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| 110 Deciding to Go13Communicating With Your Support Team: more than just asking for money188 Steps for Planning a Mission Trip20246 Would Jesus Use Social Media?A Publication of
2 | FALL 2024God has called each of us to be part of sharing the Good News to the ends of the earth.Yet a third of the world still has no access to the Gospel—including hundreds of millions of Muslims. Whether you’re a goer or a sender, you can help reach those who have yet to hear of Jesus’ love.With Frontiers, you’ll:• Discern God’s call on your life and ministry.• Be equipped to do as He leads.• Have an experienced partner on the journey to impacting the Muslim world.You Have a Role in the Great CommissionJoin with Frontiers in seeking to fulll the Great Commission. Contact us today!frontiersUSA.org
| 3 Our family of ministries work perfectly together. Through our family of ministries, MissionWorks provides individuals, churches, mission organizations and schools with all the outstanding resources, connections and training needed to be successful in local and global mission work.Expand your mission through our family of ministries.We know that in all thingsGod works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. ROMANS 8:28
If you’re mission minded, you already know mission work takes a lot of know-how. Here’s what’s in this issue to help people like you do more in mission and do it better.Would Jesus Use Social Media? MissionOn the Cover:Photo courtesy of International Mission Board [imb.org]Deciding to Go MissionCommunicating With Your Support Team: more than just asking for moneyMission8 Steps for Planning a Mission TripMissionInside this Issue6181320258CalendarMission10How Travel and Insurance Agents Can Help in Times of CrisisMission16
How it Works ...Equip yourself by attending regional conferences and focus events providing training to accomplish your mission.Enlist in a mission trip by searching for your service, ministry and mission preferences.Engage with supporters through fundraising tools that tell your story and share ministry in real time.Ensure everyone is safe and sound on your mission trip with comprehensive coverage for illness or injury.Excel your church, organization or school mission trips by implementing better standards in effective Kingdom service.Welcome to MissionWorks ...Where mission minded connections are made for you to be successful in local and global mission work.Through our family of ministries, MissionWorks provides individuals, churches, mission organizations and schools with outstanding resources, connections and training.So, whether you’re just starting out to discover your mission, looking for a short-term mission or ne-tuning your organization’s mission trips, you’re in the right place. That’s because at MissionWorks our goal is:To see more people like you doing more in mission and doing it better.As a ‘one-stop shop’ for all things mission related, MissionWorks provides members exclusive benets including; free and discounted access to our mission-focused tools and resources, members-only events, articles and resources, free access to MissionExcellence webinars, discounts for MissionWorks events and more!Also, MissionWorks’ membership makes it possible for thousands of others to discover our free conferences and resources. So, I’d like to thank you personally if you are already a member. Your commitment to missions with excellence allows others to seek out mission related opportunities through our family of ministries.I pray that God will bless you in all your mission endeavors and that you nd these articles and opportunities to be helpful tools as you engage in your mission journey.Brian HeerwagenMissionWorksChief Executive OfcerWATCH THE VIDEO MISSIONWORKS.GLOBAL/HOW-IT-WORKS
Are you thinking about becoming a content-creator, or using social media to raise awareness for you or your ministry’s impact / inuence? What questions do you have about how to proceed? What if you have already begun, but still have questions?At one of our MissionConnexion Northwest conferences, Sean McDowell led a packed workshop session addressing these questions, when he asked: “Would Jesus use Social Media if he were alive today, and if so, how?” With a lot of audience participation, he addressed some of the dangers associated with the medium, what strategies Jesus would have employed and shared principles for building an effective social media platform. Here are just a few highlights I captured…What are the dangers associated with social media?• Be aware that the medium brings out the worst in people. Aim to always look for the best in others on social media.• You must work hard at being sincere and not just sensational.• The lure to gain more followers and more money by saying only what people want to hear is real.What strategies would Jesus employ if He were to use social media?1. Jesus would ask a LOT of questions (Jesus asked 339 questions and Paul asked 262 questions!)God asks questions because He desires communication and relationship. To engage you might ask….“If you’re a skeptic or atheist, what is one question you would like answered about God?”“What does the Church need more today, truth or compassion?”“If you’re not a believer and you’ve been to church, what was your experience like?”“If you’re a Christian, have you ever seen a miracle with your own eyes? What was it like?”Would Jesus Use Social Media?Director6 | FALL 2024
