Get Certified Sowing Seeds of Joy Logo
      The mission of Sowing Seeds of Joy is to connect, equip, train, and mobilize all people, with a special emphasis on people of color, to advance God’s Kingdom through global missions. Sowing Seeds of Joy cultivates the short-term missions experience, strengthens, encourages, enhances, build-up, and ultimately change the lives of its participants.
Ron and Star Nelson, founders of Sowing Seeds of Joy

      In view of Boundless Ministries’ and Sowing Seeds of Joy’s (SSOJ) partnership and shared passion to see more African Americans and other people of color become more engaged in global missions, the Missionary Certification Program (MCP) was conceived. SSOJ founders, Ron and Star Nelson developed the program emphasizing education, experience, and accountability to equip people of color to become more involved in cross-cultural global missions.

      Short term mission trips with SSOJ are designed to change the life of participants to serve God's Kingdom with excellence. In collaboration with Boundless Ministries and NAAMC, SSOJ Co-founders Ron and Star Nelson designed a curriculum for individuals who are seeking to serve with excellence on the Missions Field for a short or long duration.

What the Program Offers

     The MCP provides instruction, coaching, and resources that highlight the importance of missionary service, mobilization, collaboration and networking within the total, all-inclusive mission community. Those who enroll in the course will be introduced to a curriculum that will embolden their passion for mission, their hunger to learn more, and their zeal to travel aboard. A three-year program, the MCP prepares students to address challenging missional issues in their communities, churches, ministries, and professions in competent, biblical, and strategic ways.

Graduates of MCP will earn the designation of being certified in one of seven areas:

  • Mission Mobilizer
  • Short-term Team Leader
  • Human Trafficking
  • Trauma Healing
  • Cross-Cultural Missions: STM 101
  • Creative Arts in Missions
  • Missionary Care (Coming 2021)

Who is Invited?

      MCP welcomes any and all individuals desiring a deeper understanding of missions and wanting to increase their role in the Great Commission mandate. The program seeks mission supporters, project coordinators, trainers, seasoned missionaries, pastors, church leaders, lay persons, young adults, zealous goers and senders. Aspired MCP candidates should complete the application below. Along with submitted application, three references are requested.

Next Steps

      MCP Candidates: Please have reference form completed by three references. At least one Personal Assessment must be submitted by an official leader in your church (e.g., a pastor, elder, deacon, or council member). Personal Assessments from your church staff or relatives of the applicant will not be accepted. A minimum of two Personal Assessments must be from references that have known the candidate for 5 or more years.

      Note to the Reference providing this Personal Assessment: Please answer the following questions. If you do not know the applicant well enough to form an opinion on a question, please leave it blank. The information you provide is confidential, except to the extent that we may use your comments as a basis for giving the applicant general suggestions about opportunities for growth, without revealing the source of the information.

      MCP Applicants enjoy Christian fellowship and are accountable to his or her local church. Therefore, we require the following affirmation from an official representative of the applicant's church (e.g., a pastor, elder, deacon, or council member): I hereby attest that this applicant is in continuing fellowship and good standing in this church, and has placed his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior, Lord, and King.