PARENTAL FAQ

 

  • Missionaries serve for one or two years. First-year missionaries commit to nine months of service from August until the middle of May of the next year. Those who are selected to serve a second year as an HN Missionary servant leader commit to ten months and serve from mid-July until the end of the following May.

  • Since Hard as Nails is a non-profit organization, fundraising is a practical necessity. However, we also see it as a necessary formational experience for every missionary. Through fundraising efforts, missionaries develop a deep appreciation of the generosity of God's People. They see with their own eyes the impact of that generosity. They learn to appreciate the food on their plate at each meal. they learn to step outside their comfort zone. They build special relationships with those supporting them. They grow in gratitude and humility.

  • Parents of commissioned missionaries will receive the personal cell numbers of the Director of Missionary Life and the Business Administrator. In the event parents need to reach their child, they can call those two contacts or the office number at 1-888-498-2255.

  • Missionary housing is provided by HN in the Syracuse area. Males and females have separate quarters on the same grounds. When out on tour or mission, missionaries will stay at the homes of host families, at parish centers, or at hotels.

  • During training, your son/daughter will not have access to their phone until Sunday. They will be given one hour on Sunday afternoons to use their phone. Phone time is dependent on scheduled training activities. You can expect a call between 2 and 6 PM. Once commissioned, missionaries can use their phone for personal use daily for 30 minutes. They will continue to have one hour on Sundays during the same “window” of time.

    Note: Missionaries traveling on assignment have general prohibitions regarding cell phone usage: after disembarking travel vehicles, while volunteering at events, during meals on the road, or in meetings. Despite these restrictions, missionaries can be assured every effort will be made to accommodate the need for personal cell phone usage almost every day.

  • The annual cost to cover each missionary is $20,000. Hard as Nails commits to fundraising half. We ask that each missionary commits to raising a minimum of $10,000 to cover the other half through their own fundraising efforts. HN staff will offer guidance and support to your child to help them meet their fundraising goal.

 

MISSIONARY FAQ

 

  • Training starts the first Monday in August and goes until mid-September. After training missionaries are asked to commit to serving for 10 months.

  • Hard as Nails Ministries (HANM) vision is to make a world where no one suffers alone. HANM's mission is to awaken the world to the power of God's love. Hard as Nails missionaries are trained in Invitation Evangelization and missionary service to help HANM achieve its vision and mission. Therefore, missionaries volunteering with HANM will be asked to serve in many different capacities. Missionaries may be asked to serve at our office on behind-the-scenes details, on a mission to prepare for a large-scale event, at You're Amazing Experiences or Invitations (large-scale events), at Family Parish Missions, school events in both public and private schools, missionary led events (classroom or confirmation retreats, as a media missionary, follow-up with youth from our event outreach. HANM assigns missionaries in the areas the ministry has a need and where missionaries’ gifts and abilities can support the vision and mission.

  • Missionaries stay with their community for Thanksgiving. They leave for Christmas break the second weekend in December as long as they are not serving on the road. In the event they are serving on the road, they can head home for a break as soon as they get back to our home base in Syracuse. In the spring, missionaries stay for a Holy Week Retreat and Easter.

  • The seven weeks of training are designed to educate and form you in Hard As Nails Invitation Evangelization and the “You’re Amazing” message. As part of your training you will be asked to give all of yourself to a demanding schedule of prayer, study, physical activity, and community building—all geared to ground you in the three evangelical virtues of courage, authenticity, and obedience.

  • Yes. Since hard as Nails is a non-profit organization, fundraising is a practical necessity. The annual cost to cover each missionary is over $20,000. HANM raises just over half of that amount and asks each missionary to fundraise $10,000.

    HANM also sees this as a beautiful formational experience for every missionary. Through fundraising efforts, missionaries develop a deep appreciation of the generosity of God's people. They see with their own eyes the impact of that generosity. They learn to appreciate the food on their plate at each meal. They learn to step outside their comfort zone. They build special relationships with those supporting them. They grow in gratitude and humility.

 

MINISTRY FAQ

 

  • Yes, HN is officially recognized as a Private Association of the Lay Faithful and is listed in the 2019 P.J. Kenedy Official Catholic Directory on Page 173. However, we minister to people of all faith and creed, and we partner with the Virtue First Foundation to provide public school and non-faith based events focused on Virtue and the You're Amazing message!

  • Yes, Hard as Nails Ministries is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation on a mission to show every person that they are amazing because of who they are as Children of God.

  • Our mission headquarters is located in Syracuse, NY. We serve the local community of Syracuse through various activities throughout the year when we are not traveling. Some examples of this are Encouraging BBQ's for the homeless, the annual Christmas Giveaway, local AAU Basketball Team - BBA Swam Team Amazing, and more.

  • Hard as Nails ministers specifically to youth and young adults. We do this primarily through our outreach events and missions. While we do serve adults, our mission's purpose is to awaken youth and young adults to the power of God's love, which in turn transforms adults and entire families/communities.

  • HN is unique in its ability to reach individuals who are struggling, and those on the "periphery" (not involved in faith or church). HN's strength is to go out and minister to others where they are at, rather than having them come to us. HN's unique charism of Sensitivity to Sin and Suffering addresses the mental, emotional and spiritual heart of the people we meet. Our young missionaries and staff walk with those who are suffering internally, whereas other missions may focus more on the physical/tangible needs of a person.

  • Hard as Nails has been to 7 countries over the past 20 years, however, we primarily travel within the United States for our events and outreach.