2. Jesus would engage those with a small following, like the woman at the well and His disciples. Why?Social media tempts you to only speak to those with large followings, you look at them instrumentally.So – leave the 99 and go for the one.3. Jesus would speak truth boldly and clearly, but He would be motivated by love.4. Jesus would tell stories.TikTok entries are all stories. He would NOT use “virtue signaling.” He would look for common ground and probably train them on how to use this medium!What Principles should you keep in mind when building a Social Media Platform?1. It takes consistency and time. (NOT: “If you build it they will come!)People don’t go to visit websites anymore; social media goes out to reach you.2. Watch people who do it well.It does not always have to lead to a big following. “Platform” and “Lane” have a lot to do with it. Twitter: Frank Turek, and his team do a great job. You Tube: Allen Paar (The Beat); Melissa Dougherty, Read “The YouTube Formula” by Darryl Evers. Instagram: Justin Brierly; Podcasts: Lisa Childers, Justin Sprinkle (Theology in the Raw).3. Stay in your lane: “know your audience” – the more niche it is, the better it is.Longer form biblical teaching is bringing value in some circles. Time: Longform is about an hour on YouTube. Podcasts are 30 minutes due to the average commute time. Figure out your audience and region. How to process with kids? Choose media and discuss afterwards. The Wisdom Pyramid by Bret McCracken. The Bible Project with Drawings. Expedition Bible by Joel Kramer for Archeological programs.4. Pace yourself. Start small and increase rather than start high and burn out. At least once a month.5. Don’t compare yourself to other people. There is always someone bigger and better. Be faithful with what the Lord gives you and keep getting better. Always be improving.MissionConnexion: Connecting God’s people to mission through regional conferences and focus events so that increasing numbers of believers are actively serving in areas of the world’s greatest gospel need and opportunityI love MissionConnexion! We’ve been honored to be a part for years! Through the years I’ve been deeply encouraged in my own calling as I’ve heard speaker after speaker remind us of the value of cross cultural missions, loving the nations and being sold out for walking with Jesus. Thank you, Bill and the team, for all you do!2024 Keynote Speaker, MC Northwest | 7
Training for missions starts here.You never stop learning when you’re on a mission.At MissionWorks, we serve up a variety of training and events to address the needs of mission-minded people just like you. Featuring speakers, ministries and leaders in the mission eld, our regional conferences, focus events and trainings cover a range of topics to help you make short work of learning more and expanding your mission.MissionExcellence Standards Introductory Workshop/ Preconference - Northwest You’ll discover the benets of The Standards and begin applying them to your specic ministry context. The SIW includes a resource notebook.MissionConnexion Leadership/ Preconference - Northwest Training to better equip church mission leaders in their role.MissionConnexion Northwest Regional conference providing training to accomplish your mission.MissionConnexion Short-Term/ Focus Event - Northwest It’s all about training and equipping short-term mission hosts, mobilizers, leaders, and goers to be effective outside their cultural comfort zone as they journey together. MissionConnexion Care Connexion/ Focus Event - Northwest Training to help those responsible for the care of missionaries on and off the eld.MissionExcellence Webinar: How to Plan a Mission TripMissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #1 of 5/ Spring You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer review. MissionConnexion Midwest Care Connexion MC2 Training to help those responsible for the care of missionaries on and off the eld.MissionExcellence Webinar: Mission Trips and All Things FinancialMissionExcellence Standards Introductory Workshop/ OnlineMissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #2 of 5/ Spring You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer review. MissionExcellence Webinar: Design for DiscipleshipMissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #3 of 5/ Spring You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer review. MissionExcellence Webinar: How to Plan Youth and Family Mission TripsMissionExcellence Standards Introductory Workshop/ Online You’ll discover the benets of The Standards and begin applying them to your specic ministry context. The SIW includes a resource notebook.MissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #4 of 5/ Spring You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer review. MissionExcellence Webinar: Pre-Trip Training for the Goer20258 | FALL 2024
