Organize a Mission Trip

by Dave Peters 

Greetings,

Dave Peters here with some information about an upcoming mission trip!  I am in the process of formulating a plan to involve the senior high teens of your church and your pastor’s fellowship in a Fit-for-Life mission trip this coming summer.  Some exciting things have already fallen into place towards that trip, and it would appear that God is leading us toward that goal.  One of the first things I need to accomplish is to convince our pastors of the need, so they can tell their churches about it and rally around our common cause.

As a teen, I attended a church, and we had about four or five of us teens at the time.  We had a great time together, but we never could have gone on a mission trip or anything like that.  As a youth pastor, I have seen the value in summer mission trips, and I believe it is wrong for only large churches to be the ones that get in on that significant ministry opportunity.  Of our Iowa churches, only about 10% have staffed youth workers.  A few others are large enough even without a youth pastor to go on their own, but the majority are not able to go by themselves.  This, I believe, is where Fit-for-Life can be of help.  It is my desire to put churches together by area, train them, get them to help in a local VBS together, train a couple from that area to take along on the trip, and go to another church where the teens can put on a VBS program and see God at work in their lives!

The benefits are huge!  As a youth pastor, I have seen many lives changed through these trips.  These teens see the purpose of Christian living by serving God and others.  Many will have the opportunity to lead a child to Christ, or to be instrumental in that. Getting the teens together creates a strong bond between those who are longing to seek God in their lives. As a result, many of them build long-term friendships.  Because the adults that I will be training may be able to do a similar trip on their own the next year, we can spread this out from year to year.  The qualification process is a time of discipleship and learning.  The whole church gets in on the mission trip, pouring excitement for missions into the local body.

Two Training Locations:  Church A and Church B have agreed to host three pre-training sessions and VBS programs.  Also, these two churches have agreed to send at least one couple that Robin and I will train to go on the trip.  It appears right now that the VBS week at both churches will be June 4-8.  The dates for the pre-training sessions will be given later as we try to arrange our schedules together.  We would like to have a joint retreat for both mission trip groups on Friday and Saturday, June 1-2.

Expenses:  In addition to the teens coming up with $50 on their own, we are asking the churches to raise $100 for each teen that is going.  I think that is a healthy way to go about it—allowing the church to have a  part of this mission and allowing the teen to participate as well.

Location:  Not yet selected, but probably within a one-state region of Iowa.  Pray with us about this that we would be led by God for the right selection.

Trip Dates:  As you have already noted, Fit-for-Life will be doing two trips this summer.  We are looking at three possibilities to do these two trips. They are as follows: July 7-14, July 21-28, and July 28-August 4.  I will try to have this narrowed down very soon.

Vans Needed:   For one of these trips, a fifteen-passenger van will be needed. Would your church be able/willing to allow us to use yours? Let me know if that is a possibility.

In this packet you will find the following:

Mission Trip Proposal:  I hope that this packet will contain all the vital information that we have right now to share with parents, teens, and church leadership at your church.

Memory Verse Attachment:  There are two sheets with the memory verses on it.  One is putting them into the six categories, and the other is a check-off sheet.  The parents will be involved with this process, which takes the pressure off the youth staff.  It is also very good to have the parents responsible for this qualification.  On the top of the sheet, put the teens’ names vertically; then check the verses off as they master them.  It would be very helpful for someone, a youth leader or Sunday School teacher, to drill them on these verses.  They will be used on the trip.

Reference Forms:

1. Parents Reference Form—Pretty self-explanatory
2. Personal Reference Form—This needs to be someone in the church but not a deacon or a family member.
3. Spiritual Leadership Reference Form—This is to be filled out by the pastor or one of the deacons. I like to say just deacons, because it helps them be involved in this process, but I also think it would be very helpful to have the pastor’s point of view—so it’s your call!
4. School Teacher Reference Form—This is to be either a teacher, or if homeschooled, then someone outside the church (employer, neighbor…), preferably someone unsaved. His or her point of view is very helpful.

Application/Release Form:  The release form side is a VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF PAPER! This will allow us to get medical treatment if an accident or sickness occurs. Without it, we will not be able to get a signature to start medical proceedings, if need be. Also, it is important for the parents to realize that they are the ones liable for an accident.

