Group Preparation Manual Ichthus AdventureServe Missions

Transcription

Ichthus AdventureServe Missions
LexReach
Confrontation Point Ministries
Group Preparation Manual
PO Box 127 Wilmore, KY 40390
(800)884-8483 * Fax: (859)858-0144
Email: [email protected]
www.ConfrontationPoint.org
Section One: Introduction & Guide To The GPM
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Introduction & Guide
To The GPM
In This Section:
Partners in ministry.
About this manual & getting the most from the
preparation materials.
Suggested preparation timeline.
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Introduction & Guide To The GPM
Partners In Ministry
Confrontation Point Ministries is excited to partner with the Ichthus
Music Festival and Co-Laboring Community to provide you with
Ichthus AdventureServe, a pre-festival missions opportunity.
Confrontation Point has been running mission trips for 30 years.
Along the way we developed what we affectionately call the Group
Preparation Manual or GPM for short. Our goal was to provide
guidance for groups as they prepare for the experience. Those
who follow this guidance tend to have a better experience overall. Also, the better the
pre-trip preparation and post-trip follow up, the more the lessons and joys of the trip will
“stick” after the experience. Understand that this manual is aimed at the missions
portion of your Ichthus AdventureServe experience. Once the festival starts, our staff
will no longer be with your group, but you may choose to continue some of the practices
described in this manual.
Our heart is to come alongside you and your leadership team to provide a real, relevant,
challenging, life-changing, thought-provoking, truly outstanding, mission experience.
Here, we are using much of the same material that we have provided groups to prepare
for our classic Confrontation Point Trips. Understand that it was written with these
Confrontation Point trips in mind. It will, however, help you better understand our
philosophy as a ministry, what our staff will be trained to do during your missions
experience, and what you can expect during the missions portion of your Ichthus
LexReach experience.
For you, your adults/chaperones and your youth to truly have an outstanding missions
experience, one that will flow with joy into the Ichthus Music Festival, it is imperative that
all trip participants are clearly prepared for what they will encounter while in Kentucky.
Nothing will benefit your experience more than having accurate expectations and
good attitudes about the trip. This is especially true for you and the other adults, and
for this to happen, preparation is key. On the other hand, nothing
will sabotage the success of your mission experience more than
uninformed or misinformed trip participants.
This is more than a manual…it can help you set the foundation for
a successful mission experience. It is a resource for you to use to
prepare your trip, and we hope you find it helpful in the months and
days ahead of your Ichthus AdventureServe Appalachia trip.
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About This Manual & Getting The Most From The Preparation Materials
This GPM is divided into eight sections for ease of navigation and logical grouping of
information. The first three sections are devoted to basic biographical information about
Confrontation Point (CP), as well as detailed information regarding goods and services
CP provides during the missions portion of your experience. The next two sections are
devoted to specific information regarding the Ichthus AdventureServe Appalachia
Program including philosophy and group experience details/options. This information
comes together in the sixth section with suggested group preparation outlines and
handouts for your parents, adults/chaperones, and youth. Appendix A contains additional
resources you may find helpful in your preparation efforts…this is the only section we
would consider to be an “optional” read, though we highly recommend it. Finally, the last
section contains forms that MUST be returned to CP. These forms are referenced, where
applicable, in the first six sections of the GPM. For your convenience, there is a short
table of contents on the title page of each section detailing the information that will follow.
We have also allowed significant “white space” on each page for those of you who are
“note takers.”
If you are really curious about where to focus as you look at
this large manual, focus on sections 2, 3, and 4. They will help
you grasp what we do, why we do it, and what is involved with
your trip. Also, look at section 6 to see how we recommend
you prepare your group for the trip. Finally, we need the forms
from Appendix B returned to us, so be sure to have those
completed at the appropriate time. We urge you again,
however, that this entire manual is important and will support a successful trip!
Whether you’re a digital guru or computer illiterate, you will receive an email with an easy
to use digital version of this GPM attached. The file is in Adobe PDF format and can be
accessed using Adobe Acrobat Reader. A version of Acrobat Reader can be found online
if you do not already have it on your computer (Google “Adobe Acrobat Reader”). You
can use the digital version for your own study, to create additional copies of this manual,
to print out suggested handouts for preparation sessions, or even make additional digital
copies to give to each of your adult/chaperones as a preparation tool. A word to the
wise…distributing this material is not a substitute for preparation activities!
Taking the experience home… perpetuating your group’s growth
While we want you to have a successful trip, we also want your group to continue
growing long after the trip. We do not want the trip to simply be a once-and-done,
mountain top experience. Please consider using the “Taking the Experience Home”
outline in Appendix A, or providing your group with other ways to process and continue
learning from the trip. Intentional follow up in this way will increase the value of
your trip immensely.
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Suggested Preparation Timeline
Historically, it has been difficult for us to provide an exhaustive preparation timeline for
youth leaders. Everyone registers at a different time, has different payment due dates,
receives this information at a different time, etc. Furthermore, known for their individuality
and facing unique circumstances, each youth leader will most likely approach preparation
activities in a different manner. With that said, following is a basic “functional” preparation
outline from NOW (when you are reading this) until THEN (when we will see you in
Kentucky). Of course, individual preparation consultation is available and is encouraged
at any time between NOW and THEN by calling our office and speaking with the Program
Director. They will be an integral part of your preparation in the coming months.
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Suggested Preparation Timeline
Already Completed?
Read your entire Written Agreement and understand your payment deadlines and
cancellation policies. (If you did not make a copy of this document for your records
before you returned it, please contact CP, and we will send you a copy.)
Right Away
Read this entire Group Preparation Manual so you know what to expect and what will
be required of you.
Set your goals for the trip. What would you like your youth to get out of it? What are
your community and spiritual goals?
Advertise the Ichthus AdventureServe program to the youth, their parents, and
possible chaperones.
Develop an application. Have youth sign-up and commit early. This will help avoid
competition with other summer activities, and allow you to plan and pay for the
correct number of students.
Set a budget and develop a fundraising plan. (See Appendix A)
Set deadlines for trip payments for the youth.
Recruit adult chaperones. Involve them in the planning and youth preparation. This
will give your leaders the proper scope and expectations.
Two Months Out
Schedule your first meeting with parents. Give them as much information about the
trip as possible. Informing them now will save you questions later on. (Section 6)
Schedule your first meeting with your adult chaperones. (Section 6)
Before June 1st
Make sure your payments are up to date. (See your Written Agreement payment
schedule)
Finalize your number of participants, and make sure you’ve informed the Program
Director of any number changes.
Plan your post-trip “Taking the experience home” session (see Appendix A).
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Plan for your transportation needs.
Create a detailed schedule of when to meet at the church, leaving time, estimated
arrival time, return time, important contact info, etc., to give to parents and other
church authorities.
You will be emailed a Program-specific packet of information about your week. This
packet will include directions.
Collect all the Participant Information and Liability Release Forms (Appendix B) from
each youth and adult coming. Make sure they are completely filled out and have the
appropriate doctor, guardian and participant signatures. Mail these to Confrontation
Point Ministries by June 1st.
After June 1st
Continue your youth preparation meetings.
Host your Final Logistics Meeting (Section 6) with all of your parents, chaperones,
and youth.
Travel Day
Monitor the things being packed so you can weed out any unwanted stuff that will be
a hindrance to traveling comfort or group growth.
Give a copy of directions to each driver.
exchanged.
Make sure contact information is
Bring CP phone numbers with you, in case you have trouble finding your lodging
facilities.
Arrive and register at the lodging facility between 3-6pm Eastern Standard Time.
After the Trip
Review plans and hold your “Taking the experience home” session.
Section Two: CP Background & Philosophy Of Ministry
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CP Background &
Philosophy Of Ministry
In This Section:
The founding of CP.
The “pillars” of CP…our core philosophy and elements
integrated into all programs.
CP’s commitments to you: accreditation and accountability.
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CP Background & Philosophy Of Ministry
The Founding of Confrontation Point:
In 1980, Confrontation Point Ministries was founded in Altamont, Tennessee by John and
Jan Bell. At that time, the ministry was focused predominately upon wilderness
adventure trips. The camp grew steadily and, over the years, missions programs were
added. Now, each summer we see about 50 groups (750+ participants) coming through
our programs.
Mission Statement:
Confrontation Point Ministries seeks to create a Christ-centered community and
encourage growth through confrontational experiences with God, self, others and nature.
About Our Name–“Confrontation Point”:
We believe that there is a positive aspect to “confrontation” that should be embraced and
encouraged in our lives. We desire to be confronted by our weaknesses, our fears, and
our shortcomings. Further, we know that confronting one another in a healthy Christian
environment produces growth. The Christian life is a journey that is shared with many
others who may be able to help us with our growth.
Theological Position:
Confrontation Point is in a unique position in that we work with groups and employ staff
from many different denominations. As a staff, we enthusiastically affirm the Apostle’s
Creed. By using this creed, and the other early Christian creeds as our guide, we can be
assured that our core beliefs are located directly within the "trunk" of Christianity. Our
staff is encouraged to have a strong faith and to live this out in a context of love. We
expect our staff to be firm on these core truths and to exercise charity and love in all
aspects of the Christian worldview.
Our emphasis at Confrontation Point is on developing a supportive Christian community
and encouraging a lifestyle that flows from a Christian worldview. We provide a structure
for you and your adult leaders to disciple the youth and develop relationships with them
within your own specific theological system.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I
believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the
Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day
He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at
the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to
judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic
church*, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, Amen.
* Universal Church
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The Pillars of Confrontation Point
One of our main goals is your group’s growth! All programming
elements and activities within the mission portion of your trip are
designed to create a safe environment where this growth can occur.
We use five elements to achieve growth in your group: focus on God,
community, service, leadership development and challenges. We
call them the pillars of Confrontation Point. While the different programs we offer may
focus more predominately on certain elements, the pillars—our core philosophies—are
weaved into all programs.
Remember, we want to partner with you for the trip. The philosophies and practices
described below have been effective for ministry in the past, but if your goals are slightly
different, let us know! We will work with you for the best experience possible for your
group.
Focus on God
It is often easy to focus on the life we are living rather than the reason for it. At CP, we
deliberately schedule time into every day to reflect on God and think about God’s
challenges for us. There are so many things that God wants to teach us from the Word
and through our relationships with others.
