Restrictions
Pages containing Social Security information have been removed from files and photocopies without that information substituted. Original pages will be put back in files after January 1, 2046.
Historical Background
Short Terms Abroad (STA), a nondenominational evangelically-oriented service agency, was originated and sponsored by Tyndale House Foundation, Wheaton, IL. It was incorporated in 1965 and functioned until 1976, when the organization merged with Intercristo. The purpose of STA was three-fold: 1) To encourage missions to use short-term staff; 2) to provide a means of screening personnel to mission groups who were temporarily in need of specialized skills or augmentation of staff; and 3) to offer opportunities of service in the mission field to those who could serve only a short time as opposed to making a lifetime commitment.
The Board of Directors in 1966 included Wallace Erickson, Dr. Malcolm I. Forsberg, Edwin L. Frizen, Jr., Peter Gunther, Clyde W. Taylor, and Kenneth N. Taylor. Richard Wolff was the first part-time Executive Director between 1966-1967, succeeded by Rev. Irving A. Philgreen in 1967. That same year, the agency was reincorporated separately from Tyndale House Foundation. In 1970, Kenneth N. Taylor was Chairman of the Board and the offices were based in Wheaton. In addition, there were two branch offices in Lucas, OH, and Indianapolis, IN, as well as a field office in London. The Wheaton office was later moved to Downers Grove, IL, where the Opportunities Directory was published and distributed by a part-time staff. Income rose from $38,000.00 in 1969 to $61,000.00 in 1974.
As an agency, Short Terms Abroad sought to reach students, retired men and women, skilled tradesmen, and qualified professionals. These individuals served periods of time varying from several weeks to a maximum of forty-eight months. Recruiting was accomplished in several ways. Primary emphasis was on direct mailings, augmented with STA publications; advertisements in school and college papers and on radio stations; films; seminars; contacts with churches; and conferences. Short Terms Abroad bulletins were initially published quarterly and later superseded by an annual Opportunities directory which proved to be the most effective method of recruitment. The directory listed current job categories, countries, and missions needing personnel and was mailed to churches, schools, libraries, missions, or individuals. By 1970, 20 thousand Opportunities Directories were published. This number rose to 240 thousand in 1974, all but a few of which were direct orders.
Part of the promotion material included an expanded thesis written by STA secretary Judy Barr entitled Overseas Short Terms Service, which traced the history of short term missionary service, growing in this country from barely a dozen missions using this type of term to 86 in 1967. Talent teams, adult vocation groups, student summer programs and mission associate programs were some of the ways in which STA developed. Emphasis was on short term as a reference not to commitment but to time span, and on breaking down a laymen/professional double standard as opposed to the concept of professional/nonprofessional ministry, with mission as an all-Christian vocation limited neither geographically or professionally. Problems and benefits of this type of service were discussed candidly as a realistic preparation for the short term involvement. Screening was based on these as well as on professional qualifications and doctrinal beliefs.
The decision to terminate STA was the outcome of a review by the Board of Directors of the
goals and accomplishments of the organization. Experience proved that a directory was the most
effective means of listing openings for short term service, that missions agencies preferred to do
their own dossiers and screening, and that both missions and Christian laymen were aware of and
using short term service. With these goals reached, mailing ceased in 1975 and the functions of
STA were taken over by Intercristo in 1976. A post office box was maintained and was still in
existence in 1981 for the purpose of referring contacts as they continued to be mailed to STA.
[NOTE: In the Scope and Content description, the notation "folder 1-1" means box 1, folder 1.]
Scope and Content
Boxes 1 to 4 contain Active Dossier files of individuals who were placed in various short-term duties with missions. The files include dossiers and correspondence relating to assignments. Boxes 5 to 8 hold records of applicants who for varying reasons were placed on in inactive status. Existing photos of Active and Inactive applicants are alphabetized by last name in the Photo file. Dossiers include conversion experiences and personal motivations for service in mission work. References provide insight into personality traits useful for mission service. Folder 5-82 includes a 1968 set of bilingual Sunday school lessons in Chinyanja, an African dialect, and English.