The application side will be used in interviewing the teen to see what his motivation is for going on the trip, as well as to find out his testimony.

Qualifications:  Notice on the Mission Trip Proposal Sheet that the qualification period starts in March. Note also that all teens needs to have daily personal devotions.  Please remind them of that now, rather than their being disqualified because they did not know they had to.

Mission Trip Proposal

Mission Trip Proposal

Purpose:

1. To allow churches to send their teens who would not otherwise have the opportunity to go on a life-changing trip
2. To teach teens the importance of evangelism, service, local church ministry, and teamwork in
   ministry
3. To encourage a sister church in her community through evangelism and biblical training of children
4. To train teens in the value of the Christian walk, applying God’s Word through the process of the trip

Mission Trip Dates:  July 7-14

Location:  Wisconsin; more info later

Training Times:  Three evening sessions as well as a retreat. The retreat would probably occur on June 1-2.

Qualifications:  The churches must play an active part in this area! The trip succeeds or fails on the quality of the students going and on how prepared they are for the trip. These qualifications must be kept by all in order for the integrity of the group to be established. The suggested list is as follows:

1. Possess and display a servant’s attitude and work well with other members.
2. Complete an Application/Release Form to be signed by the parent and the teen (due by April 15).
3. Have the four Character Recommendation Sheets (due by April 30).
4. Read two missionary biographies and submit one-page book reports on each. One book is to be completed by April 15 and the other by June 15.  The exception is if the book is over 250 pages; then there will be only one book requirement, and the report will be due by April 15.
5. Memorize thirty six designated Scripture verses. Eighteen verses will be due April 15, and the other eighteen will be due June 15. These verses will be appropriate for the trip, including six verses from six areas of interest including salvation, servant-hood, self-control, surrender, single-mindedness, and spotlessness.
6. Attend all training sessions and the teamwork retreat and participate in all five days of VBS.
7. Faithfully attend all the regular services of the church, including Sunday school, Sunday morning and evening services, and all midweek services.

8. Maintain regular daily devotions with a devotional diary. (Fit for Life devotions are a great resource for this because they will stay on the same theme with one another.)

Overview of Dates:  All of which are tentative at this time. The training dates are not included yet.

March 1 Beginning of qualification period (Attendance records, devotions)

April 15 First biography, first eighteen verses, and Application/Release Form due

April 30 Character Recommendation Sheets due

June 1-2 Teamwork Retreat

June 11-15 VBS at Church A or Church B

June 15 Second biography and second 18 verses due

July 7-14 Possible mission trip dates

July 21-28 Possible mission trip dates

Mission Trip Memory Verses These are the designated memory verses for Mission Trip 2001.  They fall into six categories. Half the verses are due by April 30, and the other half are due by June 30.

Salvation

• Romans 3:23
• Romans 6:23
• Romans 5:8
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• John 14:6
• John 3:16-18

Self-Control

• Daniel 1:8
• Romans 13:14
• 1 Corinthians 9:27
• James 4:7
• 2 Timothy 2:4
• 2 Corinthians 10:5

Spotlessness

• Titus 2:12
• 1 Peter 1:22
• Proverbs 4:23
• 2 Timothy 2:21
• John 15:2
• 2 Corinthians 6:14

Servant Attitude

• Matthew 20:28
• 2 Corinthians 5:14
• 1 Corinthians 4:2
• Ephesians 6:6
• Ephesians 4:32
• Romans 12:10

Surrender

• Romans 12:1-2
• Psalm 37:4-5
• Galatians 2:20
• Luke 9:23
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Isaiah 6:8

Singlemindedness

• Philippians 3:13-14
• Hebrews 12:1-2
• Colossians 3:23
• Proverbs 20:4
• 2 Timothy 2:15
• Luke 6:40

Parental Reference Form

Parent’s Name _____________________________________     Date ___________________

Teen’s Name  _____________________________________

Please answer the following questions as completely as possible and return to your church point person by April 16, 2001.

 

1. In what ways do you expect your child’s participation in T.E.A.M. to contribute to his/her overall spiritual development?