Tools Used:
Morning devotions give us the chance to take time away from everyone else to
read the Bible, pray and journal. When we listen, God speaks! Devotional
themes change each year and are designed to bring the Bible alive to youth by
speaking to real, relevant needs/issues. “Seed Thought,” as we call it, is just the
beginning of the spiritual development plan for the week.
Evening worship helps the group to communally focus on God.
Teachable Moments are those times that we could walk right by a lesson about
God. We want to take the time to stop and see something new, or experience a
new understanding of God through His creation or His people.
Community
We are committed to living, teaching, and modeling a supportive Christian Community.
The biblical model is a body—we are all members of one body and need each other in
order to exist and function. No parts of the body are more important than the others
though some may be more prominent (Ephesians 4).
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As your group grows together as a community, it becomes an even better context in
which the youth can grow as individuals. If youth have friends in youth group who are
growing in their faith, they are more likely to do so themselves. Also, many recent
studies are showing the importance of adults in a youth’s life. A youth with strong
relationships with Christian adults other than just the youth pastor is far more likely to
keep their faith past high school. You, Youth Pastor, are a key ingredient in this, but you
cannot do it alone. This is another reason community, including adults, is important to
CP. What better place to develop and grow relationships between your youth and adults
than on a trip like this!
Tools Used:
Doing activities as a group helps us to stop thinking of just ourselves, but
thinking of the others in the group (i.e. if two people are late for a meal, the whole
group waits until they arrive before eating).
Decision making is done by the whole group, not a select few, when
appropriate. Often the leadership will say to the group “These are your options,
what do you want to do?” Making a group decision is not an easy thing, but
doing it with respect for everyone’s views and discovering a solution that
everyone can accept is a victorious moment. Decisions involving safety will
remain the responsibility of the leadership team (CP staff and Youth Group
Leaders).
Worship and breakout sessions is a time for all LexReach groups to come
together and worship as one body. We also provide space for you and your
group to discuss the topics, challenges, and lessons of the day. The goal is to
make room for God, and then as a group to begin to transfer the lessons on the
trip to life as a group at home.
Service
Consider Christ's "parting shot.” In His last hours, Jesus chose to demonstrate to the
disciples that “the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader
like the servant.” Humbly, their Great Master set aside His garments and girded Himself
with a towel. He then poured water in a basin and began washing the disciples’ feet. As
Jesus finished and took His place at the table, he challenged the disciples with the truth
that the greatest among them was their servant. He then called them to live likewise.
As Christians, it is this humble servant life we are called to emulate. We are God’s hands
and feet here on earth, and it should be our desire to incarnate (flesh out) God’s love to
those with whom we come in contact.
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Tools Used:
Serving people outside your group. Whether serving at a ministry location or
talking with other individuals that you meet during your trip, your group will have
the opportunity to communicate Christ's love through service and compassion.
This can be especially true during the Ichthus Music Festival. Consider
challenging your group to find ways to serve during the festival.
Leadership Development
Intuitively, we all know that claiming to be a leader or even holding a leadership position
does not make someone a leader. Countless books have been written within the secular
and Christian arenas exploring this topic, each with its own definitions and ideas of what
leadership is and how it can be nurtured in our lives.
We believe that spiritual leadership is the responsibility of
all who take the name “Christian.” All Christians will
naturally find themselves in some sort of leadership role,
whether as an “up-front” leader or one who leads in
relationships by example. Of course, spiritual leadership
itself is a broad concept with perhaps an entirely different
definition than simply “leadership.” We suggest that the
definition of spiritual leadership is closely tied to an
individual’s understanding and interaction with God,
community and service—other pillars of CP. Based upon
the principle that leadership is learned and cultivated, “Leadership Development” has
been at the core of CP’s philosophy since our inception in 1980.
We want to give your youth a chance to take responsibility, to take ownership, to
struggle, to fail and to succeed. We desire to foster a safe arena in which youth can
“practice” leadership. The key here is empowerment—giving them the tools necessary to
be successful in their endeavors and then LETTING them proceed. Our philosophy,
simply stated, is Show Them, Help Them, Let Them.
Let Them can be the tough part, but it is the crux of what we want to accomplish here—
giving the youth ownership. We want them to face opportunities to engage their mind
(facing a situation), to overcome obstacles (difficulties or consequences of their
decisions), and complete a task while being supported by the adults in ways other than
providing all the “how to’s” and answers. Instead, support will look like creating a setting
in which the youth are ready to face these challenges. We want the youth to have
opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them. We want the youth to have this
chance to shine—to accomplish more than THEY ever thought they were capable
of…more than YOU ever thought they were capable of!
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Tools Used:
Decision making is used not only to build community, but also to help your
youth think through a problem and find the best solution.
Responsibility for some of the experience is given over to the youth. All leaders
will be asked to step back and allow the youth, at times, to make mistakes (when
safety is not endangered). We use the group setting to process and evaluate
successes, failures, and frustrations that may arise
from youth leadership.
Challenges
Romans 5:3-4 says:
“… but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and
perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
We strive to produce an experience that is not “easy” or “comfortable,” but challenging,
difficult, yet achievable. We want your youth to be outside their comfort zones where
they have to rely on God and their peers to help them through.
We view growth opportunities in our personal lives in three stages—the green, yellow and
red zones.
Green Zone: This is the place we are comfortable and life is easy. It’s where we live the
majority of our lives—it is the sustaining zone.
Yellow Zone: Here participants are placed in an out of the ordinary position where they
are uncomfortable. This can often be a place of “perceived risk,” but is actually a safe
place where growth can occur.
Red Zone: This is the danger zone where participants are placed in an environment that
is so far away from where they are comfortable that they cannot grow because they are
restricted by fear due to threats to their emotional, mental, spiritual or physical health and
well being.
All participants will find themselves in different growth zones at different times throughout
their experience. Our goal is that each individual would experience the yellow zone
without entering the red zone.
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When challenging participants, we follow a guideline called challenge by choice. We
will challenge participants and provide them with experiences that can push them into
their yellow zone. However, we will never force them to do something they are not
comfortable with. We will encourage and have your group encourage them, but the
choice is up to them. This means that CP’s job, and your job, is to create an environment
in which participants can choose to step into the yellow zone.
Tools Used:
Program specific challenges lie in the daily activities. This may include doing
a job while serving that you find unpleasant, or physical labor that is different
than we are used to.
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Organizational Promises To You
Confrontation Point takes safety very seriously. We have developed and organized our
safety procedures and policies to meet industry standards.
Regarding High Risk Activities
No matter how hard CP works for safety, lodging and service sites are inherently full of
risk. You and your youth must understand that accidents can and do happen no matter
how safe the program. Parents sending their child to CP are voluntarily accepting these
risks.
As a courtesy, we have purchased primary medical insurance to cover all campers and
chaperones attending Confrontation Point to the value of up to $3,000. Further details
regarding this courtesy coverage are available in section three of this manual, Goods and
Services.
99% of the injuries we see in the course of a summer are
minor incidents including bumps, bruises, sprains, strains,
minor cuts and abrasions, bee stings, etc.
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Where is our money going? (Missions portion of your trip)
It is very difficult sometimes to see where all your money goes when
you take a mission trip. For our own accountability, we produce
yearly financial statements that are reviewed by an independent
auditor. A copy of this is available upon request. We are also
members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
(ECFA), which has strict rules on management and reporting of
finances.
Income
Most of our income (90%) comes from the fees you pay when you bring a group. The
remainder is made up of donations and grants, and interest received from bank funds.
Expenses
As a ministry organization, our goal is to keep expenses at a minimum without sacrificing
the quality of the service we provide. Our annual expenses fall into the following
categories at the typical percentages of:
Program Expense: 75%
Management & General Expense: 21%
Fundraising: 4%
How we categorize our expenses:
[ Program Expenses ]
Adventure Activity Equipment (not
added in Ichthus trips)
Campground & Lodging Costs
Camping Gear
Craft, Initiative and Game Supplies
Food
Home Repair Materials
Insurance (medical, property, etc)
Memberships in Professional
Organizations
Office Costs
Preparation Materials
Promotional Materials
Staff Recruiting
Staff Salaries, Staff Training
Utilities (Program Portion)
[ Management / Administrative ]
Administrative Salaries & Benefits
Directors and Officers Insurance
Financing and Record-keeping
Utilities (Management portion)
[ Fundraising ]
Conference Costs (Recruiting)
Newsletters
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Section Three: Goods & Services
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Team & Services
In This Section:
Further details on LexReach Team & services
CP/LexReach provides during the missions portion
your experience.
Lodging
Menu
Paricipant Insurance
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Goods & Services
While your Written Agreement provides an exhaustive list of divisions of responsibility,
this section exists to further inform you about selected general goods and services CP
provides as a part of your missions experience. This list is limited to items not mentioned
in other areas of this manual for which we have found need for further clarification. You
may wish to re-read your group Written Agreement for clarification of divisions of
responsibility as it is important information that we will not duplicate here.
Our Team
LexReach Team Members are all volunteers, they are here of their own accord. They
were invited to participate by our director because he saw in their demeanor: leadership
potential, a heart for God, and a need to help God’s People. They serve as a liaison
between the volunteers and the ministry leadership of the charities being served and the
church housing the mission workers. These team members are expected to follow high
standards of conduct, but are not “over” the groups. They are here with the heart to
serve, to help organize, to lead and problem solve as situations arise… we are all here to
learn and grow in Christ.
Each team member is:
Over 18 years of age
A Christian (holding to the Apostle’s Creed)
Each team member has:
Been interviewed and screened
Leadership experience
They are trained for and expected to fulfill the following roles and responsibilities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Keep safety of the group first.
Organize & facilitate program activities.
Unite with leaders.
Build relationships with youth.
Spiritually challenge the group.
Upon your arrival on Sunday evening, our team will sit with your leadership team to
further discuss your goals/objectives for the week and make sure everyone is on the
same page. Your ongoing communication and partnership with these team members will
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be critical in the success of the missions portion of your trip. They are here to serve you
and will accommodate any reasonable request you may have, to the best of their abilities.
If you are unhappy with something, these folks need to hear about it so they may help
rectify the situation. Our staff will ask you for a commitment to a scheduled short
leadership meeting each day that will be a great platform to discuss such issues. On
behalf of our team, we ask you to please not bury frustrations…place them on the
discussion table where they can be dealt with either by our trip leaders or a member of
our senior management team.