General files are located in Boxes 9-12, covering the years between 1965 and 1976. The full scope of the operation of STA is reflected in the correspondence, minutes of board meetings, and mailing lists of colleges, seminaries, churches, Christian organizations, and publications. STA personnel, names and addresses, and board minutes can be found in folders 9-34 and 9-36. Folder 9-79 contains basic data used by the International Congress on World Evangelization, 1974, for the study of individual countries. Posters and newspapers aimed at urban street/drug culture are in folder 9-57 and OS 16. A copy of a research report, Laymen Abroad in Christian Mission, is in folder 9-85. A summary of the principles of Latin America Mission's Evangelism-in-Depth program is in folder 10-34. Folder 12-16 includes a paper developing the rationale of short term services and outlines potential personnel problems realistically. Another paper, "The Challenge of Youth," written by the first director of STA, Richard Wolff, is in folder 12-87.
Boxes 13-15 contain an incomplete set of files, M-W, of correspondence with the missions with which STA dealt for placement of personnel. These include radio stations, publishing houses, crusade groups, translators, schools, and relief agencies, as well as established denominational and nondenominational mission units in individual countries.
Provenance
The material for this collection was given to the Center by Rev. Irving Philgreen in 1980 and 1981.
Accession #: 80-170
October 2, 1981
Frances L. Brocker
R. Shuster
J. Nasgowitz
GENERAL FILES: CHRISTIAN INFORMATION COMMITTEE, 1969 (OS 16). Four
newspapers. From folder 9-57.
5 COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS (OS 16).
Earlham College: The Earlham Post, Feb. 20, 1968
Friends University: University Life, Oct. 12, 1967
Malone College: Malone Aviso, Oct. 12, 1967
Marion College: The Journal, Nov. 16, 1967
Moody Bible Institute: Moody Student, Nov. 3, 1967
RECRUITMENT, 1968, COLLEGE ADS (OS 16). From folder 12-1.
GENERAL FILES: WAREHOUSE, MRS. BARBARA FAGEN, ZIMMERMAN INSURANCE, 1974 (OS 16). Copy of lease from folder 12-16.
GENERAL FILES: TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, 1970 (OS 16). Lease, newspaper
reprint, and book jacket for The Marriage Affair from folder 12-51.
GENERAL FILES: NEW LIFE LEAGUE, 1966-1969, N.D. (OS 16). Newspaper, Herold of His Coming, from folder 13-14.
*****ALLEN, JAMES LEE. 1 b&w.
BAKER, PRISCILLA. 1 b&w.
BANKS. MARGARET. 1 b&w.
BARTH, MARCIA. 1 b&w.
BRADSHAW, DONALD. 1 b&w.
BUXA, RUBY. 1 b&w.
CANTRELL, MR. AND MRS. GARY AND CHILDREN. 1 b&w.
CARPENTER, MR. AND MRS. JOHN P. Photo of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Carpenter, (Billy).
1 b&w.
CHASE, ROBERT. 1 b&w.
COLBY, RAYMOND LAWRENCE, JR., BEVERLY JEAN AND FAMILY. 1 b&w.
CROWELL, ROBERT R. 1 b&w.
DAVIS, RICHARD A. 1 b&w.
ERICKSON, DR. WALLACE A. 2 b&w.
FLOKSTRA, KAY. 1 b&w.
FORSBERG, DR. MALCOLM. 1 b&w.
FRIZEN, EDWIN L., JR. 1 b&w.
GRAMMONT, HAZEL. 1 color.
GUNTHER, PETER F. 1 b&w.
HANSON, DR. LEWIS W. 1 b&w.
HANSON, MRS. L. W. 1 b&w.
HARMON, RICHARD K. 1 b&w.
HARRI, PIRKKO. 1 b&w.
HAXTON, CHARLES R. 1 b&w.
HODGES, HOWARD K. 1 b&w.
HOLCOMB, CONLEY L. AND FAMILY. 1 b&w.
ISAACSON, SUSAN ARLENE. 1 b&w.
JOSEPH, REV. KENNY AND FAMILY. 1 b&w.
JORGENSEN, LESTER DEAN. 1 b&w.
KEAS, JOYCE. 1 color.
KEIM, EVELYN. 1 b&w.
KLEIN, MRS. HARRY. 1 b&w.
KOTINE, ZAMIRA. 1 b&w.
LADE, SUSAN C. 1 color.