MissionExcellence Webinar: How to Plan Gap Year Experiences and InternshipsMissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #5 of 5/ Spring You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer reviewMissionExcellence Standards Introductory Workshop/ Preconference - Missio Nexus You’ll discover the benets of The Standards and begin applying them to your specic ministry context. The SIW includes a resource notebook.MissionExcellence Webinar: The Seven Dirty Words of Mission TripsMissionExcellence Standards Introductory Workshop/ Online You’ll discover the benets of The Standards and begin applying them to your specic ministry context. The SIW includes a resource notebook.MissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #1 of 5/ Winter You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer review. MissionConnexion Student Connexion A challenge to youth to go beyond. Student Connexion provides a launching point for youth into a lifetime involvement of serving Jesus through missions and ministry by connecting them with the mission eld of today.MissionExcellence Webinar: Improving Mission Trips to Orphans and Vulnerable Children MissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #2 of 5/ Winter You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an accreditation peer review. MissionExcellence Standards Introductory Workshop/ Preconference - Southwest Designed to help short-term mission leaders and mobilizers make their mission trips better.MissionConnexion Leadership Connexion/ Preconference - Southwest Training to better equip church mission leaders in their role.MissionConnexion Southwest Regional conference providing training to accomplish your mission.MissionConnexion Short-Term/ Focus Event - Southwest It’s all about training and equipping short-term mission hosts, mobilizers, leaders, and goers to be effective outside their cultural comfort zone as they journey together. MissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #3 of 5/ Winter You’ll participate in 5 cohort meetings plus personalized coaching that will ensure you’re applying all 7 Standards of Excellence to your mission trips and prepare you to pass an *MissionExcellence Accreditation Cohort Meeting #4 of 5/ February 2026 and #5 of 5/ May 2026Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. EPHESIANS 4:11–12 | 9
Deciding to Gon the next year, more than a million Americans will travel on a short-term mission trip. Many are looking for ways to learn and grow, to try something they’ve always wanted to do, or to offer themselves in service to others. Stepping out of our comfort zones and into another part of God’s world will stretch our faith and may even change us forever.Some are drawn to go because they want to see the world through different lenses. Centuries ago St. Augustine said it well: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Despite our easy access to TV and the Internet, pilgrimage and personal experience still have great appeal. As followers of Jesus, we don’t just travel to take in the sights and thrill our senses, but also to be God’s witnesses and to see for ourselves how He has left His ngerprints on the world.From the earliest times, God has called people out into the unknown, often through short-term ventures and experiences. Consider the journeys of Paul, Barnabas, Philip, Steven, Nehemiah, Jonah, and the “mission teams” of Numbers 13 and Joshua 2. In each case God had something for them to see, learn, or do (and often all three). The God who sent them sends us, too. He sends us to be the salt of the earth, a light to the world, and His hands and feet, whether we’re close to home or far away.________________________________The mission of God to make disciples of all nations is the mission of His church in the world today. Jesus sends us out as the Father sent him, by His grace and for His glory. Demonstrating and sharing God’s love with others is 10 | FALL 2024
MissionGuide: Guiding people to discover, learn and enlist in mission trips and other Christ-centered service opportunities through featured mission agencies. something we’re made for. Let’s not keep the good news of the gospel to ourselves.Can you serve God and others more effectively close to home? Quite possibly. But that does not mean He doesn’t want to use you for a season somewhere else. Often such an experience helps us to see our lives at home through different eyes and to better serve the people who live right next to us, too.The short-term mission movement is sometimes criticized for absorbing resources that could support long-term work and workers. Yet many mission teams work alongside these global servants and under their direction, assisting in their work. Such a trip can give you the chance to explore what motivates them, learn from them, and discover how they see their work and their world. Perhaps God would have you partner further with one of these global servants, join their ranks, or take skills and lessons you learn and apply them in another context.Do you think God is calling you to surrender more to Him? If a mission trip is your next big step, you’ll have to trust Him for the resources to make it happen, for others to walk with you, for love for those you meet, for grace to be exible as the experience unfolds and for mercy when you fall. By engaging the unknown on a mission trip, many learn how to better walk with God day by day and moment by moment.It’s almost a cliché now. As most mission trip participants report, you may receive more than you give. While taking a mission trip solely for what you can get out of it may be irresponsible, many nd the journey of personal faith and growth to be life-changing. The German philosopher Martin Buber said it well: “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” If God is tugging on you to be part of a mission team, it’s likely He has something He wants to do in your life through this experience.The world needs more missionaries, even those who only go for a short time. Not enough people are willing to leave behind their comforts and routines to serve the poor and vulnerable, share