?

    Yes. Most locations will go to a mid-year conference away from their country, and have a vacation together. In other locations there may not be a mid-year conference, but you will still get to have some vacation time. Although there are scheduled vacation times, the primary focus of your time will be to minister to students. With very rare exceptions, you will not be allowed to be away your team for the duration of your STINT. Any outside travel (including at the end of your stint) must be approved by your Canadian STINT director.

  10. Can parents and friends visit?

    We welcome parents visiting their students in the country where they are located. In some cases, there are organized trips for parents to visit a particular team. Before making plans, talk to your partnership leadership. Friend visits need to be approved by the partnership coordinator and the in-country director. CCC wants you to maintain close contact with your family and friends, but due to the way our ministries operate in other countries, we need to make that visits occur during appropriate times.

Money Questions

  1. How much money will I need to raise?

    You need to raise adequate support to cover your salary, your travel expenses and all your ministry expenses along the way. Depending on the partnership you are going to, this means you will need to raise roughly 22,000 - 28,000. As well, the salary scale is floating with a minimum and a maximum. The higher a salary you choose to take (to pay off student loans etc.) the more support you will need to raise, as CCC does not have any central funds that help contribute to your salary etc.

  2. How will I raise it?

    You will raise support from individuals and churches. There will be a training in late April where you will receive training on support raising and also meet someone on staff with CCC who will coach you for the remainder of the summer on support raising.

  3. What is covered in the amount I raise?

    There are three basic things covered in the money you raise:

    1. Salary (money for the basics of life)
    2. Benefits (health insurance)
    3. Reimbursable expenses (money for ministry related expenses)

  4. How do I get paid?

    CCC will put money in your Canadian bank account and you will withdraw it internationally.

  5. What is included in my salary?

    Your salary is for your living expenses. It is sufficient to save for the future, give and pay off school debt if necessary.

Health/Safety

  1. Do I get insurance?

    As an intern you are covered by health care insurance for living outside Canada. This coverage also includes medical evacuation insurance, should medical evacuation be necessary. You have life insurance for $50,000, provided you are serving a minimum of six months. Coverage will begin the day you leave Canada for your assignment. You should also notify your provincial health insurance to notify them that you are out of the country for 11 months. This helps you to be reinstated in provincial insurance when you return.

  2. How are medical needs met?

    It varies from location to location, but it most countries you go and get treatment, pay out of your own pocket, file a claim and then get reimbursed. Most locations have adequate if not good medical facilities. If it is an emergency or a serious issue, you will leave the country to get adequate treatment in the best place possible. If it is an extreme emergency you will be air lifted out by our emergency evacuation service.

  3. What about safety issues?

    Although nowhere in the world is perfectly safe, CCC takes the geopolitical nature of the world into account in sending people. CCC leadership seek to make wise decisions about where to go in the world to make an impact for Christ, while considering that some places that have a lot of political instability. CCC leadership consult with local staff, Canadian government travel advisories and Health Canada’s recommendations in making decisions.