Provide training and team-building
As you develop the team, consider "missions preparation as discipleship" as Paul Borthwick encourages, along with
The 40 Days of Purpose, which reminds us that "God is far more interested in what we are than in what we do".
- Implement and discuss team policies, "covenant" and Conduct Agreement. Obtain commitments at the first team meeting
- Share communion together. The primary emphasis for any trip is Jesus.
- Oversee the spiritual preparation of the team.
- Discipleship. Insist on daily quiet times, which include Bible study, prayer and journaling. Even if team members are not from the same congregation, form accountability groups to help enforce this.
- Missions. Enhance their understanding of the mission emphasis of the Bible. Give the team members books and articles that help them grow in their understanding of the big picture of missions.
- Ministry. The trip is ministry, whether you are doing a construction project or an
evangelism outreach. How will you make sure that the trip will be a
time of spiritual growth both for those going and for the people of
the host country?
- Ministry. Train, equip and release the team in general ministry
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- "Hearing" the voice of God
- Praying for the sick
- Spiritual warfare
- Working together as a team
- Sharing your testimony
- Ministry skill development. Train, equip and release for the specific ministry involved with this trip, which could be street evangelism, children's ministry, etc. Give them a chance to exercise these ministry skills while at home.
- Coach/pastor the team to grow personally and emotionally.
- Each team member is a unique individual. How will you help people to know their own strengths and limitations that will come out during a missions experience?
- What are the signs of difficult personal issues to look for during the missions experience that will leave a deep wound on the individual and how can you deal with these issues?
- Refine the logistics of the trip and communicate with the team.
- These include all the planning, schedules, passports, and packing. This is necessary to make the entire experience as smooth flowing as possible.
- Take steps to guard that this doesn't become the primary focus.
- Oversee cultural preparation.
- Dedicate a significant amount of time preparing the team for cross-cultural "shock".
- Help the team to appreciate the other culture. Pass on to the team these People and Culture research ideas.
- How do you learn what is of value in another culture?
- How do you learn to be more comfortable in strange surroundings?
- How can you learn to differentiate between what is really dangerous and what is just uncomfortable?
- How do you build a friendship with someone from another culture?
- How can you learn a little of the language of that culture?
- Encourage individuals to research the destination country and region
- Identify key differences between the culture of the visiting team and the culture of the hosts
- How should you greet people? A "warm hug" for one culture could be an offense in another culture.
- How is respect demonstrated in the host culture?
- How does the host culture dress?
- How are common gestures interpretted?
- Learning to work together as a team is one of the great experiences of a short-term missions trip
- Living in a new and different culture, even for a short time, can produce stress.
- How do you build team relations?
- How do you resolve conflict when it does arise?
- How do you identify and describe your style of leadership to the group?
- How do you keep a balance between building a team and accomplishing the task?
- Prepare for any physical and ministry skills needed for the trip
- Support raising. Provide training.
- The team will probably encounter differing theological viewpoints, both from other team members, as well as among the host culture. Help the team to learn to practice charity!