the message of the gospel, listen to those who have no voice and learn from God’s global church. If God is nudging you to go, look to Him to overcome the opposition and obstacles you may face. Your service can encourage others to glorify God for what He’s doing in your life and to pursue their own God-given purposes. If you are willing to go, others may be able to picture themselves going too. Marti Wade is MissionWorks Board Chair and has been a mission mobilizer since 1995 training dozens of short-term teams for relationship-based research among the world’s least-reached peoples. This article rst appeared in the MissionGuide.global eNewsletter.We have been using MissionGuide for more than 10 years. MissionGuide is the industry standard for people looking for the right mission trip that aligns with the geographical area or cause they desire to serve, as well as for organizations look-ing to connect with like-minded volunteers to grow their ministry. Many of these volunteers are now a part of our Hope 4 Kids International family. We would never have been able to make the same impact if God had not brought amazing volun-teers to us through MissionGuide! | 11
12 | FALL 2024MissionLinkedStart Your Mission.Build Your Community.Make a Difference.MissionLinked offers a straightforward and enjoyable approach to fundraising, alleviates the workload on your accounting department and fosters community building.Free usage of MissionLinked platform through July 31, 2025Utilize coupon code MLMAG24 when you sign-up atMissionLinked.global
Communicating With Your Support Team: more than just asking for money | 13
1 2 3 4Many times when we ask others for nancial help toward our mission trip, we don’t share enough information. We leave possible supporters wondering:How much does ‘Jane’ really need? How much has ‘Jane’ already raised? What is the fundraising deadline? Has ‘Jane’ given any of her own money? Is money the only thing ‘Jane’ needs? Are there other ways to help? The more details we share, the more people can invest thoroughly in our ministry and our trip. The more information possible supporters have, the more they will feel like they are a part of the ministry. Good communication upfront, along with updates and thank yous, will also help to cultivate a support team that will last beyond your trip. Here are some tips and ideas for communicating with your support team:Share the details: make sure you communicate how much you need in total, how much you’ve raised and about any support raising deadlines to inform possible supporters when to giveCommunicate how you are investing: include how much of the trip you are funding yourself, things you’re doing to raise or earn money or things you are sacricing (such as a weekly coffee) to put funds toward the trip Consider alternate ways people can support you, for example: donating frequent ier miles, monetary donations for your birthday or Christmas (in lieu of gifts), offer to house sit or help with childcareAsk for donated supplies that would otherwise need to be purchased: this could include Bibles, materials for crafts, items to give to the community, etc.14 | FALL 2024Chief Operations OicerDirector
“I thought I was familiar with every type of giving platform for nonprots but, I have to say, I was blown away at the ease of supporting a friend for a mission through your website. She gave me a link and with a couple of clicks it was done. I didn’t have to search, click a wrong button, go back, start again, etc.I don’t mean to be “over the top” about this but I have been so frustrated trying to gure out how to support folks in the past, I really want to commend you on the ease at your site and tell you I won’t hesitate to support others in the future.” MissionLinked: Providing a simple, fun and secure way to link people together while raising funds for a short-term mission or a special project. | 15You might be thinking, this is all helpful information but HOW do I communicate with my support team? How do I get all this information to them? First, let me tell you what not to do. Resist our culture’s emphasis on technology, efciency and fear of personal interaction. Resist the urge to send a mass email or a huge group text, or to post an update on social media and then expect to do nothing else. Don’t get me wrong, there is a role for mass communication. This can be a great way of providing a large amount of detail in a way that people reference as they pray and consider supporting you. It can even provide the tools and directions to make the donation. For example, our support raising platform, MissionLinked, can provide a team page and a goers individual fundraising page that can house the above information, receive donations, receipt donations and facilitate the gift. It can be available 24/7 whenever your supporters are considering giving. It will provide them with all the detailed information. But it can’t do the asking. If you want to build a support team, you need to communicate with people personally as you share critical information. Sharing your MissionLinked prole page is as easy as sharing a link or posting on Facebook, but it’s important to share within the context of a phone call, a personal text or as follow up to a conversation. Your supporters are people, not ATM machines.When you’re raising funds for a mission trip, you’re doing more than just collecting money. You’re raising support in every sense of the word. Don’t sell yourself short by only asking for money.