Lodging Facilities
LexReach mission teams will be housed at the River of Life Church, 757 Wilderness
Road, Lexington, KY 40509. We will be sleeping in the floor; guys in the gymnasium,
(which has commercial carpet covering the floor), girls will be in “somewhat more private”
classrooms throughout the church. Twin size air mattresses are acceptable, but please
bring nothing larger due to allotted space.
Menu:
The basic menu structure is as follows:
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Continental.
Cold meals.
Hot meals.
Participant Insurance
As a courtesy service, CP provides each program participant
with the following insurance:
Accident Insurance:
Up to $3000 per person, per
incident, for the duration of
the experience.
Sudden Illness:
Up to $1000 per person, per
incident, for the duration of
the experience.
Should a program participant require medical attention during their experience, the above
coverage will be primary, and an individual’s personal policy will be secondary (assuming
coverage limits are exceeded or an individual’s condition stems from an ongoing or preexisting condition). CP will not be liable for deviations from this policy or for medical costs
incurred exceeding the above coverage limits.
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Section Four: Program Philosophy
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Program Philosophy
In This Section:
Specific program philosophy—How CP and Co-laboring
Community’s philosophy of ministry plays out in the
LexReach Trip.
Common misconceptions about the
experience and difficulties to anticipate.
Barriers to an outstanding experience.
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Program Philosophy
NOTE: although this is written with CP’s Home Repair trips in mind, Co-Laboring
Community philosophy has been added and is applicable for your Ichthus
AdventureServe LexReach trip, too.
The Home Repair Program, the Home Repair Mission Trip and LexReach is specifically
designed to meet the following two primary objectives:
Service To The Appalachian Region
Christian Leadership Development of Youth
We view each of these objectives with equal weight, thus offering an experience that is,
almost certainly, different than any other mission trip you have previously experienced.
As such, we feel it is important for you to further understand the overarching philosophy
of The Home Repair Mission Trip.
Service To The Appalachian Region
At the heart of the Home Repair Mission is service to the Appalachian region. We focus
upon meeting the basic housing needs of the elderly, widows, handicapped/disabled
individuals, single parents, and low-income families. In
meeting these needs, it is our desire to develop
relationships with the homeowner(s), and, from that
platform, be able to share the Reason for our service,
Christ. We feel this is the way Christ served—
providing for the physical as well speaking to the
deeper relational and spiritual needs.
Appalachia: The communities we serve are part
of the Appalachia region. This region extends from
southern New York all the way to Mississippi,
Alabama, and Georgia. It is a region with a diverse yet unique culture, and that
unfortunately experiences a higher rate of poverty than most of the country. In fact,
most of the counties CP serves are “economically depressed,” meaning they are in
the in the lowest 10% in the nation.
Many factors contribute to this fact. For example, the area has not attracted as many
jobs as other areas of the nation. The jobs that were available in the past 50 years
were mostly in coal, logging, agriculture, chemical industries (like rubber and plastic),
and heavy industry. (Information found on the Appalachian Regional Commission
website: www.arc.gov) Now, as our nation changes, there is not as much demand for
many of these jobs. In these difficult economic times, it remains more difficult for
people in Appalachia to find jobs compared to the rest of the nation.
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Like in many places experiencing poverty, Appalachia also has a host of other
challenges. The average education level is lower than the national average, there are
many health needs for people of all ages, and there is a high rate of use of illegal
drugs.
On the other hand, there is much we can learn from the people in the region, too.
For example, family tends to be highly valued among those living in Appalachia. CP
recognizes this because so many people we work with have several generations
living under one roof or have family in the same small town. While on your trip, be
challenged to learn from those you serve because we promise they have much to
offer if you are open to it.
Meeting the unique needs of Appalachia can happen at several levels. One level is
the national or systemic level. Another level involves empowering local communities.
CP connects with and talks to many other organizations in the communities we serve
to help at this community level. Finally, one level involves meeting the basic needs of
individuals. This is where your group enters the picture. As mentioned above, our
focus is to show the love of Christ to people in Appalachia who have a hard time
finding the resources to meet basic housing needs.
Serving God: While much of the focus during your mission experience is the
project(s) at hand, Confrontation Point and Co-laboring Community desires for youth
and adults to see a grander picture of their service. They are serving God, not just a
family. They are working on a family’s home, not a project. They are helping a family
in need and not “poor people” or “those less fortunate.” Such distinctions, though
they may seem harmless, can have a dramatic effect on the outcome of your
experience. It’s tough to develop a sincere relationship with an individual or a family
when, subconsciously, you look down upon them, their lifestyle, and priorities.
Granted, you may not understand the culture or some of the lifestyle choices an
individual or family has made…we understand this completely! However, if you will
engage poverty…if you will develop sincere relationships…if you will hold back on
judging the culture…if your service is truly from and for God and not of selfish
ambition…you
just
might
receive
a
blessing!
This philosophy, along with the Christian Leadership Development objective you’ll
soon read about, leads us to work at homes for multiple weeks, when at all possible,
and to take on projects in multiple phases (i.e. We
don’t build a house in a week).
Christian Leadership Development of Youth
As previously alluded to, LexReach focuses equally
upon service and Christian leadership development of
youth. We believe that through teaching, challenging,
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and empowering youth during their service, tremendous growth can and will occur. We
promote and create opportunities for youth to step up to physical, mental, and spiritual
challenges. Specifically, trip participants will be challenged in the areas of taking
ownership, decision making, principles of servitude, communication and conflict
resolution, and personal character development. We see these goals accomplished
through the following principles and activities:
Show, Help, Let is the overarching leadership development principle that governs
many of the activities that take place on the Home Repair and LexReach Mission
Trip. We want to provide knowledge, guidance and support so that the youth can
take ownership of individual projects throughout the week. Show, Help, Let is not
about delegating. It’s not about assigning duties. It’s not about supervising
effectively. Rather, we want to empower the youth (providing adequate tools and
knowledge) to complete a specific task, while still supporting them in that task. It’s
about helping the youth understand why and how we nail a board in, instead of telling
them to simply do it. It’s about asking, “What do you think?” instead of supplying all
the answers. It’s about helping the youth develop “a plan of attack” and overcome
obstacles they may encounter by forcing them to engage their mind. It’s about
creating an atmosphere in which the youth are eager to take on the challenge. This
principle is often as much of a challenge for adults as it is for the youth! To avoid
redundancy, we point you to further explanation of the Show, Help, Let principle in
the Leadership Development narrative of Section 2 of this manual, CP Background &
Philosophy of Ministry.
Teachable Moments are opportunities that arise in the middle of activities where
there is a lesson to be learned if we would simply stop and see it. Teachable
Moments are about using the truth and experiences around us to reveal more about
God. It’s experiential education in its purest form! It’s using the darkness of a cave to
illustrate Christ as The Light Of The world. A teachable moment is showing a youth
how to repair a board on a porch and then encouraging them to show the rest of the
group. There are no parameters that can be given for teachable moments. There
are no instruction booklets. These moments will be encountered throughout every
day of your experience. On the worksite, at camp, in the van…everywhere. The trip
is a perfect time to draw these moments out. You will see that through these
moments, youth will start to notice God working in and around them and how this
world is a testimony to God, the vastness of
our Creator, and eternal truths we read about
in the Bible. These things are often more
visible and easier to recognize without the
distractions of everyday life.
Games and Initiatives are simply times when
we may stop and ask the youth to work
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through a challenge together. They are strategic in the sense that we will use them
to build teamwork, leadership, servant hood, trust, etc… They are great for
increasing energy, transitioning, refocusing and challenging negative attitudes. We
will often integrate these into the workday, meal times and debriefing to help the
group to grow in an area of struggle. Many of these times will be followed up with a
teachable moment to discuss what may or may not have been learned. Games and
initiatives are also a great time to relax, laugh, and have some fun among a long,
challenging week. We encourage all the leaders on your trip to participate whenever
possible. These times are especially great for building a bond with your youth.
Seed thought or morning listening time, focuses on a specific theme or passage
each summer. These themes revolve around the pillars of CP and are written and
revised by CP staff or LexReach Team Members each year to be real, relevant,
practical, and challenging. The seed thought time is in the morning after breakfast,
and is usually 30-45 minutes. The goal is to plant a seed in the heart of the youth in
the morning and then to have them reconnect with it throughout the day using
teachable moments, initiatives, debriefing and worship.
Strategic debriefing times or After Action Review, (AAR) daily “set apart” times for
reflection upon the activities of the day and application of lessons learned. This is
also a time to work through struggles and interpersonal conflict that may (or should
we say, WILL) exist amongst your group. It’s a time to work through struggles
participants may have with the Appalachian and/or inner city culture. It’s a time to
revisit and apply the scriptural teaching of the day. This will happen at strategic times
throughout the day and after worship on Monday and Tuesday of your trip.
In Closing
Keeping all the above in mind, we believe that you will find LexReach to be a powerful,
life-changing experience for yourself, the youth, and your adults/chaperones…an
experience that none will soon forget.
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LexReach Mission:
Common Misconceptions
Misconception: The LexReach week is about the trip.
Truth: The trip is about long-term results.
As we all know, you will spend many hours and thousands of dollars preparing to bring
your group on this trip. Not to downplay your time and expense, but the LexReach week
is not about the trip or the activities you will do. The mission is ultimately about the longterm residual effects and growth of the group. While the week can be an amazing and
powerful experience, if you do not follow up and apply lessons and concepts when you
return home, it will just be a trip. Our desire is for it to be a springboard for your ministry
to continue when you return to your hometown. To help, we have provided some
suggestions on how to follow up after you return home. See Appendix A for “Taking the
Experience Home.” We cannot tell you enough how important post-trip follow up is to
your group’s growth. It will greatly increase the long-term value of the trip.
Misconception: My Youth will be blown away by the poverty!
Truth: Every LexReach project is important, but there is a wide range of need.
While this misconception may be true, it may also be false. Inner City Lexington is
scattered with a wide range of need. However, you must understand that you will NOT
encounter third world poverty. Some of the families we serve are extremely poor and
have a tremendous amount of physical need. Others are elderly, on fixed incomes, and
are simply unable physically and financially to attend to basic home repairs. Please
understand that both of these situations, and everything in between, have importance.
