Rutherford Weekly

Nestled on 28 acres of land in Union Mills off Hudlow Road is one of Rutherford County's best kept secrets. Though well known to the hundreds who attend training or teach at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT), the majority of Rutherford County residents might be unaware of its mission and how they might become involved in the intercultural center. For 28 years the Center, formerly United World Mission, has trained missionaries as they go all over the world to spread the message of the gospel. The center's mission is equipping the heart and mind of the servant. George Schultz, who moved here in 1995 with his family, is the Senior Residential Director. His family formerly served in Alaska where Schultz was the Field Director at InterACT Ministries. Schultz shares the center's history of establishing Rutherford County, where the organization is today and how local volunteers can help. United World Mission (UWM) bought the property in Union Mills in 1988 and moved its i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a d q u a r t e r s there in 1989. One of the reasons for this location was the desire to create a cross-cultural training center for its missionaries. In 1994 Schultz was invited to come lead the residential training program and a year later the Schultz family moved to the area from their ministry in Alaska. In 1998 UWM moved its international headquarters to Charlotte creating the opportunity for the total campus to be used for training. Schultz said there are 18 agency partners involved today committed to working together with staff from several of these organizations working onsite. CIT operates under the nonprofi t status of UWM in Charlotte but the partnership maintains its own advisory board and hosts an annual meeting. To date, CIT has trained more than 4,100 missionaries serving in approximately 152 countries of the world from around 200 different o r g a n i z a t i o n s . Though most of the trainees are primarily North American, CIT has trained c r o s s - c u l t u r a l workers from a number of other countries including Romania, Bulgaria, Eswatini, Canada, Ukraine, China, Taiwan, Mexico, Dominican Republic, India, France, Costa Rica, Egypt, Perus, Colombia, and others. CIT maintains a staff of 39 people the majority of whom live in and around Rutherford County. Among those who are teachers there is Kristen Synder of Missouri. She has taught at CIT for 11 years and said teaching there has been a privilege. "I have gotten to see fi rst hand the tremendous care, effort and prayer that goes into training the missionaries. The staff there are top notch," she said. Husband Joel Snyder and the couple's four sons usually travel with Kristen when she comes to CIT. "My four boys love the pool, exercise park nearby and game rooms. They look forward to getting together with old friends (staff kids) and making new friends. I enjoy working on the building and grounds and often with my boys helping too. We all love hanging out with the amazing staff and participants. "I am especially grateful for CIT's emphasis on family ministry. We are grateful for each opportunity to bless CIT," Joel said. The Snyders, with Rutherford County connections, live in Missouri and work with Ethnos360 with a mission to see a thriving church for every people group in the world. Ethnos360 has a church planting methodology used by thousands of missionaries around the world. Kristen, a former nurse at Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte became friends with the Bobby Gantt family of Forest City when daughter Alison was in the hospital there more than 25 years ago. Continued on page 3. ISSUE NO. 2 • January 12, 2023 ISSUE NO. 2 • January 12, 2023 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Type 2 Diabetes and Weight Loss Class Dr. Sarah Merrison-McEntire Chiropractic Physician Carolina Chiropractic Plus and Carolinas Weight Loss Institute Learn how to lower your blood sugar and naturally heal your body of diabetic symptoms! When: January 17, 2023 at 5:30pm Where: 152 West Main St., Forest City Call 828-245-0202 TODAY! Lose weight, elevate your Health, and FEEL Better in 2023! Seating is limited Please call to reserve your spot! LOCAL LOCAL POSITIVE POSITIVE NEWS NEWS Al Always ways More than 4,000 worldwide missionaries trained WE OUR READERS! WE OUR READERS! Article by Jean Gordon. Photos Contributed. Intercultural training from Intercultural training from the CIT in Union Mills the CIT in Union Mills Our 31 st Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers George and Kathy Schultz. Kristen and Joel Snyder and their sons. Kristen Snyder teaching at CIT.

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