Stride

Stride is a carefully structured in-service training programme, designed to help you develop your faith and explore God's calling in Latin America.

Quick links: Classic Stride, Stride Special Programs

Classic Stride

Thinking about a gap year or language year abroad? Perhaps considering a career break or sabbatical? Or want to get a feel for long term service? Then Stride may hold the right opportunity for you. 

Recent placements have included:

• project management
• publishing and the media
• engineering
• helping with disability
• music and creative arts
• urban outreach
• street children/families at risk
• rural development
• student discipleship
• teaching
• technical environments

The programme runs from six months to two years and starts each year in September. Applications should be received by mid-March; selection days take place from December to April.

Stride destinations have included Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Spain.

Latin Link operates on a self-funded, support-raised basis with all its members in mission. We have carefully defined financial structures to ensure all our people are well cared for, and a team structure to support members pastorally and in the development of their ministries.
Hear from two people on Classic Stride

Orientation and Training.

Before going out to Latin America Striders attend a week's orientation course and a week's preparation at a well-known mission training college. There is also the option to do a full term's inter-cultural training.

On arrival in Latin America there's a short period of local orientation before starting your placement. Those with limited Spanish or Portuguese do a language course, and everyone has the ongoing support of a mentor in Latin America, usually a member of Latin Link. Most Striders live with a Latin American Christian family.

When you return we'll review your placement with you and invite you to a debriefing conference along the rest of the year's short termers.

Stride Special Programmes

Through Stride, Latin Link can help those engaged in particular areas of study to gain hands-on, cross-cultural experience within a Christian context.

Language year abroad for university students, with the possibility of linking with a university or Bible college for study in Latin America. Placements fit the academic year.

Bible college electives for those thinking of working in Latin America in the future.

Medical electives across the whole spectrum of healthcare and engineering electives offer the experience of working in a developing country. Both medics and engineers spend a minimum of eight weeks on their placement and need Spanish at least to GCSE level.

Partners in Training Programme (PTP) is run by special arrangement with Bible colleges in Britain and Ireland and in Latin America. Part of the course takes place at home and part in Argentina, Brazil or Peru, and lasts from two to four years depending on the qualification sought. The aim is to give a well-rounded preparation for mission: firm biblical foundations alongside the ability to adapt and relate well to different situations and people.

Relay Homestart is an initiative of UCCF:The Christian Unions. It offers new graduates a year in which they are discipled, study theology and world mission, and support Christian Union members at a university in the UK. This is followed by at least another year working with students abroad, which can organised through Stride.