We screen every family or organization that we partner with, and they are selected based
upon their need. You can be assured that every project that LexReach selects is
important, but please don’t tell your group specifics about the jobsite.
Misconception: Since the projects are planned and organized ahead of time, we will not
encounter any complications on the service sites.
Truth: Unforeseen obstacles can arise; flexibility is key.
While Confrontation Point / LexReach seeks to be professional and organized when it
comes to planning your work projects, we ask that you be somewhat understanding and
flexible if complications occur. We do our best to anticipate complications, problems,
roadblocks, etc. However, as any construction professional could tell you, unforeseen
obstacles can arise in any project. Such complications might call for a change in plans,
the need for additional building materials, etc. Our team will work closely with your team
and the youth, to overcome any obstacles you may encounter.
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Misconception: My youth will have plenty of free time to relax during the trip.
Truth: The schedule is busy.
As I am sure you have already noticed, the schedule is tight! The days are long and the
free time is limited. Generally, before and after dinner there is about an hour (except for
cook and worship teams), and there may be some free time around the “shower hour.”
The best suggestion is to prepare your youth for this trip as a mission’s trip and not a
summer camp. If they believe they are going on a service trip and not a summer
camp, the lack of free time does not tend to be as difficult.
Misconception: A mission trip is not successful unless people get “saved.”
Truth: God will be at work though this is not specifically an evangelistic trip.
No matter what your denominational buzzword is for people understanding the teachings
of the Bible and seeking to change their lifestyle, it is unrealistic to base the success of
your trip on the number of people who convert, so to speak. In the past, God has used
the LexReach program as a catalyst to draw youth and people the youth served into a
Christian relationship with God. Praise God for that, but understand that the trip is not a
straight up evangelistic trip. However, we do encourage youth and youth leaders to
share their faith, testimonies, and the reason for their service with the people they
encounter as well as with each other. Further, we know that God is at work during your
week. Sometimes we cannot see God’s work as clearly as we want, but you can trust
that God is using the week for significant Kingdom work.
Barriers to an Outstanding Experience
1. Unrealistic Expectations
The biggest disappointments youth leaders
encounter on the trip stem from unrealistic
expectations. Since you are reading this right now,
you are well on your way combating this problem.
Reading and understanding all of this Group
Preparation Manual will help you begin understand
what to realistically expect from your trip. If you have any questions or concerns, please
do not hesitate to call us. We want to answer all of your questions and help you in any
way we can.
Another way to combat unrealistic expectations is to set goals for your trip with your
leadership team. Once you have set your goals, go back over them and evaluate how
realistic your goals are. For example, if your group is full of sheltered and immature
youth, do not expect them to give up all of their possessions and have a radical life
changing experience for the Lord just because they come on a Mission Trip. That
reaction would be short lived and unhealthy. However, it is more realistic, and maybe
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just as exciting, to see them take their faith and their relationships to the next level, even
if it is just a small step forward.
2. Chaperone Issues
Chaperones can make or break your trip. Chaperone troubles can be broken down into
three sub-categories
A. Problems Recruiting Chaperones—Although some youth leaders are blessed
with so many adult volunteers that they can pick and choose the best, this is the
exception and not the rule. Most youth leaders struggle to find enough adult
volunteers willing to take a week off work and spend it on a youth group trip.
One time, a youth leader e-mailed, “I can’t find a female chaperone…I’ve called
every female I know east of the Mississippi.” If you are in that boat, know that
you are not alone; this is a problem that many leaders experience. If you are
having difficulties finding chaperones of the right gender, contact our office. We
may be able to make staffing arrangements to meet your needs.
B. Unprepared Chaperones—Make sure your adult chaperones understand what
the Mission Trip entails, what they should expect, and what their roles and
responsibilities involve. We have provided information and meeting outlines in
section 6 to help prepare your chaperones and leadership team. If you end up
having a chaperone come along at the very last minute make sure they at least
know they will be going to Kentucky, know where they will be staying, and will
have the role of promoting youth leadership.
C. Chaperones With Negative Attitudes— Chaperone attitudes can
significantly affect the outcome of your trip. Chaperones set the tone of the
trip! If you have chaperones that complain, try to undermine your authority or the
authority of team members, try to take control, or verbally lash out at youth or
staff, chances are your entire group will have a bad experience. Please be
aware of this, and caution your chaperones against these things (especially
complaining) before you arrive. If you notice any of it happening while you are on
the trip, it is your job to pull the chaperone(s) aside and address the issue as
soon as you can. The longer you put off the confrontation, the greater the
chance that you and your youth will have a bad experience.
3. Lack of Communication
Good communication is key to having a great mission
experience. Prior to your trip, it is important to communicate
effectively with LexReach/CP, chaperones, youth, and
parents. In section 6 of this manual, we have outlined a
suggested plan for communication for your trip.
Good
communication all around is an important part of an
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outstanding mission experience. When youth, chaperones and parents are not informed
of trip information, there is greater chance for trip complications. Small
miscommunications can lead to major misunderstandings during your trip.
4. Misunderstandings with your LexReach Team Member
You will have a minimum of one trained LexReach team member per worksite who will
guide your group through the mission experience. It is imperative that you communicate
well with your LexReach Team member. It is their goal to unite with you, your leadership
team, and your youth to serve you to the best of their ability. They want to know if there
are ways that they can serve your group better. Please be open and honest with them
and let them know if you have problems or concerns as soon as possible. Most major
and minor grievances can be avoided or at least resolved quickly by timely and open
communication. If, for some reason, a major staffing issue arises, the LexReach Director
will mediate the situation and make team changes as necessary.
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Group Experience
Details & Options
In This Section:
Daily schedule.
Preliminary worksite information.
Arrival details.
Transition to Festival Day details.
Technology perspective.
Swimming?
Some other LexReach Youth Leader FAQ’s.
Section Five: Group Experience Details and Options
LexReach
Group Experience Details
Daily Schedule
The following is an outline of the “basic” LexReach daily schedule you will follow during the
mission portion of your trip. Times stated are to give the trip participants a rough idea of
when and how things happen, not a concrete timeline.
Sunday, June 17
3-6 pm
6:30-7:30 pm
8-10 pm
10 - midnight
Groups arrive at River of Life, register and get settled
Dinner
Orientation, Worship, Teaching, Reflection,
WHSWTD*
Community Games, Free time til lights out
Monday, June 18
7-8:30 am
9 am-3:30 pm
4-6 pm
6:30-7:30 pm
8-10 pm
10 - midnight
Rise and Shine, Breakfast, Morning “Listening” and
Give God the Glory!
Service project, with (packed) lunch at the site
Groups return to host site, (showers most likely
needed)
Dinner
Worship, Teaching, Reflection and WHSWTD*
Tuesday, June 19
7-8:30 am
9 am-3:30 pm
4-6 pm
6:30-7:30 pm
8-10 pm
10 - midnight
Rise and Shine, Breakfast, Morning “Listening” and
Give God the Glory!
Service project, with (packed) lunch at the site
Groups return to host site, (showers most likely
needed)
Dinner
Worship, Teaching, Reflection and WHSWTD*
*WHSWTD = Whatever Holy Spirit Wants To Do
Wednesday, June 20
7-8:30 am
9 am-2 pm
2:30 pm
5:30 pm
7 pm
Rise and Shine, Breakfast, Morning “Listening” and Give
God the Glory! (Packed to go to Festival)
LexReach Community Outreach Project, lunch at site with
Local Residents
Head to Ichthus Festival and Get Settled In!
Ichthus AdventureServe Missions Celebration Dinner (at
Festival Grounds)
Rock Out with Festival Opening Concerts!!!
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Regarding Arrival Day:
Registration is between 3 and 6 pm, Please let us know beforehand if you are
planning to arrive after 6 pm (EST)—we would advise against this if possible.
Introductions and sleeping arrangements set up.
Corporate Worship.
LexReach Team Member(s) and group leaders meet to clarify the group’s goals and
objectives for the week, take care of any paperwork, break the group up into smaller,
discuss the weekly schedule, etc.
Orientation meeting with your whole group. In this time, LexReach Director will
discuss the week’s activities, goals, etc. They will also cover the policies that need to
be followed for the week. This time will also be used to establish (or review) a group
covenant (details to follow later in this section).
Bedtime.
Regarding Wednesday: Transition from Missions to Music Festival: On Wednesday
your group will wake up at the same time you have been, have breakfast, and start
packing up. As this can take some time, this will be a large part of the morning
activities.
Breakfast and morning listening will flow as before, however after breakfast we
should all be packed and ready to leave for the festival. We will go to the Woodhill
Park to set up for LexReach Community Picnic, then after the picnic, we will leave
straight from there to go the festival.
LexReach Community Picnic will be from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We will clean up park
and head for festival at approximately 2:30 pm. You will then go to your dorm or
camp site, get set up, then come to:
Ichthus AdventureServe Celebration Dinner at 5:30 at the grounds. This is your
chance to meet with other groups and hear testimonies of other individuals/groups
that attended both Appalachia Home Repair and LexReach.
Plan B, in case of rain, is presently being worked out. Worst case scenario, you will
have free time to hang out and help with River of Life cleanup and/or explore
Lexington. Then head to festival for set up just after lunch.
Approx 7pm Ichthus begins with the first bands. From here, you are on “Ichthus
Watch” and no longer following the programming of Confrontation Point or Colaboring Community.
TechnologyTechnologies like cell phones and iPods can be fun and beneficial. However, we invite you
to consider limiting or prohibiting the youth from using them during your mission experience.
These technologies have a tendency of consuming time and attention, taking focus off of the
here and now and placing it elsewhere. This can be a challenge for the youth, many of whom
are used to texting constantly (as you may know). The challenge of going without these
devices can be a wonderful opportunity to discuss the role these things play in their lives for
better or for worse. Having said that, we recommend that you consider prohibiting their use,
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doing a “technology fast,” in your group covenant (see “Developing A Covenant” later in this
section.) Though not mandated, prohibiting use of these devices can help foster a better trip
experience.
We understand that the adult chaperones will probably keep cell phones “on their person” for
the trip. This is important in case of emergency and to smooth over possible logistical issues.
We encourage them to keep use appropriate, especially if youth are not allowed to have cell
phones. Our CP staff will do the same. Finally, in case of emergency, parents not on the trip
will be able to contact your group. We recommend setting up a contact person on the trip
before you leave.