16 | FALL 2024C
I have worked in short-term missions for over 20 years and I have two confessions to make:1. I hate booking airfare2. Insurance policy language confuses meIf we were all in the same building I would ask you to raise your hand if you agreed, but since we’re not, I’ll just ask you to pause and raise your hand if you agree. I’m assuming most of you reading this have your hand in the air, so I’ll offer a few thoughts from my journey.One of the reasons I dislike booking airfare is that I usually wonder if I could have obtained a better price. It’s interesting how focused we are on price. If you’re like me, you know you need to work through a travel agent. However, deciding which one (among the many) is hard. How can you determine who will give you the best price when the nature of the pricing structure keeps you from being able to compare agents?The answer is simple, compare other areas that are important. What could be important besides price? Here’s a short list of things to consider when choosing a travel agent:1. Do they have 24/7 service?2. What is the change fee they have negotiated with the airline?3. What is the cancellation fee they have negotiated with the airline?4. What baggage allowances have they negotiated?5. How quickly does an agent respond when you send a request?Travel agencies have unique contracts with airlines so it can be difcult to compare apples to apples. My advice is to meet with a few travel agents to discuss your needs and concerns and ask how they can address them. Then give two or three of the best a try on the next few trips. One will probably naturally rise to the top.Now for insurance. What should you do about it? First, YOU NEED TO BUY INSURANCE. If you’re sending teams without insurance, you are at best negligent and at worst nefarious. One heart attack, appendectomy, seizure, or any other unexpected health condition could leave you, your team member or church/organization literally bankrupt. Don’t risk living a nightmare that could have been avoided with an insurance policy that costs as little as $4 per day. For roughly 1% of your mission trip cost, you can protect yourself from nancial ruin. Time is of the essence in an emergency and you can’t waste precious minutes guring out what to do in a life or death situation. The best method of protection is an experienced insurance agent who is trained to quickly respond.Extreme case scenarios aren’t the only ones to think about. The last thing I want is a leader thinking about the nancial impact on a family when deciding whether or not the teenager on the trip needs medical attention for what appears to be a borderline injury or illness that could be nothing by tomorrow. Or what about the traveler who gets sick at the end of the trip and ends up being hospitalized to treat an infection-induced high fever upon return? Wouldn’t it be a blessing to have your $40 insurance policy pay the $2500 deductible for that family?! As you consider insurance policies, be bold. Ask your agent to explain the policy thoroughly and be sure you understand terms like:• Trip Interruption• Trip Cancellation• Repatriation of remains• Emergency medical evacuation (to where? how much is the benet?)• Lost Bag• Adventure sports/activities rider• and more…If you need a starting point to purchase insurance check out MissionArmor which is part of the MissionWorks family of ministries.I’m convinced most of us don’t take full advantage of the travel and insurance agents who are eager and willing to work for us simply because we don’t have a good understanding of how and when they can help. If you haven’t done so recently, take some time to review what you have in place. Small changes and comprehensive coverage can make a big difference.MissionArmor: Protecting people on short-term missions by offering insurance coverage and serving them in the event of illness, injury and emergencies during their trip. | 17Chief Operations OicerDirectorC
My rst mission trip was serving in West Africa but I was unprepared for the cultural differences that I would encounter. I thought I was completely prepared to serve in my role as a teacher and literacy worker in a remote village but that assumption proved to be false. And upon returning home the only debrieng I received was simply to reconcile the budget.Surely there was a better way to send and prepare short-term missionaries.On my second short-term mission trip in my thirties I was asked to be a co-leader because I was an older woman. As it turned out, I was the only woman on the trip. A greater challenge was the team leader who equated exibility with “no plan.” During that trip I learned many examples of what not to do when designing a mission trip. I share these experiences because they are common to many who engage in short-term missions. People are well-intentioned and desire to serve but they don’t know what they don’t know.Many books have been written on how to plan a mission trip, which are helpful tools. In this article I want to provide a basic framework for planning a mission trip. It is not a recipe; it will need to be adjusted based on individual needs and constraints. People often approach me at conferences saying, “Leadership at my church has asked me to plan a mission trip this year. Where do I start?”I generally respond, “Why do you want to do a short-term mission trip?” It is important to start with a solid foundation when planning a trip. God-centeredness is foundational in planning a trip. An excellent short-term mission seeks rst God’s glory and his kingdom. At MissionExcellence we center on God’s glory, aiming toward His ends. We seek to glorify God through devotion and obedience to Jesus Christ (John 15:5), through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), for the sake of God’s glory and fame (Ps. 115:1, 1 Cor. 10:31).Once the purpose of God-centeredness has been agreed upon and there has been a commitment to persistent prayer and dependence on God throughout the process, it’s time to take the next steps. There are eight steps on this path.Step 1: Trip Determination Step 2: Trip PublicityStep 3: Team SelectionStep 4: Team TrainingStep 5: Church Involvement Step 6: Missions ProjectStep 7: Re-entry and Follow Through Step 8: Evaluation8 Steps for Planning a Mission TripHere are eight steps you can utilize to formulate your next mission trip team.Training and Curriculum Director18 | FALL 2024
