2024 Homeward Application

We are now accepting applications for 2024 Homeward Conference and Camp! This page contains the latest information about the application process and timeline.

Invitation Process Overview

Application Details

We look forward to receiving your application for Homeward 2024. Before applying, please review our programs and eligibility guidelines carefully. Here’s what you can expect throughout the process.

1. Submit an interest form.

Indicate the program(s) you are interested in and provide preliminary information on your ministry experience. If you are applying as a married couple and/or with children, please fill out one application for your entire household.

Optional: Request & submit a personal reference

We want to learn more about you! Applicants may request a reference from someone who knows their ministry well. References are optional but recommended, especially if your ministry context is more difficult to understand. References can be submitted via the Reference Form within one week of your application in order to be considered. If you are planning to submit references, please inform your referee(s) before/while you are working on the interest form.

2. Connect with our team

Upon receipt of your application, one of our Guest Relations Coordinators will reach out for next steps. We will ask additional questions and will find a time to meet over video interview. If you are currently in a less developed area, please plan for the video interview by securing a quiet area with reliable, fast internet access.

All applicants, including older children, will be invited to interview. We look forward to meeting you!

3. Receive a decision

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We aim to return decisions within 4 weeks of receiving your application, however in some cases it may take 8 weeks or more. Thank you for your patience.

If you apply for both the conference and the camp, you may receive two separate decisions. An invitation to attend either program does not guarantee an invitation for the other and all invitations are extended at our sole discretion.

4. Provide travel details

Following a program invitation(s), your Guest Relations Coordinator will reach out to confirm your travel details, including documentation of entry authorization and flight confirmation(s).

You may also apply for travel funding at this time by providing additional financial information. To learn more, see the Travel page for the program(s) you are interested in.

5. Commit to attend

Once your travel details are confirmed, we ask all invitees to acknowledge our program policies and commit to attend.

6. Registration confirmed!

We will confirm your registration upon receipt of all required documents and your commitment to attend.

FAQs

General

Which program(s) should I apply to?

Eligible families with teenagers are welcome (and indeed encouraged) to apply to both programs. Families sending teenagers to HYC will be prioritized for certain parts of the Conference intake process. Please see the Invitations page for eligibility requirements.

I can only come to part of the program. Do you allow partial participation?

We do not offer partial attendance for either program. Applicants will be required to attend the entire event to be eligible.

I don’t have a visa yet to enter Mexico and/or the United States. What should I do?

We will not be able to confirm your registration until you have met the requirements to enter the host nation. Please review the Travel page for the respective program for more information on entry authorization requirements.

When do I need to submit the application by?

We will be accepting applicants for both programs on a rolling basis up to our programs’ capacities. Early applicants will have the greatest likelihood of receiving an invitation.

How long does the application process take?

Generally, we expect the application process to take approximately 3-4 weeks from the time an application is submitted to when an application decision is issued.

Homeward Youth Camp

I know some teenagers raised in the missions field whom I would like to invite. Can they apply too?

Yes! Please share this website with them and ask them to apply if they would like to be considered. To avoid disappointment, please review our guidelines for the target audience prior to applying.

I do not meet the age requirements. Can I still come?

The majority of our camp activities and classes are geared towards teens - for instance, how to write a college application essay, as well as some academic courses. Generally, only youth between the ages of 13-22 years old will be accepted, but in special circumstances, there may be exceptions for mature 11- and 12-year olds, especially if we already know the child from a previous event or if the family has been invited to the 2024 Conference.