Service Locations:
We will be serving “the orphan, the widow and the
stranger” in several different locations throughout
the downtown area of Lexington. Your groups will
be
feeding
children
of
lower
income
neighborhoods and persons living in the streets.
You will also be helping ministries that help these
people on a constant basis. Prepare for serving
food, cleaning, organizing warehouses, painting, moving furniture and other home goods, but
mostly to love people through listening and loving through action. We show up at these
places without an agenda, but to help with their needs… and that changes by the moment.
Swimming
Though swimming is not promised, there may be opportunity to swim in a public facility. If
this happens, the Youth Leader assumes responsibility for the activity. The LexReach Team
members are not trained to oversee this activity and rely on the staff of the public facility and
you. If opportunity arises, it is your choice to participate.
LexReach
LexReach FAQ’s
The following are replies to common program-specific youth leader inquiries. Replies to a list
of general questions about Confrontation Point programming can be found in Appendix A of
this manual.
How many adult leaders do I have to bring?
There should be a 1 to 7 leader to student ratio for each group. A leader is expected to be at
least 18 years of age, preferably older. If there is even one student of a gender in your group,
there must be an accompanying leader of that same gender (contact us if this is an issue and
we may be able to adjust our team accordingly).
How do you choose the service locations we will be working on?
The service sites are local ministries that we partner with to further their mission. We are
driven by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25: “…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” The relationship with these organizations
has been birthed “organically” as some might say. All of the ministries we work with are led
by people that our Director, Kevin Burgess, has met through mutual friends and continue to
work with because we have seen holy fruit from their ministries.
Will LexReach staff be with us on the service sites?
Yes, there will be at least one LexReach Team Member at each work site. To clarify, each
LexReach Team Member is a volunteer… they are here of their own accord. They were
invited to participate by our director because he saw in their demeanor: leadership potential,
a heart for God, and a need to help His People. They serve as a liaison between the
volunteers and the ministry leadership, but are not “over” the groups, we are all here to learn
and grow in Christ.
What if we do not complete our assigned project?
Most of the projects we will be doing at LexReach are not of the “tear apart, re-build” nature.
They will be ongoing actions long after we are gone. If we do begin a project that requires
closure and a group foresees trouble finishing, we would ask that actions be taken to try to
finish. i.e.: increase motivation through goal setting, working a little late a couple of days,
getting assistance from individuals at another worksite if possible, etc. If the project still does
not get completed, it will become Co-Laboring Community’s responsibility to take the
necessary measures to finish it.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to call, text or email the director.
Group Preparation
Outlines & Handouts
In This Section:
Preparation outline and handouts for parents of
participants.
Preparation outline and handouts for adult and
chaperone participants.
Preparation outline and handouts for youth participants.
Section Six: Group Preparation Outlines & Handouts
LexReach
Group Preparation Outlines & Handouts
Overview
Having studied sections one through five, you are well on your way to being adequately
prepared for the Confrontation Point/LexReach experience. Conversely, your parents,
chaperones, and youth are not! You will recall from section 4 that unrealistic expectations
and poor communication are two of the greatest barriers to outstanding experiences. You
have now been equipped with the information to overcome these barriers and to prepare
your group. The ball is in your court! We have said this before, but it seems like a good
place to say it again…the success of your trip will depend largely upon how well you
prepare your group for their experience.
We understand that time is of the essence. We understand
that weekly trip meetings are not an option. We understand
that it is tough enough to get adults to volunteer to
chaperone the trip let alone get them to a trip leaders
meetings as well as all of the youth preparation sessions.
We understand that each youth leader will tackle these
problems differently.
With that said, we have provided in the following pages, suggested preparation outlines
and handouts for parents, adults/chaperones, and youth participants. This is how we
would go about it if it were our youth group…this is what our experience tells us are the
essentials in preparation communication.
Also, as you plan for these pre-trip sessions to prepare your group, you should plan a
post-trip session to follow up with the experience afterwards. “Another meeting?!?” Yes.
Again, this is not about a week-long trip. It is about long term results, and helping the
group process the experience after the trip is essential for the lessons to sink in and stick
for the long haul. See “Taking the Experience Home” in Appendix A for information on
this session.
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Parent Preparation
Two Sessions
Session #1
Purpose:
Suggested Handouts:
Orient parents to LexReach. Communicate trip preparation
time table.
GPM sections 2 & 3, Participant Information & Liability
Release Form (in Appendix B).
Discussion Points:
Your goals for the youth and this trip.
How LexReach will help you achieve these goals.
Details about LexReach (suggested handouts). For further reference, refer them to
our website: www.ConfrontationPoint.org, www.ichthusfestival.org/missions
Importance of adult/youth relationships (Section 2, “5 pillars,” “Community.”)
Consider: What can parents do after the trip to connect with their children?
Your time table…what’s next, how you would like them to be involved, financial
deadlines, paperwork deadlines (Participant Information & Liability Release, others
you may require), required parent and youth preparation meeting dates/times,
fundraising information, etc. You may want to craft your own handout for this.
Answer questions.
Session #2
Purpose:
Final logistical meeting.
(Though they are different session numbers, this is the same
meeting for all parents, chaperones, & youth)
See below.
Suggested Handouts:
Discussion Points:
Craft a simple handout with an emergency cell phone contact for parents to use
(yours or another trip leader’s). Be sure to include our toll free office number (800884-8483) for emergency use during the missions portion of the trip.
Collect any last minute Participant Information & Liability Release forms.
Share about the spiritual journey your group will be on and how parents can pray for
your leadership team and their kids while you are on the trip.
Answer last minute questions.
Close the meeting with corporate prayer for your experience.
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Adult/Chaperone Preparation
Three Sessions
It is assumed that all adults/chaperones are present at the parent preparation
session. If this is not true, you must adjust accordingly. It is imperative that your
adults/chaperones are exposed to the same information. It is also assumed that your
adults/chaperones will attend all youth preparation sessions as well.
Session #1
Purpose:
Developing your
leadership team
experience.
Suggested Handouts:
GPM section 4&5
leadership team & acquainting
with specific details regarding
your
your
Discussion Points:
Define the purpose of this trip and establish goals as a leadership team for the
experience.
Explain the importance of the adult’s attitude during the trip.
Re-emphesize the importance of adult/youth relationships (see Section 2, “5 Pillars,”
“Community.” This is a suggested handout for parent prep session 1.)
What is the role of the adult/chaperone in trip preparation? During the experience?
Discuss LexReach program philosophy (suggested handout). What difficulties or
challenges does your leadership team anticipate and how can you address them
together?
Answer questions and develop a list of questions you need to ask CP/LexReach as a
result of your leadership meeting.
Foster a commitment to prayer for your experience…CP, LexReach and it’s
leadership, your leadership team, and the youth.
Close with prayer for your experience and all those involved in it.
Session #2
Purpose:
Suggested Handouts:
None.
Discussion Points:
See parent preparation session #2.
LexReach
Youth Preparation
Three Sessions
Three preparation sessions sounds crazy! You’re right! It’s really only two sessions plus
attendance at the Final Logistical Meeting. We suggest one session every two weeks,
beginning 1.5 months prior to your experience. All “suggested handouts” for youth
preparation follow this youth preparation outline.
Session #1
Purpose:
Suggested Handouts:
Provide general trip information to youth.
“What to expect,” “What to bring,” “Top ten things,” “The Law.”
Also,
see
Ichthus
website
for
Ichthus
details:
www.ichthusfestival.org
Discussion Points:
What the youth can expect on the trip.
What the youth should bring during the trip.
Youth responsibilities and requirements.
Session #2
Purpose:
Suggested Handouts:
To encourage the youth to be aware of the defining moments
they will encounter on the trip.
None. See Defining Moments leader outline.
Summary of Discussion Points (Included in leader outline):
What will the youth do with the decisions they are faced with on the trip?
How could a single moment effect them positively or negatively?
How will they define those moments? How will their decisions define them?
Empower the youth to take charge of every moment on this trip.
Session #3
Purpose:
Suggested Handouts:
None.
Discussion Points:
See parent preparation session #2.
Defining Moments
Leaders Outline
Goal:
To encourage students to be aware of the defining moments they will
encounter on the trip.
Introduction:
Every day in our life, there are defining moments. There are choices
that we make that will determine who we are and what we can become. Sometimes these moments are
big. Sometimes they are small. Regardless, the decisions we make in these moments will go a long way
in determining the impact our life has.
Scripture:
Joshua 2:1-21
Illustration one:
Story of Rahab from Joshua 2:1-21.
Read through scripture and describe the defining moment that Rahab encountered.
Illustration two (optional):
Find and show the video clip from Spiderman the movie; Clip of Peter allowing the robber to get away at
the wrestling match. Illustration of no action taken during a defining moment. The robber later kills
Peter’s uncle in a car theft.
Application:
Why would Rahab do this? Where would she find the courage to make such a leap of faith in a God she
did not know? The book of Hebrews gives us the answer:
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things
promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they
were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are
looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left,
they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better
country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he
has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11: 13-16, NIV).
Rahab was exchanging her old country for the heavenly one. She had caught a glimpse of God’s power,
and she knew that was what she wanted. In Hebrews 11:31 we read, “by faith Rahab the harlot did not
perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.” By what? By
attitude, self-confidence, and believing in yourself? No, by faith!
Defining moments can be irrevocable decisions that alter our life forever. They are moments of boldness,
faith and perseverance. They, almost certainly, will involve personal risk, either to our reputation,
relationships, or future. For Rahab, everything was at stake. Had the king found the spies before they
escaped, she was done for. If she had successfully helped out the Hebrews and yet not put on the
scarlet rope, she would also have perished. Finally, she trusted the Hebrews, complete strangers to her,
to tell the truth.
With all of those unknown factors, how did she know what to do? Rahab chose to go with the God of the
Hebrews because she had watched what God had done. She had heard about His great miracles and
wanted to know Him!
You will have defining moments in your life. In fact, you have defining moments every day of your life.
Often these moments are not huge, world changing decisions such as Rahab’s, but they are important in
determining the kind of person you are. It may involve taking a stance, changing your friends, supporting
a movement. Whatever that moment may be, remember to trust God for guidance and wisdom. God will
be faithful.