MissionExcellence: A catalyst for excellence in your mission endeavors by the promotion of Standards through resources, training, membership and accreditation.MissionExcellence: A catalyst for excellence in your mission endeavors by the promotion of Standards through resources, training, membership and accreditation.STEP 1: TRIP DETERMINATION An initial consideration is whether you are going to plan the trip through a missions agency or plan the trip as a church. In both cases it is important to go where you are invited or welcomed. You want to be a blessing and not a burden.After determining the location, it’s time to mutually design the trip with your ministry partner. The focus should be primarily aligned to the long-term goals of the partner or the one receiving the team, not on your personal agenda.Some areas to discuss with your partner include: the purpose of the trip, size of the team and skills needed. In addition to clarifying resources the team is expected to provide for the ministry. Next, what would the ideal time of year be for you and your global partner? What works for you, may not work well for your partner. Choose something that is a good t for all. Also, agree upon the length of the trip. Consider travel time as well as in-country time. Collaboratively, discuss in-country expenses so you can create a budget. In-country expenses include meals, lodging, transportation, airport fees and ministry supplies. They may also involve paying for a cook, translator, driver, and other support people. If you plan an excursion for a day, incorporate that into the budget and plan to pay for your host and family, if applicable. Other aspects of the budget like insurance, immunizations, ights and background checks should also be addressed.STEP 2: TRIP PUBLICITY This phase is critical for communicating accurate expectations for the trip. All promotional material and presentations should honor God, honor your hosts and honor those you’re serving. With that in mind, use appropriate photos and stories that accurately reect the ministry and honor the people with whom you will work. In addition to promotional materials and announcements, consider hosting an informational meeting. A tip that eliminates signicant frustration is to include the dates of mandatory training and debrieng in the promotional material. People who apply for the trip need to know that they are required to participate in both training and debrieng. STEP 3: TEAM SELECTION The effectiveness of a team is strongly influenced by the team leader. Create a job description for the team leader so expectations are clear to all. Include character as well as knowledge, skills and experience. Application Process Properly selecting a team takes time, but it’s worth it. An application is highly recommended because it helps you prayerfully evaluate the motivation and maturity of each potential member. This is an important tool for developing a healthy, well-balanced team. Depending on where you are traveling, a question related to special dietary needs may be pertinent. Asking why someone wants to go on the trip is also helpful as it addresses motivation. Though a sensitive topic for some, many ministries are requiring background checks as an added measure of due diligence. It may be helpful to ask, “Are you willing to have a background check?” If the person is unwilling, he/she may choose not to apply. It is also helpful to set an application deadline for each trip.Selecting the Team After you have received completed applications and checked references, if you are still uncertain about an applicant, set up an interview. Recruit a few leaders to help in the team selection process (pastoral staff, deacon, missions committee member) Their added input decreases the likelihood of selecting someone not qualied to participate. This also avoids the perception of playing favorites or personal agendas when you notify those who were not selected.Notify Applicants Before notifying applicants, conrm the size of the team with the host. Contact all of those selected to participate. Be sure to tell those who were not selected why and suggest how they can work on the issues, if any, and apply them for the future.Time-Sensitive Next Steps Once the team has been determined, apply for necessary documents - passports/visas, establish a timeline for vaccinations, purchasing airline tickets and making other travel arrangements. Be sure to have people commit to their nancial obligations for the trip.STEP 4: TEAM TRAINING Team training should be more than reading a book or getting together to | 19