LEHMANN, MR. AND MRS. CHRIS. 1 b&w.
LOCKWOOD, ALAN G. 1 b&w.
LOKEN, CORDELL. 1 b&w.
LOKEN, JEAN. 1 b&w.
McCONNELL, CHRIS. 1 color.
McGEHEE, ROSE. 1 color.
McGEHEE, WENDELL. 1 color.
MALON, H. SCOTT. 1 color.
MASTER, KATHRYN. 1 b&w.
MEYER, CATHARINE. 1 color.
MICHALKO, RUTH. 1 b&w.
MOLINARI, ROSE. 1 b&w.
MUMLEZ, ROSELINE. 1 b&w.
OAKES, BYRON R. 1 b&w.
OAKES, JOYCE. 1 b&w.
ORSINI, JOSEPHINE. 1 b&w.
PACKARD, CARLA. 1 b&w.
PALMER, BERNARD. 1 b&w.
PARIS, CHARLOTTE. 1 b&w.
PECK, EDNA. 1 color
PENNEL, ELAINE. 1 b&w.
PRICE, EUNICE. 1 b&w.
RAY, DARREL W. 1 b&w.
ROBBINS, JIM. 2 b&w.
ROBBINS, SHIRLEY AND CHILDREN. 1 color.
RUTH, IRMA KATHRYN. 1 b&w.
RUTH, DR. WILLARD D. O. 1 b&w.
RUTLEDGE, WILBERT AND HELEN. 1 b&w.
SAUERESSING, MRS. GRACE. 1 b&w.
SHANE, LOIS AND BILL. 1 b&w.
SHORT TERMS ABROAD, SUN AND WATER. 1 b&w.
SHUPACK, DR. BERNARD. 1 color and 1 b&w.
SKAPICK, CAROLE. 1 color.
SMITH, BEVERLY. 1 color.
STEWART, GAITHER, NANCY AND CHILDREN. 1 color.
STORESUND, MERWYN E. 1 b&w.
TAYLOR, CLYDE W. 1 b&w.
TAYLOR, KENNETH. 1 b&w.
TAYLOR, MARGARET. 1 b&w.
VAN SCHOOTEN, MELVIN. 1 color.
VISSERS, ALVIN AND RONDA. 1 b&w.
WALES, MRS. FRANK S. 1 b&w.
WEISS, DR. C. CHRISTIAN. 1 b&w.
WIGHT, PATRICIA ANN. 1 b&w.
WILSON, ALEXANDER FORD. 1 b&w.
WISE, CHRISTINE. 1 b&w.
WOODS, JOHN. 1 b&w.
WOODS, WINIFRED W. 1 b&w.
WORLEY, MARSHA. 1 b&w.
Box |
Folder |
Item |
||
|
Active Dossier |
|||
1 |
1 R |
Ahlquist, Miss Diane; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
2 R |
Alofs, Miss Lois; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
3 R |
Ambrose, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
4 R |
Anen, Mrs. Ruth; 1969 |
||
1 |
5 R |
Baker, Dorothy; 1967-1970 |
||
1 |
6 R |
Baker, Priscilla; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
7 R |
Ball, Gilbert; 1968-1969 |
||
1 |
8 R |
Ballenger, Mr. and Mrs. Larry (Judith K. ); 1969 |
||
1 |
9 R |
Barnes, Patricia (Mrs. Russell McGlenn); 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
10 R |
Barnum, Miss Cheryl; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
11 R |
Barth, Miss Marcia; 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
12 R |
Bax, Miss Elizabeth A.; 1970 |
||
1 |
13 R |
Bensiek, Miss Mary; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
14 R |
Berndt, Miss Audrey; 1968-1971 |
||
1 |
15 R |
Berry, Gregory; 1967-1969 |
||
1 |
16 R |
Bird, Dr. George L.; 1967-1970 |
||
1 |
17 R |
Birkhoff, Mrs. Dorothy D.; 1966-1970 |
||
1 |
18 R |
Bostick, Miss Mary Anne; 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
19 R |
Bowden, William; 1967-1970 |
||
1 |
20 R |
Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson D.; 1969 |
||
1 |
21 R |
Bryant, Mrs. Bernice; 1968-1969 |
||
1 |
22 R |
Burge, Paul; 1969 |
||
1 |
23 R |
Burley, John McKinley; 1969 |
||
1 |
24 R |
Buxa, Miss Ruby; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
25 R |
Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Edward; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
26 R |
Cantrell, Mr. and Mrs. Gary (Donna); 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
27 R |
Carlburg, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert; 1968-1969 |
||
1 |
28 R |
Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs. John; 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
29 R |
Carson, Miss Carol Lee; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
30 R |
Chase, Robert J.; 1966-1969 |
||
1 |
31 R |