In your defining moments, you are called to take action. To make a decision that will change your life as
well as others. This summer, on our trip you will be faced with a defining moment. It will be an
opportunity to change your life as well as others. What will you do with that moment? God is waiting; He
wants you to take action.
Discussion Questions:
1) What were you most inspired by in the story of Rahab? Why?
2) (If you watch the Spiderman clip) What is the difference between how Peter acted in the movie
and how Rahab reacts in the story?
3) Have you ever experienced a time when you had to make a sudden decision with long-term
consequences? How did you handle it? Would you have done anything different?
4) What risks and fears are involved in defining moments?
5) Do you ever struggle with feeling God will be faithful in your decisions?
6) How do you see defining moments playing out in your LexReach trip this summer?
7) Are there any defining moments in your life right now? Are you ready to take action?
On Your Ichthus LexReach Mission Trip
You will be very tired by the end of the week.
You will be sleeping on the floor in a church, air mattresses are allowed but are your responsibility
You will face many challenges physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially.
Showers are available during the week at specific times. If you do not get a shower at the allotted time… your friends
will stay clear of you!
You will know the members of your group on a completely different level by the end of the week.
You will be serving the widow, the fatherless and the stranger.
You will be out of touch with your world for a week. (i.e. no TV, computers, etc…)
God will draw you outside your comfort zone.
You will experience things you never have before.
You will impact someone’s life.
You will have opportunity to be transformed, will you allow it?
Sample Daily Schedule During Missions
7-8:30 am Rise and Shine, Breakfast,
Morning Devo and Give God the Glory!
9 am-3:30 pm Service project, with
(packed) lunch at the site
4-6 pm Groups return to host site,
(showers most likely needed)
6:30-7:30 pm Dinner
8-10 pm Worship, Teaching, Reflection
and WHSWTD*
10 - midnight Community Games, Free
time til lights out
Sample Daily Schedule During Ichthus Music
Festival
Early Afternoon: Bands playing
Mid Afternoon: Speaker
Late Afternoon: Bands Playing
Evening: Bands and speaker
Late Evening: Bands
1am: Lights out curfew
Be Responsible!
* On the trip, you will be responsible for keeping
track of your own stuff. LexReach and Ichthus are not
responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen items.
The Necessities
T-shirts (crop tops or immodest clothing is not appropriate).
Shorts (no short-shorts - guys or girls).
Sweater, jacket, or fleece and pants for cool evenings.
Socks, underwear (enough for the entire week).
Modest swimsuit (Swimming may or may not be available).
At least 1 pair of boots or thick-soled shoes.
Shoes and/or sandals for hanging out/ music festival.
Personal toiletries (toothbrush, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.).
Towel & washcloth.
Raingear: poncho or parka (plan for rain).
Hat
Flashlight with 2 sets of batteries.
Canteen or water bottle (at least 1 Liter).
Sunscreen
Sleeping bag, pillow & ground pad.
Bible, notebook and pen (in a Ziploc bag is a good idea).
Large and small plastic bags for dirty clothes & protecting gear from rain.
Any necessary medications (with a MD's note).
Be sure to bring enough clothes for the entire week!!!
ABSOLUTELY MUST BRING:
o “PUFF”: PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING, FLEXIBILITY, FOCUS
Valuables (Your gear will be stored in sleeping quarters or vehicles).
Your favorite clothing (They may get dirty, torn, and most likely ruined!)
Alcohol or drugs, firearms, knives with blade over 3 inches long.
Animals/pets.
* Any personal gear/equipment requiring special
knowledge for use must be stored away from other
participants.
The Non-Negotiable Law
Always:
Stay within the defined LexReach boundaries. (Notify a leader if
you need to leave)
Wear shoes or sandals.
Be safe. (No horseplay, etc.)
Follow all specific safety procedures given by staff. (at service
sites, etc.)
Wear clothing that is modest and will not offend anyone (i.e. crop
tops or immodest clothing is not appropriate)
Follow the instructions of the LexReach leaders.
Responsibilities & Requirements
Exhibit a Christ-Like Spirit
Have a good attitude
Be encouraging- use words of life
Enjoy other’s achievements, not just your
own
Keeping Yourself Safe
Eating well
Getting enough rest
Being careful during all activities
Keeping Others Safe
Don’t be careless with equipment or tools
during service
Don’t fool around with other’s safety
Work
Work hard with the tasks at hand
Take initiative
Face the Challenges
Push yourself
Attempt even the tough opportunites
Be a Team Player
Looking out for others
Serving each other
Doing things as a group
P.U.F.F.: PATIENCE
UNDERSTANDING
FLEXIBILITY
FOCUS
Additional
Preparation Resources
In This Section:
Mission Possible…getting your youth on location.
Funding Your Mission…fundraising plan & resources.
Taking the experience
group’s growth.
home…perpetuating
General frequently asked questions.
Additional Fundraising resources (Digital only)
your
800-884-8483
Mission Possible!
[email protected]
MISSION POSSIBLE!
Ways to Ensure Your Youth Will Buy Into and Be Excited About Going on a Mission Trip
So, you want to go on a mission trip but don’t know if your students will buy into it and follow
through on their commitment. You think that such a trip would be a good way to put faith into
action, as well as a unity and spiritual building experience for your group, and you want to step
forward and commit to one. However, you are concerned that the “ho-hum” attitude of your teens
may result in a “ho-hum” turnout and commitment level. It makes it even more difficult when the
missions organization that you want to work with requires an upfront payment of some kind in
order to reserve your trip. With all of these thoughts running through your mind, making that
financial commitment feels like a significant leap of faith. And, when spring time roles around,
you really start to feel the pressure. I’ve been there. As a youth leader, I used the techniques
and approaches described in this article, and found them to be a huge success!
For me, the leap of faith seemed a little less startling because I was blessed with a caring group
of adults who had a passion for youth missions work. We chose to meet regularly for a few
months and pray for help and guidance. I strongly urge you to put together a team of adults who
care, and possibly some influential teens to pray for direction, and decide which trip to go on. So
often I hear of youth workers placing the decision in the hands of their students. When you have
a strong missions program already in place, this may make sense. However, for the majority of
us who are going around the block for the first or second
time on this whole missions thing, I would strongly
encourage you to pray and make a decision. You know
what your students need. You know what they can
handle, and amazingly, God does too. God will speak
clearly to you if you passionately pursue God’s will.
When you put it in your student’s hands, many variables
are left unmanaged. Read on, and you will gain a better
understanding of what I mean.
There are 3 keys to getting any teen interested and motivated in going on a mission trip.
Students need to feel like, one, it’s the thing to do, and two, it’s not tough to do. Thirdly, you need
to develop a buffer in your budget. This will allow for last minute “grace” and possible
scholarships for additional youth. Try this approach. It helps ensure success in your missions
trip planning.
800-884-8483
Mission Possible!
[email protected]
It’s The Thing To Do
So often we think we need to ask our students to buy into an idea in order for us to feel like we
have any significant level of commitment from them. While buy-in and commitment are important,
“asking” is not always the technique that will assure we have it. Teens buy into things that they
feel are important and, most importantly, things that they feel other teens want to do. I would
suggest trying the following techniques to get the level of commitment that will ease your comfort
level in your decision to move forward on a missions trip decision.
1. Choose a handful of influential and gifted teens to be your “Mission Possible” team.
This team needs to be selected ahead of time, before any announcements are made to the rest
of the students. Meet with them individually, and later collectively as a team. Make them feel
important; that they have a major role to play. Their commitment to being an effective player on
the team is critical. Invariably, in a youth group, the students who are interested in missions are
the ones who are not necessarily the ones whom other students look to as leaders. You will want
some of these individuals as a part of your “Mission Possible” team as well. They will play a
pivotal “logistical” role, but they probably won’t be the individuals you will put on the front line for
influencing your other students.
Roles of specific “Mission Possible” team individuals are:
Up to two “highly” respected, motivational students - These individuals are your
“Recruiters.” They are there to announce the trip, present ideas, and have conversations
throughout the preparation process. They make the announcements to the church body
and are seen as the leaders.
Up to two students gifted in administration to coordinate fundraising events, keep track of
participation and funds raised.
Up to two “spiritually” gifted students who are your “prayer warriors” throughout the
preparation process.
This group will give you a solid team that you can lean on.
2. Use an “Assumptive Close” when you present the trip to the group.
This “Assumptive Close” technique just assumes up front that everyone will be going. You don’t
ask the teens, “Who wants to go?” nor ask them to sign up. You send the info home with them to
share with their parents about what they are going to be doing this summer. The idea behind this
is that you make it seem to the students that this is “the thing to do.” You lay out for them upfront
that you have everything planned: the trip, the cost, the fundraising activities and schedule, and
the ease of attaining the dollar amount needed. You introduce your “Mission Possible” team. In
short, you make this look like it’s going to be a “no-brainer.”
800-884-8483
Mission Possible!
[email protected]
3. Present the opportunity to the church.
Ask your church leadership for the opportunity to present the planned trip to the congregation as
a skit. At the time when you announce the trip to the youth group, have a “skit” concept put
together that they can rehearse, and present to the congregation. Determine roles and practice it
right then. Make it fun, and involve as many youth as you can. The more the congregation sees
their student’s interested and fired up, the more support you will see from them. Also, when you
use a lot of students in front of the congregation, it acts as an encouragement to the students
because the congregation will continue to ask them how preparation is going from that point
forward.
4. Foster Youth Commitment
At your next youth meeting, have a short, one paragraph contract that everyone signs with his or
her commitment to go for it! Have everyone sign the same page. Seeing everyone else’s name
builds momentum and excitement.
It’s Not Tough To Do
While there will be times throughout the fundraising process that your students feel like the
amount of money to raise is “impossible,” you now have the tools in place to overcome their
discomfort.
One, your “Mission Possible” team members go into action to provide
encouragement, announce successes and pray for any students that are struggling. Two, you
have other planned activities to build momentum. And three, you have your congregation behind
you.
Every word coming out of the mouths of you and your “Mission Possible” team and every aspect
of the mission preparation calendar needs to ooze simplicity. All of this will help maintain the
momentum you need to keep your group pressing forward and recover those who start to fall by
the way side. You always have something else on your fundraising calendar that the students
can look forward to, and you have the support of congregation members to encourage.