2. How would you describe your child’s current spiritual maturity (include strengths and weaknesses)?

3. How would you expect your child’s participation to affect the rest of the T.E.A.M. ?

4. How would you describe your child’s ability to respond to authority and follow instructions obediently?

Parental Permission

Permission is granted for __________________________________  to participate in the T.E.A.M. summer mission trip program.  I understand that my teen’s participation on T.E.A.M. is a privilege and is contingent upon his qualifications, his cooperation, and his attitude.  I will be supportive of the commitment my teen has made to participate in T.E.A.M. and with the rest of the members of this ministry.  I also understand that applying to this ministry does not guarantee that my teen will be selected to go.  If not chosen, I will help my teen graciously submit to that decision.

________________________________          ________________________________________
Parent Signature                                        Date                Parent Signature                                                                 Date

Personal Reference Form

_____________________________________ has applied for the T.E.A.M. 2001 trip, a summer mission trip supported by his church. Please complete the following evaluation form and return it to the church T.E.A.M. point person by April 30, 2001.  (This form will not be seen by the applicant).

1. How long have you known the applicant, and in what relationship?

2. How would you describe the applicant’s spiritual maturity?

3. How would you describe the applicant’s social maturity (relationship with peers, adults, and children)?

4. How would you describe the applicant’s emotional maturity?

5. How would you describe the applicant’s respect and reverence in the church setting (dress, behavior, attentiveness)? Be specific, please.

6. Would you recommend the applicant to be a helpful member of T.E.A.M.? Why or why not?

7. Would you feel comfortable providing prayer and financial support to this ministry if the applicant were a member of the T.E.A.M.?

Signed _________________________________________  Date ___________________

Thanks so much for helping us by filling out this form. It will be a great help as we formulate the T.E.A.M. for this special ministry!

School Teacher Reference Form

_____________________________________ has applied for the T.E.A.M. 2001 trip, a summer mission trip supported by his church.  Please complete the following evaluation form and return it to the church T.E.A.M. point person by April 30, 2001. (This form will not be seen by the applicant).

1. How long have you known the applicant?

2. How would you describe the applicant’s social maturity (relationship with peers, adults, people groups, etc.)?

3. How would you describe the applicant’s work ethic?

4. How would you describe the applicant’s emotional maturity?

5. How would you describe the applicant’s respect to authority in the school setting (dress, behavior, attentiveness)? Be specific, please.

6. How would you describe the applicant’s testimony at school regarding his/her relationship with God?

7. Do you sense that the applicant would be a helpful member of T.E.A.M.? Why or why not?

Signed _________________________________________  Date ___________________

Thanks so much for helping us by filling out this form. It will be a great help as we formulate the T.E.A.M. for this special ministry!

Church Leadership Reference Form

_____________________________________  has applied for the T.E.A.M. 2001 trip, a summer mission trip supported by the church.  Please complete the following evaluation form and return it to the church T.E.A.M. point person by April 30, 2001. (This form will not be seen by the applicant).

1. Rate the applicant on the following:

                                                                              LOW          HIGH

Reverence in dress                                                                                         1          2           3          4           5

Attentiveness in services and classes                                                         1          2           3          4           5

Teachable spirit                                                                                              1          2           3          4           5

Respect for adults                                                                                           1          2           3          4           5

Interest in spiritual things                                                                            1          2           3          4           5

Respect for his parents                                                                                  1          2           3          4           5

Respect for his peers                                                                                      1          2           3          4           5

Desire for godly living                                                                                    1          2           3          4           5

Responsiveness to correction                                                                       1          2           3          4           5

Testimony in the community                                                                       1          2           3          4           5

2. What have you seen in the applicant’s life that would qualify him for being a part of T.E.A.M.?

3. Is there anything in the applicant’s life that would disrupt or hinder the T.E.A.M. in its purpose? If so, what?

4. Would you feel comfortable providing prayer and financial support to this ministry if the applicant were a member of the T.E.A.M.?

Signed _________________________________________  Date ___________________

Thanks so much for helping us by filling out this form. It will be a great help as we formulate the T.E.A.M. for this special ministry!