The three days we spent with Kathy and the review team were extremely valuable. They asked insightful questions, offered much encouraging feedback, and provided relevant, timely recommendations. It was also a wonderful time of fellowship as we shared with one another about how the Lord is working in our respective ministries. Each of the HopeCo staff who participated in the review process found it to be a meaningful learning experience, and we know that this will prove invaluable to our whole organization as we continue to pursue excellence that honors God. Thank you, Kathy and the review team, for your generosity and for ensuring this was such a positive and helpful time together!share a packing list. Well-designed and executed pre-trip preparation will result in a more effective experience than a poorly prepared team. First, develop and implement training for team leaders so they are equipped to lead. Provide resources for them to prepare and to support the team. Determine Key Areas for Training Training should focus on what team members need to know, be able to do and be like in order to be prepared for the mission trip. Use a training curriculum so there will be consistency in what is taught and there will be no gaps in learning. Once that has been determined, identify qualied trainers. Train the Team Training should include a minimum of six sessions. Meeting every other week gives team members a chance to complete assignments. It is also helpful to schedule an overnight team retreat, all-day training and/or a few extended meetings to address topics in greater detail. Include opportunities to apply training.Training content varies based on what the team needs. Here are some common categories: 1. Character and Conduct based on biblical principles 2. Team Building3. Raising Support4. Cross-Cultural Adaptation5. Expectations, Attitudes and Policies6. Language learning (songs, basic greetings)7. Ministry Preparation (testimonies)8. Evangelism Training9. Spiritual Development (prayer, journaling)10. Packing and Travel (passports, procedures, etc.)11. Health and Safety (team policySTEP 5: CHURCH INVOLVEMENT An excellent short-term mission involves more than those who go on the trip. It is important to mobilize a group of committed senders who can use their spiritual gifts to support the team. Here are some ways to involve your church beyond raising support.1. Sunday School classes adopt a team member2. Materials and gifts can be donated for the eld3. Special prayer meetings4. Commissioning Service Sunday Morning 5. Designate a contact person to serve as a liaison between the team and others 6. Recruit a prayer team for individuals and teams7. Equip church members in preparation for the team’s return8. Mature believers can serve as mentors to team membersSTEP 6: MISSIONS PROJECT In addition to fullling the mutually agreed upon goals established early in the process, there are some components that should be part of the daily routine. They include team devotions, on-going ministry training and daily debrieng.Challenge the team daily with the Word of God. The short-term mission project is an accelerated time of spiritual growth. Select scriptures that deal with a variety of issues (humility, purity, fear, spirit-lled life, armor of God, forgiveness).Determine practical tools necessary for greater effectiveness (cultural clues, evangelism, songs, storytelling, etc.). Often the missionary or national host can provide insight in this area. It is helpful to give time each day for teams to plan their day of ministry, to decide what materials are needed and to address needs and issues.After each day of ministry, reect on what God did during the day. This is also a great time of praise and worship, encouragement and growth.20 | FALL 2024
STEP 7: RE-ENTRY and FOLLOW THROUGH Debrieng the Team Just before arriving home or within two weeks of returning you should assist team members in adjusting back into their own culture and process their experience. Some team members may be thinking seriously about ministry and will need direction about where to take the next step. Determine a follow-through process with individuals and have resources available.Coordinate with the pastor and plan a special service for the team to share testimonies. Capture the ministry project through video, slides and artifacts for a presentation to the church. This is also a time to acknowledge the global partner and many church members in addition to the goers, who were a vital part of the team.Follow-Through Challenge your team members to become actively involved in missions at home by organizing a missions fellowship, planning a local evangelism project, getting involved with International Students or other local ministries. Provide an expense report to the elders, deacons, missions committee and/or pastoral staff. Evaluate the overall impact of the project and determine how to improve on the next short-term project. STEP 8: EVALUATION The purpose of evaluation is to determine what can be reinforced or improved in the future to make the short-term mission trip better. This will enhance future programs or trips. Evaluation and assessment also help people to reect upon and process the experience. Consider the following:1. Align questions to your goals2. Ask meaningful questions3. Ask questions that are measurable4. Plan how to use results for improvement5. Ask about things over which you have controlAssess Effectiveness of Training The best time to document the effectiveness of training is at the end of the trip. Some possible prompts might include the following:• Rate the different topics/activities of the training on their degree of usefulness.• In what areas do you wish you had received more training?Determine Accomplishment of Partnership Goals with your Host It is important to use culturally appropriate timing and wise methods in this step. Rather than a written evaluation, information for this step may be done through informal conversations over time. The key is to have established a relationship which provides helpful feedback, not simply what you would like to hear. Possible questions might include:• How can we become a better partner with you in the future?