Grace and Scholarships
Plan upfront to help out some students who don’t quite make the goal in fundraising. This is
something that you keep in your “back pocket” undisclosed, for those few who come close but
don’t look like they are going to raise the total amount of money necessary. This also becomes a
fund for new students whom you want to participate.
It is not difficult to do this as long as you plan ahead. The easiest method is to set aside money
in your annual youth ministry budget to cover the cost of a couple students to go on a trip.
Secondly, you can solicit capable members of your congregation to sponsor an individual student.
The sponsored student is not aware of being sponsored, and he or she participates in all of the
fundraising activities. This gives you the incremental dollars for your budget. Thirdly, have each
student raise more than the actual cost of the trip. This allows extra money to cover up to two
additional people receiving scholarships.
800-884-8483
Mission Possible!
[email protected]
Planning for these ahead of time takes a significant load off of your shoulders. It gives you
flexibility at the last minute to give “grace” to those students who have tried really hard, offer
scholarships to new students, and additional funds to treat the students to special things on the
actual trip.
My first year of missions planning, fundraising and travel required a lot of hand-holding on my
part. In subsequent years, I found that because of the approach used in the first year, my
students were able to “press forward” themselves. They did their own planning and fundraising. I
hope that you will find similar success.
This article was written by Greg Darling, former
Director of Marketing and Development at
Confrontation Point Ministries. Greg is a current
pastor and a former Youth Pastor. He found these
techniques and approaches to be beneficial in
assuring a fired up, BIG group of students on your
next mission trip.
800-884-8483
Stockholders
[email protected]
Funding Your Mission
A Strategy for Successful Fundraising to Accomplish Your Mission Objectives
Chances are, when you accepted the position of “youth pastor,” you were not thinking to yourself;
“Gee, I’ve always wanted to ask people for money!” Rather, fueled by your passion for the
development of youth, and faced with the reality of your “ever so grand” budget, you were, most
likely, driven to fundraising. You see needs…great needs. You see potential…great potential.
And so it begins…you want to remodel the youth room--fundraising. The newly remodeled youth
room needs a foosball table (with all the men)--fundraising. You want to take a spring retreat-fundraising. You want to take the youth to a district conference--fundraising. You want to take the
youth on a mission trip--more fundraising!
Whether you view it as a “necessary evil” or an “opportunity to get others involved in what God is
doing in the lives of the youth,” you have certainly found that fundraising is a necessary part of
the life cycle and advancement of your youth program. Fundraising is a
means to an end—to the fulfillment of your goals for the development
of your program, to make Christ known to your youth, and to advance
the Gospel to future generations through the motley crew simply
known as “the youth group.”
While we may not be the experts in this arena, we would like to share
with you some simple, yet timeless, principles to help you achieve the
goals of funding your mission to Confrontation Point this summer.
Further fundraising resources can be found on the digital version of the
GPM which was emailed to you. Many of these are referenced below, where applicable.
A Strategy For Success
Fundraising does not have to be an agonizing task! Taking time on the front-end of a fundraising
effort to think through and plan your strategy for success will make you more effective and
efficient with the precious hours you have available to devote to fundraising. Consider this eightstep strategy: (The email you received with the digital version of this GPM also had a MS Excel
file named FYM Worksheets.xls attached, which will help guide you through this process. This
worksheet is referenced in almost every step of the fundraising strategy.)
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Step 1: What’s the goal?
Slow down…we’re not talking about money yet! When we refer to your fundraising goal,
we are talking about the end result of your fundraising efforts, not the money raised. Ask
yourself what the end result is here. What is the passion you have that has brought about
a need for fundraising? Why are you going on this trip? What excites you about
Confrontation Point Ministries? What do you want the youth to learn and return home
with? How will this trip further advance your goals as a youth pastor and the mission of
your youth group? Take the time to write this out…you’ll use it in future steps in your
fundraising strategy. There is a place to record your goal on the Preliminary Planning tab
of the MS Excel file FYM Worksheets.xls. Remember, this isn’t about “schmoozing,” it’s
about sharing your passion…authenticity engages!
Step 2: Assessing the resources you have.
Consider the resources you already have in your back pocket and how they can be used
in your fundraising plan. Things like:
Strategies used in the past. What worked? What didn’t work?
Are there experienced fundraisers in your church that can help you with fundraising
techniques/programs?
A donor list, past givers to your youth ministry.
A potential donor list.
Volunteers who have helped with fundraising in the past that may be of assistance
again.
PR material used in the past. Letters, posters, pictures, newsletters, etc.
Record the resources you have in the Excel worksheet provided.
Step 3: Determining the resources you need.
Having considered the above, what resources might you need to gather to assist you in
your fundraising plan?
Record the resources you need in the Excel worksheet provided.
Step 4: Crunching the numbers.
What is the financial goal of your fundraising campaign? It’s now time to determine the
budget needs for your Confrontation Point experience. Use the budget tab on the Excel
worksheet to assist you in determining your need.
Step 5: Identify your target markets.
Consider whom you will target in your fundraising efforts. Ask
yourself, “Who has a stake in the outcome of the fundraising
goal?” (Step 1) Target markets may include:
Your church (organization).
Individual church members.
Your community.
Past donors.
Parents of youth.
Extended family of youth.
Record your target markets in the Excel worksheet provided.
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Stockholders
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Step 6: Identify and develop major and minor donor vehicles.
What activities will you do to receive funds from your target markets? This is where
fundraising can get to be a real “time drainer.” Often youth pastors will schedule large
numbers of small activities (minor donor vehicles) to raise funds rather than taking time to
develop a few, good major donor vehicles. If you want to be pulling your hair out for the
next 6 months, schedule a donation based car wash, a garage sale, or theme dinner.
Then sell suckers, cans of soda, pizzas, tapes, flowers, candles, “Testamints,” etc. Finish
up with baby sitting, cleaning windows, junking a yard, collecting change, and shaving
your head for $100. OK…We’re not saying that these things are bad; they’re simply time
intensive with very little return on your investment. Rather, we suggest that you take the
time to develop one or two strategic major donor vehicles that will reach your target
markets, and support these strategies with a select few minor donor vehicles. You’ll have
more hair, less headaches and more money when all is said and done.
We have developed two possible major donor vehicles for your use…one entitled
Stockholders and another entitled The Barnabas Project. A brief overview of these
programs is in the pages following these 8 steps.
Record your major and minor donor vehicles in the excel spreadsheet including roll out
dates, target markets reached and financial goals for each program.
Develop any needed donor vehicle ideas including publicity, communication, donor
tracking, follow-up, etc.
Step 7: Roll out your plans.
About one month before your first fundraising activity,
consider writing a letter to all possible target markets. This
letter should be from you, sharing step one of this
fundraising strategy and how they may join you in achieving
these goals. Briefly share the exciting things they will see
from the youth in the coming months—in terms of
fundraising—and encourage them to be an active part of this
adventure.
Carry out your major and minor donor vehicles remembering the following:
Cultivate passion and vision for your fundraising goal in your target markets. Your
authenticity will bear fruit! Most individuals naturally desire to be a part of something
big.
People don’t just support causes…they support people who are involved with a
cause. Sending letters and placing donation requests in the church bulletin won’t cut
it! You, and your youth, must be relational in your approach to fundraising.
Keep the congregation informed on your financial goals and progress.
Stay organized and professional.
Recognize and thank donors for contributions.
Track donors, if possible, for future fundraising efforts.
Track your fundraising results in the Excel worksheet provided.
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Stockholders
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Step 8: Stay Connected.
Your fundraising campaign doesn’t end when all the dollars have been collected and your
group has left for Kentucky or Tennessee. Donors must be given the opportunity to see
and/or feel a return on their investment. They need to know how their dollars made a
difference. It is your responsibility to make this happen!
Consider using communication vehicles such
as video, pictures, personal testimonies, a
series of articles in a quarterly youth group
newsletter, etc.
Close your fundraising campaign shortly after
your return from Kentucky or Tennessee with
a personal letter to all donors expressing your
gratitude as the youth pastor for their
partnership in the mission and goals of the
youth ministry program.
Though this should not be your primary motive, if you follow-up your fundraising efforts
well, you’ll have a great donor base for your next fundraising endeavor. If you don’t
follow-up well, fundraising will get harder and harder over the years.
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Stockholders
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Stockholders
Intent
The intent of Stockholders is three fold:
1. To share the opportunities and goals of your Confrontation Point trip.
2. To actively involve the church membership and family/friends/relatives of trip participants
in the growth of the youth through investment of their dollars.
3. For investors to experience and see firsthand the results of their investment. In the end,
they should feel like they were a part of something big! Ideally, Stockholders would lead
individuals to become regular supporters of the youth group and its activities.
The Basic Idea
Sell shares of stock to individuals who believe in, and support the fulfillment of your goals and
objectives in going to Confrontation Point Ministries. Common Stock is available at $10 per share
and Preferred Stock at $25 per share. (Refer to digital copy of GPM provided on email for premade Stock Certificates and other resources that are referenced below. These resources are at
the end of this section of the digital GPM.)
We would suggest selling stock simultaneously in two different arenas: (1) Church membership
and (2) family, friends and relatives of trip participants. Proceeds of stock sales should be
“pooled” and distributed evenly amongst trip participants…it’s a community effort.
Consider the outcome of this fictional example of a youth group with 20 trip participants:
Church Membership Sales
100 Shares
(75 Common, 25 Preferred)
$1375
Participant Sales (8 Each)
160 Shares
(140 Common, 20 Preferred)
$1900
Total proceeds: $3275 or $163.75 per participant.
The fundraiser comes to a close upon your return from Confrontation Point with an “Annual
Shareholders Meeting.” There, shareholders partake in a meal, enjoy fellowship, and hear about
the outcome of your trip through stories and testimonies of trip participants. The meal is cooked
by the youth and is actually one of the meals they had while on their trip. Most resources for this
are in the digital version of the GPM. A spreadsheet that tells you what to buy and calculates the
quantities you will need to purchase is attached to the email you received with the digital version
in a MS Excel document called Meeting Food WS & Purchase Guide.xls
Execution
Youth Introduction / Buy-In
Meet with the youth and introduce the Stockholders fundraiser. Discuss the intent of the
fundraiser and how it will work, including community money pooling.
Set fundraising goals as a community and individually. Communally, how many
shareholders do we need to get from the church (common and preferred)? How many
800-884-8483
Stockholders
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shareholders do we each individually need to get (common and preferred)? These goals
should be challenging, yet attainable. Show the youth how the fundraising goals can be
easily attained.