Childers, Mr. and Mrs. James (Mary); 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
32 R |
Clayden, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
33 R |
Clemen, Robert; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
34 R |
Coffman, Miss Lorene; 1970 |
||
1 |
35 R |
Colby, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Beverly); 1970 |
||
1 |
36 R |
Cook, Miss Susan Ellen; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
37 R |
Cross, Mr. and Mrs. Warren D.; 1966-1970 |
||
1 |
38 R |
Dattoli, Miss Diane Janeen; 1968-1971 |
||
1 |
39 R |
Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer (Grace); 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
40 R |
Davis, Richard A.; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
41 R |
Denslow, Miss Barbara; 1970-1971 |
||
1 |
42 R |
De Shong, Miss Mildred; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
43 R |
Douglass, Mrs. Laura Adell; 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
44 R |
Eagle, Darrel; 1968-1969 |
||
1 |
45 R |
Ecklebarger, Rev. Kermit A.; 1969 |
||
1 |
46 R |
Edgar, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth M.; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
47 R |
Eickmeier, Mr. and Mrs. Alvah; 1969-1971 |
||
1 |
48 R |
Fleser, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin; 1969 |
||
1 |
49 R |
Forester, Miss Carol Lee; 1968 |
||
1 |
50 R |
Fremd, Miss Irma; 1966-1970 |
||
1 |
51 R |
French, Miss Evelyn; 1970-1971 |
||
1 |
52 R |
Frist, Mrs. Elfriede; 1968-1971 |
||
1 |
53 R |
Garner, Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Elsie); 1967-1970 |
||
1 |
54 R |
Gay, Miss Jane Lynette; 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
55 R |
George, Miss Diane; 1968-1970 |
||
1 |
56 R |
Godaert, Mr. and Mrs. Ron; 1969-1970 |
||
1 |
57 R |
Golz, Rev. Leed; 1967-1969 |
||
2 |
1 R |
Goodridge, Miss Mary Alice; 1969 |
||
2 |
2 R |
Goss, Miss Deborah; 1967-1970 |
||
2 |
3 R |
Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J.; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
4 R |
Harri, Miss Pirkko; 1968-1969 |
||
2 |
5 R |
Harrison, Miss Maureen Eva; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
6 R |
Harrison, Miss Patricia Joy; 1966-1970 |
||
2 |
7 R |
Hensley, Mrs. Elizabeth; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
8 R |
Hickey, Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth B., Jr.; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
9 R |
Hill, Mr. and Mrs. James M.; 1965-1969 |
||
2 |
10 R |
Hilligoss, Miss Dorcas; 1968-1969 |
||
2 |
11 R |
Hodges, Howard K.; 1967-1968 |
||
2 |
12 R |
Hoffmeister, Miss Jean; 1967-1970 |
||
2 |
13 R |
Holcomb, Mr. and Mrs. Conley L.; 1966-1969 |
||
2 |
14 R |
Howell, Miss Rena Mae; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
15 R |
Isaacson, Miss Susan Arlene; 1969 |
||
2 |
16 R |
Ireson, Mr. and Mrs. Clayton (Nannie); 1970 |
||
2 |
17 R |
Jacobsen, Mr. and Mrs. Frank A.; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
18 R |
Jestes, Miss Marilyn G.; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
19 R |
Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord K.; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
20 R |
Johnson, Miss Claudia; 1970-1972 |
||
2 |
21 R |
Johnson, Miss Myrtle; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
22 R |
Johnston, Miss Joan; 1968-1971 |
||
2 |
23 R |
Jordan, Miss Dorothy; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
