Member Benefits
Global Connections aims to connect, inspire and equip a broad range of individuals, organisations and churches within the mission community to explore and learn together how best to tackle emerging issues. In association with this aim, being a member of Global Connections offers the follow benefits. If you would like to know more about any of these benefits, please do email Andy Law. You can also find out more about the cost of joining, and submit your application for membership, here.
We provide unique networking opportunities with others who are involved in mission and who share the same passion as you. As well as running a range of forum events throughout the year, we host one-off events exploring current topics and issues, providing the opportunity to reflect theologically on key issues relating to the future of mission. Our network-wide events, which run at least every other year, give us the opportunity to bring the whole network together to explore a major issue affecting mission. Global Connections and MAP members can attend all forums, one-off and network-wide events at a greatly discounted rate.
As the world changes around us, the way we consider approaching mission also needs to adapt. One-off events will focus specifically on exploring the future of mission, with key speakers and global voices with first-hand experience in the mission world sharing their experiences and opinions. Global Connections and MAP members also have the opportunity to input their observations and solutions so that together, the UK network for world mission can ask and answer some key questions, identify the lessons we need to learn, and begin to work on an appropriate response together. Discussions about the future of mission can now continue outside of these events through the dedicated digital forum thread on the new Networking Hub (launching soon).
We believe it’s important for Christian organisations and churches to follow high standards and reliable guidelines when it comes to mission, HR and member care, safeguarding and more. Working with and drawing on experiences from a range of agencies, Global Connections and MAP offer a portfolio of codes, policy guidelines and pro-forma that you can utilise to equip your organisation, raise standards, maximise your work, and to confidently fulfil your operational roles and responsibilities.
Members of the UK network for world mission are encouraged to explore mission issues and solutions together and our website has a wealth of resources that visitors can access for free. We also regularly signpost members and subscribers of our monthly e-newsletter Network News to useful and essential resources, and Global Connections and MAP members will also have access to exclusive resources through our Networking Hub (launching soon). We have over 300 members in the network so if we can’t directly help, we’ll know someone who can.
The UK network for world mission (Global Connections and MAP) is a growing network of over 300 UK churches and agencies with a passion for mission, and collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We are excited to announce the launch of a new, member-exclusive, Networking Hub. This secure, digital platform is a place for members of the UK network for world mission to directly connect with one another, share knowledge, resources and news, and continue conversations and learning between events in a digital space.
Whether you are a well-established mission agency or a small church or new Christian charity, join the UK network for world mission and you’ll have a wealth of experience at your fingertips. Join one of our forums and you’ll have the chance to engage with others working in similar roles, connecting with them to share resources, ideas and best practice.
If you also have a presence in Northern Ireland, you will have the chance to connect with other agencies and churches in Northern Ireland by engaging with the work of MAP (a ministry of Global Connections). If your head office is in England, Scotland or Wales, our new contribution structure incorporates a dual membership option that allows members to add MAP membership to their GC membership without the need for a separate contribution payment.
Due to our strength as a network, Global Connections has been able to set up a group Private Medical Insurance scheme which is available for all Global Connections and MAP members at a very reasonable price. The Global Connections Group Scheme offers annual worldwide (excluding USA) medical cover with Talent Trust Consultants. This scheme is particularly helpful for long-term mission partners who might not be eligible for free access to the NHS in England when visiting the UK.
Global Connections and MAP have also partnered with Banner Financial Services Group Ltd to negotiate special travel and health insurance schemes, and a unique Group Life Insurance scheme with especially favourable terms for overseas workers. Banner Financial Services is part of the R3 Group and provides market leading insurance policies specifically designed for individuals who are living, working, volunteering or teaching overseas.
The Global Connections pension schemes continue to outperform similar schemes and members will have access to two exclusive plans: a pension plan for UK based staff operated by Scottish Widows and an international savings plan for overseas workers operated by Zurich Insurance (International). Administration and advice are provided by Succession Wealth, a group of independent financial advisors authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). These schemes are only available to members of Global Connections or those with MAP+GC membership.
Digital platforms open up opportunities to reach those who are exploring global mission and we want to encourage those in the network and beyond to explore mission through network events and activities. If you are a part of the UK network of world mission (Global Connections and MAP) you can post your upcoming events for free on the Global Connections website via your secure login. These events can link directly to your webpage and if they are added in good time, we will also include them in our monthly e-newsletter Network News and share them across Global Connections’ social media channels.
Together the UK network for world mission seeks to inspire UK Christians to explore opportunities in Christian ministry and service. With support from Christian Vocations (a ministry of Global Connections) network members (Global Connections and MAP) can advertise UK jobs, voluntary positions and training programmes, as well as short-term and longer-term international opportunities all at a discounted price. Christian Vocations can help you reach potential staff and volunteers through their email job alerts, dedicated jobs and opportunities website (which had over 295,000 views in 2020) and by regularly promoting opportunities on their social media pages.
We believe in the power of prayer and we are so blessed to be connected to a team of dedicated prayer warriors who pray diligently month after month for our network members. Members of Global Connections and MAP can add as many prayers as they want for their projects and ministries on our website via their login area. This is a great way for other members of the network and supporters of Global Connections to feel connected to your work. Our prayer pages receive between 3,000-6,000 views per month on average (more if specific countries are mentioned in the news). Members can also submit prayers for our bi-monthly prayer guide, World Prayer News.
Our alliance with the Christian Supply Chain (CSC) gives all our member agencies who are registered charities an opportunity to save on their core expenditure. Christian organisation can sign up free to CSC’s website and engage directly with each of its recommended suppliers to potentially save 8-15% per spend area, whether that is on food, office products, utilities, insurance, furniture or many other areas.
Global Connections members Penhurst Retreat Centre and Whitchester Christian Centre are kindly offering discounted rates for staff of Global Connections and MAP members and leaders of member churches. Both retreat centres offer beautiful settings where your staff or UK and overseas mission workers can relax, renew and encounter God anew.