Teachers In Service, Inc. - Project EdSend Prospective

(Please note: Project EdSend has not been funded and Teachers In Service is not accepting applications. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will address the financial issue of monthly, college education loan repayment in his own time. The following information is provided for information purposes only.)

Overview

The purpose of Project EdSend, when funded, will be to address the college loan repayment issue for new MK teachers just out of college. The issue is that many prospective MK teachers have college education monthly loan repayments that prohibit them from becoming MK teachers. EdSend is a program in which these monthly loan repayments will be assumed by third parties in exchange for the teacher going to the mission field to teach children of missionaries. Filling these vacancies would mean fewer missionaries would have to assume the role of teachers (leaving their own work undone) and fewer would have to leave the field, the result being the spreading the Word of God in a more effective way. Project EdSend connects the ministries of MK teachers with the ministries of individuals who are financially able to help - those key people who understand that their financial support will make a significant impact on the Kingdom's work.

Reduce College/University Costs

Graduating from some Christian colleges/universities with a bachelors degree and then obtaining a teaching credential from a state department of education can cost as much as $125K ($125,000). If you are just beginning college, please consider the total cost of your education in light of your desire to go to the mission field as an MK teacher. Considerations include:

1. Consider several Christian colleges/universities since education costs vary considerably.

2. Consider attending a Christian college/university that has a "debt forgiveness" program for full time missionary work after graduation.

3. Consider enrolling in a state college/university in your own state.

4. Consider attending a junior college in your own state for your first two years or so and then transferring to a four year college/university, either secular or Christian.

5. Go to the following web sites and become educated (read carefully and fully understand what is said and claimed):

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
http://www.financialaidservices.org/
http://www.thecollegetrap.com/aboutfais.htm
http://www.nfcc.org
http://www.costeffectivecollege.com/FAIShome.htm
http://www.crown.org/Library/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=126

Look around for similar web sites. Please read carefully and understand what is being said, promised, and determine their agenda, up front and hidden.

6. Some colleges get a "kick-back" from some education loan companies. Beware of a "push" towards one particular loan company. Ask the financial aids person whether or not the university gets a kick back from certain loan companies. Be a wise and questioning college loan consumer.

7. Credit card trouble. Cut up and throw away your credit cards! And yes this sounds contradictory to the American way of life where living in credit card debt is standard. Adopt the life style of a missionary and live only with what you have to spend at the moment. Please understand that in a few years you will want to go to the mission field and that in those intervening years it is possible for you to accumulate debts to the degree that they will keep you from going to the mission field. If you are serious about going to the mission field after graduation, please consider minimizing your debt through living frugally (e.g. cutting out pizza on Friday night, not having the latest cell phone, MP 3 player, or computer). Choices made during your college years can affect future plans and service for the Lord. We know students who are seriously-oriented prospective missionaries that in their pursuit of learning to live independently they equip their apartment with hand-me-downs and stuff from Good-Will.

Detailed Information About Project EdSend

MK teachers already teaching or prospective MK teachers who are seeking assistance with their monthly college education loan repayment will need to be associated with or have made application to a mission organization or will be in a teaching situation whose chief administrator will confirm that they are teaching MKs

If you are not teaching but have made application to a mission organization we will need to know the name of the organization, whether or not the only item keeping you from becoming an MK teacher is your college education loan repayment situation, how much your monthly college education loan repayment will be, and the name of the organization who loaned you money. Project EdSend will assume on a monthly basis 100% of your loan repayment, paid directly to the loaning institution.

If you are already teaching we will need to know the location, the name of the organization with whom you are working, how much you monthly college education loan repayment is, and the name of the organization who loaned you money.

If you are in a unique situation not described above, please contact us. These situations may include "tent makers," private contracts with an MK school, etc.

When your application to Project EdSend has been approved and all other requirements by your mission organization have been met, we will initiate a monthly payment to the organization that loaned you the money. This will continue for as long as you remain teaching MKs or until you have paid off your loan. In the event that the organization with whom you are associated or the headmaster of the school where you work terminates your services, EdSend loan payments will cease.

A contract will be required that specifies these terms.

If you are unsure whether or not you qualify for Project EdSend when it is funded, please contact TIS.

Please Contact Us with Questions and Concerns.