24 R |
Jungman, Lester Dean; 1968-1969 |
||
2 |
25 R |
Keas, Miss Joyce A.; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
26 R |
Keith, Mr. and Mrs. James (Marlene); 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
27 R |
Kejr, Miss Rosalie; 1967-1970 |
||
2 |
28 R |
Kenall, Miss Kay Ann; 1967-1970 |
||
2 |
29 R |
Khan, John Arif; 1968-1969 |
||
2 |
30 R |
King, Mr. and Mrs. Allan David (Barbara); 1970-1971 |
||
2 |
31 R |
Kinner, Miss Ellen Louise; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
32 R |
Kinsey, Miss June I.; 1970 |
||
2 |
33 R |
Korver, Miss Kate; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
34 R |
Kraft, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick; 1968 |
||
2 |
35 R |
Langford, Miss Cheryl; n.d. |
||
2 |
36 R |
La Rocca, Miss Nina; 1970 |
||
2 |
37 R |
Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas; 1970 |
||
2 |
38 R |
LeFever, Miss Marlene; 1966-1968 |
||
2 |
39 R |
Lenox, Theodore John; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
40 R |
Lodien, Miss Carol; 1970 |
||
2 |
41 R |
Loewen, Miss Elaine; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
42 R |
Loken, Mr. and Mrs. Cordell (Joan); 1966-1970 |
||
2 |
43 R |
Lowry, Mr. and Mrs. Steven D.; 1967-1968 |
||
2 |
44 R |
McLendon, Mrs. Enos; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
45 R |
McManus, Mrs. L.C. (Marjorie); 1967-1970 |
||
2 |
46 R |
MacMillan, Miss Donna E.; 1970 |
||
2 |
47 R |
MacPhee, Mr. and Mr. Archie; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
48 R |
McQuoid, Dr. and Mrs. David; 1967-1969 |
||
2 |
49 R |
Madden, Miss Katharine; 1968-1971 |
||
2 |
50 R |
Mahler, Miss Laura; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
51 R |
Martin, Miss Kathryn Lee; 1969-1970 |
||
2 |
52 R |
Mauzy, Edwin Ken; 1968-1969 |
||
2 |
53 R |
Mayer, Miss Karen; 1970 |
||
2 |
54 R |
Mead, Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
55 R |
Mendro, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne (Linda); 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
56 R |
Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon E.; 1968-1970 |
||
2 |
57 R |
Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A.; 1968-1969 |
||
3 |
1 R |
Nash, Clifford; 1970 |
||
3 |
2 R |
Neal, Marquerite W.; 1969-1970 |
||
3 |
3 R |
Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. John Michael; 1969-1970 |
||
3 |
4 R |
Nicholls, Delmar L.; 1968-1969 |
||
3 |
5 R |
Niswander, Miss Rosemary; 1968-1970 |
||
3 |
6 R |
Noble, Mr. and Mrs. Judson I. (Dorothy); 1967-1970 |
||
3 |
7 R |
Noffsinger, Miss Beatrice; 1967-1970 |
||
3 |
8 R |
Omley, Miss Sharon; 1969-1970 |
||
3 |
9 R |
Orsini, Mrs. Josephine; 1969 |
||
3 |
10 R |
Owens, Miss Carol Virginia; 1969-1970 |
||
3 |
11 R |
Paris, Miss Charlotte; 1969 |
||
3 |
12 R |
Peck, Mrs. Edna, G.; 1968-1969 |
||
3 |
13 R |
Pederson, Miss Patricia; 1969 |
||
3 |
14 R |
Pendergraft, Mr. Robert C.; 1967-1970 |
||
3 |
15 R |
Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. C. S.; 1970 |
||
3 |
16 R |
Pfennig, Miss Helen; 1968-1970 |
||
3 |
17 R |
Phillips, Miss Susan; 1967-1968 |
||
3 |
18 R |
Philpot, Miss Leona Juanita; 1969-1970 |
||
3 |
19 R |
Polhamus, Miss Barbara Jo; 1967-1969 |
||
3 |
20 R |
Priem, Bruce A.; 1968-1969 |
||
3 |
21 R |
Rankin, Miss Margaret E.; 1968 |
||
3 |
22 R |
Ratledge, Rev. and Mrs. Wilbert H. (Helen); 1965-1978 |
||
3 |
23 R |
|||