• What were your top ministry goals related to this STM? • To what degree did the team accomplish what was planned?Plan Next Steps After determining what worked well and what could be improved, adjust. Use evaluation as a feedback loop for continual growth and improvement.CONCLUSION As you strive to make your mission trips better…• Pray, plan and keep God at the center.• Be intentional about choices you make.• Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.I Peter 4: 7-11 says “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (NIV)WHAT NOW? If you would like more information about how to make your mission trips better, visit the MissionExcellence website at https://missionexcellence.global/If you are specically interested in learning more about The Seven Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Missions you can visit https://missionexcellence.global/7- standards/You may contact me directly at KMort@MissionExcellence.global if you have specic questions. | 21
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I brought the idea of joining MissionWorks to my new position at WoodsEdge Community Church because of my personal history and participation with MissionConnexion Northwest. My wife and I were engaged with the conference for 12 years and found it was a common place where people who have a heart for the Great Commission and seeing God’s kingdom advance around the world could come together. God moved us away from the Northwest and we eventually were led to WoodsEdge where I coordinate and oversee short-term mission trips. The rst thing I proposed to leadership was that we needed to be a part of MissionExcellence and the Seven Standards of Excellence. Streamlining our short-term mission program and trips is why WoodsEdge brought me in and we also wanted standardized training for all our teams. When we send out a team overseas from WoodsEdge, we wanted our partners to know our team has been trained well. We wanted to raise that bar through MissionExcellence so we adopted the Seven Standards of Excellence. It gave us the template for where we wanted to start and how to move forward. It also introduced us to Short-Term MissionConnexion as an additional place where we can learn, grow and connect with people and their expertise. We love working with Tory and his team. Through MissionExcellence’s resources, we have access to other organizations and training materials, specically for our short-term mission program, has been a great benet. And now, Short-Term MissionConnexion is on the same weekend as MissionConnexion Northwest so we can attend both. Recently, I attended Care Connexion because part of my responsibility at WoodsEdge is to oversee and coordinate care for our mission workers. Care Connexion is part of the greater MissionWorks family. There I learned how other churches care for workers, experienced workshops and came away with some great ideas. For example, we have some workers that were returning home and retiring after years on the mission eld. From attending Care Connexion I learned how to organize a welcome home celebration to honor what God has done through them during their time overseas. Another great thing about the MissionWorks family is that they cover the nuts and bolts (logistics) of how to safely equip our teams. One important aspect is to have insurance for teams as they go on mission. MissionWorks offers MissionArmor which is not just emergency health insurance, but also evacuation insurance, all part of the trip risk management. We use the MissionArmor service because we know and trust MissionWorks.MissionWorks is more than just a professional association to me. My wife and I will wave the flag of MissionWorks because of our personal involvement. We love seeing all these ministries coming together under one umbrella. It was just natural to bring MissionWorks along with us to Texas and incorporate them as part of our plan at WoodsEdge Community Church. Together MissionWorks.“Love Jesus. Journey Together. Bring Hope to the World.”Coordinator TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WoodsEdge.org | 23
A Publication of Brian Heerwagen | MissionWorks Chief Executive Ofcer Tory Ruark | MissionWorks Chief Operations OfcerMagazine Editorial Staff Tory Ruark, Melissa WhitePhotography Contributions International Mission Board [Cover] WoodsEdge Community Church [Together MissionWorks]Design & Production Cahoots Communications, Inc., CahootsInc.comMission Through our family of ministries, MissionWorks provides individuals, churches, mission organizations and schools with all the outstanding resources, connections and training needed to be successful in local and global mission work.Our Family of Ministries work perfectly together.MissionConnexionMissionGuideMissionLinkedMissionArmorMissionExcellenceMissionWorks Magazine Published annually by MissionWorks and provided free of charge for the benet of ministry leaders, volunteers, donors and friends.To receive MissionWorks Magazine: Subscribe online free of charge in the United States or view the digital edition available online at MissionWorks.global/MagazineFor address or email changes, please send an email to Magazine@MissionWorks.globalUnless otherwise noted, excerpts are published by MissionWorks and our Family of Ministries and used by permission.All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without specic permission from MissionWorks.Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.MissionWorks is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprot organization in the United States of America. 1400 NE 136th AvenueVancouver, Washington 98684Info@MissionWorks.global503.360.1865MissionWorks.globalContact Us Facebook InstagramVenmo