Why Chiang Mai, Thailand?
SVM2 has chosen to base its International Equipping Center which includes the Student Mission Movement Internship in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the following reasons:
1. Credibility
It is important to have this training community among an unreached people group for credibility purposes. Though seemingly a small thing this is actually a huge help. As the epicenter of vibrancy in the global church moves more and more to the global south, there is a greater barrier erected toward ministries based in North America. Being based in the center of Asia helps break down such walls.
2. Training Programs
It was an important decision to choose to live among an unreached people group that is non-oppressive in order to host the Student Mission Movement Internship program as well as the School of Global Harvest. This allows students to receive teaching and impartation while practically serving in an unreached setting. Such a learning environment serves the student practically in an extraordinary manner.
3. A Strategic Location
Because of the need for easy access and fairly lenient visa restrictions for incoming interns, students, conferences attendees and more it is essential to be located in a city with a strategic airport that is convenient to most global locations. Chiang Mai easily connects to Bangkok and the rest of the world. Chiang Mai is a hub for Christian ministries serving across South East Asia. Many conferences and retreats are held in this strategic location.
4. Cost of Living
It was important to find a location which allowed for staff, interns and students from many diverse cultural and national backgrounds to be able to afford the cost of living. Chiang Mai is a very cost effective city and allows us to keep costs down in significant ways.
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