When Charlene* expressed an interest in joining AIA staff, she was told she needed to approach her “network” to raise support to cover her living expenses.

She almost gave up before she even started. After all, who could she possibly approach for support?

She had been raised in poverty. Her family members barely had enough money for groceries, let alone extra to support a missionary. The story was the same with everyone she could think of. They needed every single dollar for diapers and milk. How could they support her? How could she even start to ask?

The task seemed impossible … and it might have been, except for Jumpstart.

Jumpstart is AIA’s program to help ethnic minority college graduates who are interested in making full-time AIA ministry their life’s work. It was created for people like Charlene, whose backgrounds make support raising incredibly challenging.

Some of these young people come from communities where other religions are dominant. Some are from communities where asking for money is a cultural taboo. And some from communities of poverty. Whatever barriers are in front of them, the fact remains that God has claimed them and called them. They want to reach and disciple students for Christ! Jumpstart––a full-time, paid, direct- ministry internship program––helps make that possible.

You see, instead of being left on their own to raise support, we ask Jumpstart interns and their local teams to raise two-thirds of their support locally (with contacts and appointments made by other AIA staff) and from whatever network they do have. We at AIA headquarters provide that final one-third for one year ... $14,235 per intern, or $39 per day, per person.

We have five new Jumpstart interns right now, and dream of a day when there are dozens in ministry across the country. But the reality is that we are only getting by month-to-month in supporting the first five. Funds are urgently needed to finish this commitment through the school year.

Will you offer your hand of support? Anything you can give––perhaps $39 or $78––will help men and women whom God has called to kingdom work, but who are wondering: How will this be possible? How is God going to make this happen?

Please consider a special gift to help answer their prayers ... to help take men and women from challenging backgrounds and connect them with students who need to hear from someone who understands: Jesus can work through the hard things.

This effort is only getting by month-to-month right now. $71,175 is needed to fully fund Jumpstart interns through this year of ministry. Please give your most generous gift today.

Thank you again for your partnership!