Hand out the provided Shareholder Register. Help them with filling out the top part of the
form including “my shareholder goal.” Further discuss how to use the register, how to
collect money, important tax-exempt information, etc. Hand out Stock Certificates for
youth to sell. (Due to the shading on the stock certificates, you may wish to print all
copies directly from your printer or have them digitally copied from the file at a local copy
shop.)
Discuss with the youth how to share the Stockholders fundraiser with potential
“shareholders” including: (1) how it will impact the youth group, (2) how it will impact them
as individuals and (3) suggestive selling techniques…”My goal is to have 10
shareholders…Could you be one of those 10?”
Instruct the youth to hold off on selling stock until the fundraiser has been announced to
the church.
Congregation Introduction / Buy In
Announce Stockholders to your congregation using the provided bulletin insert. You may
also want to post a number of the provided posters on the Sunday you introduce the
fundraiser.
Get permission from the “powers that be” to talk about the insert during the regular
announcement time. This is your time to “sell” the importance of your trip to CP…the
opportunities and goals of your trip. Share further details of your shareholder goals, how
you will be selling stock and how individuals can participate in this opportunity.
Challenge the congregation with the fact that “There are not many among us that cannot
afford at least one share of Common Stock…Simply not going out to eat for lunch one
day would buy a share of stock! Perhaps some can do more?”
Involving the youth in this presentation would be a wise idea.
Congregation Stock Sales
Have youth sell stock after and/or between church services for one month (centrally
located table). Give weekly updates to the congregation during your regular
announcement time, reporting shareholder goals and current shareholder statistics.
Record stock sales in the Shareholder Register so as to capture relevant contact data for
follow-up communication.
Consider posting (in a highly visible area) a list of all shareholders along with quantity and
type of shares held. This will give recognition and perhaps promote a little “friendly”
competition.
Trip Participant Stock Sales
Youth sell stock, maintaining their own personal Shareholder Register and turning money
and completed registers into you at the predetermined time.
Get status reports from the youth on a weekly basis (on personal sale goals); motivate as
necessary. Consider introducing some sort of reward when the group reaches its
individual and collective goals.
800-884-8483
Stockholders
[email protected]
The Annual Shareholder Meeting
Post the provided posters and announce the “Annual Shareholders Meeting” during your
regular announcement time on Sunday.
We would suggest inviting non-shareholders to this event as well, asking them to arrive
AFTER the meal to take part in the stories and testimonies shared (they could be
potential investors in your next fundraising endeavor).
As mentioned before, have youth prepare the meal and “circle up” CP style for prayer
before eating.
Use the shareholder meeting to communicate what life was like and the experiences you
shared while in TN or KY including:
A typical day.
Chore teams.
Meals.
People you encountered.
Things you did.
Struggles you may have had and how you overcame them.
Spiritual theme of the week and lessons learned.
Use youth stories and testimonies, pictures, video--whatever you have--to make it a
powerful time where shareholders can see, and emotionally feel, the fruits of their
investment.
Follow Up
Close Stockholders with follow-up communications to all shareholders from yourself. If you
have input all shareholder data in the Funding Your Mission worksheets, it will be easy to
print a mailing list for donors to this program.
Include a synopsis of the trip to CP from your point of view…how the youth were challenged
and grew and what you hope the trip will lead to in terms of the future growth of the youth
group. Sincerely thank shareholders for their investment and for partnering with the youth
program.
800-884-8483
The Barnabas Project
[email protected]
Intent
The intent of The Barnabas Project is threefold:
1. To encourage and serve the elderly, widows, handicapped and single parent families
within your own church.
2. To raise levels of awareness of the great service opportunities that exist within your own
church, and to involve the church community in meeting those needs.
3. To raise funding for your youth trip to Confrontation Point Ministries.
The Basic Idea
Youth gather pledge supporters who will sponsor them per hour of work performed on individuals’
homes. Collectively, these pledges will be used to pay for home repair/maintenance materials
and the proceeds will assist in funding the youth mission to Confrontation Point Ministries.
Economies of scale make this a great fundraising opportunity! For example: If 20 students each
gather 20 pledge supporters at $1 per hour, they will collectively be making $400 per hour of
work. Multiply that by 2 planned service days of 8 hours each, and your group of 20 will have
raised $6,400! (We would suggest that all proceeds of the project be “pooled” and distributed
evenly amongst trip participants…it’s a community effort.)
Execution
Youth Introduction / Buy-In
Meet with the youth and introduce The Barnabas Project. Discuss the intent of the project
and how it will work, including community money pooling, when to collect money,
important tax exempt information, etc..
Hand out the provided Sponsor Pledge Sheet (found in back of this section in digital
GPM). Help them with filling out the top part of the form including “planned man hours”
and “my sponsor goal.”
Discuss with the youth how to share The Barnabas Project with potential sponsors
including: (1) how it will impact those in need within the church and (2) suggestive selling
techniques…”My goal is to have 20 sponsors each pledging a minimum of $1 per hour.
Could you be one of those 20?”
Instruct the youth to hold off on gathering pledges until the project has been announced
to the church.
Congregation Introduction / Buy-In
Announce The Barnabas Project to your congregation using the provided bulletin insert.
You may also want to post a number of the provided posters on the Sunday you
introduce the project.
Get permission from the “powers that be” to talk about the insert during the regular
announcement time. Share further details of how you will be collecting applications and
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how individuals can sponsor the youth. Involving the youth in this presentation would be a
wise idea.
Application Solicitation
Begin soliciting applications for home repair/maintenance assistance from members
within your congregation. A detailed application has been provided for you.
If your church has a committee or ministry that typically addresses these issues within the
church, you will definitely want to partner with them. Further, discussing the topic with
other members of your church leadership team will probably lead you to a number of
individuals who need assistance but may not apply.
Sponsor Solicitation
Youth begin gathering pledges (individually) from members of the congregation. This
individual contact usually is more profitable than a table where people can sign up.
However, you may want to explore the “table” technique as well.
Get status reports from the youth on a weekly basis; motivate as necessary. Consider
introducing some sort of reward when the group reaches its individual and collective
goals.
Planning Service Days
Review the applications you have received and sort out what is and is not possible. Plan
for two full days of work. Day one—focus on small (easy on the budget) projects… house
cleaning, window washing, yard work/gardening, property clean up, etc. Day two—tackle
one or two bigger projects depending on the size of your group…painting, a new roof,
minor construction, etc.
We have provided a number of resources to help you in planning for these workdays.
These are internal documents we use at CP when we visit individuals and plan for work.
See Site Setup Helps, Site Specific Tool Lists and Work Team Template.
You can fund these projects in a number of ways:
Contribution from your church general fund (you are serving members of the church).
Use a portion of the sponsor pledges.
Solicit donations from homeowners you serve (perhaps they can afford the repairs
but can’t physically do the labor).
Follow Up
Close The Barnabas Project with follow-up communications to all sponsors. If you have input
all sponsor data in the Funding Your Mission worksheets, it will be easy to print a mailing list
for donors to this program. Publish a short newsletter explaining the work done, things
learned, etc. Include pictures and personal testimonies from the youth.
What do you do with the remaining applications…folks you were unable to serve? Good
question…ask the youth what they think should happen.
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Taking The Experience Home
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Managing the post experience emotional roller coaster
Initial Responses to the Experience
Emotional High—It will seem so great! The group will be ecstatic!
Depression—Youth will be lonely and miss the community and simplicity of the experience.
Guilt—Youth will feel like they need to do more things at home.
It has been said that God did not make us for the “mountain top” experiences. Yet God uses these
experiences to encourage us, teach us, and fuel us for living a faithful, everyday life…a life that takes
place in the valley below. As you return home, consider carefully how you can perpetuate your group’s
growth as you descend the mountain to your hometown. The ultimate success of your CP experience
might be measured by the lasting effects—one, two, or even six months down the road—from your
group’s experience.
Reflect on the Experience
Your group members need to honestly evaluate and think through their experience. They need to debrief
it and analyze what occurred. The Seed Thought journals that your group will use for devotions will
include a section to be completed after the trip. We suggest that you encourage students to do this
section for the days they completed within the first week or two after the trip, and then have your follow up
meeting.
Consider questions like:
What was the best thing about the experience? Why?
What stretched you the most on the experience?
How are you different than when you began the experience?
What are one or two things you learned that you don’t want to forget? How can you keep learning
from your missions and music festival experience?
In light of our collective experience, what are your thoughts on our youth community and our
youth group in general?
How can we apply these lessons now that we are home?
What has God been teaching you in the post-trip devo times?
Considering the whole group, those on the trip and those not, is there perhaps anything that God
is calling us to do?
The idea is to recognize what God continues to do in your group, and to apply the experiences you had at
CP to your daily lives, not just to reminisce. Remembering is fine, but unless it helps you to grow, it can
be exclusive and harmful.
Share the Experience
The trip participants need to tell others about what occurred. This should be done with the whole
congregation (a report or a whole service about the experience). This event could include testimonies,
singing, slides, anecdotes, etc. from the trip. You can put music and interviews together and play them
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as you present the slide show. This report to the church could also be a newsletter or project report with
short written thoughts from each of the participants.
The experience should also be shared with other members of the group who were not able to go to on the
trip. Note that your youth group may feel divided—those that went and those that didn’t. The group that
went will need to consciously try to pull the others into their new friendships and community. This can
occur by teaching the games/songs, etc. which the group enjoyed on the trip.
Keep in Contact
Write a letter to people who you spent time with during your experience, like the home owner you served.
Send them some photos from your trip (they will love these!) or a small gift.
Serve Locally
Brainstorm with your whole group (even those who were not able to go on the experience) about things
that they can do as a group in your own community. Take the suggestions seriously and actually begin
to do some of them as group projects or outings. Try to harness the momentum and natural energy of the
group while they are still excited about the experience. Following are some suggestions your group may
come up with:
Paint/repair/weatherize older folks’ houses in
the church.
Mow lawns, shovel driveways, rake, etc. for the
elderly/disabled/widowed.
Plan a Saturday day camp for all the church
children.
Visit the shut-ins and volunteer to do work for
them.
Visit a local handicapped center.
Write a month-long devotional for the church to
use.
Put on a day camp at a local park on one
Saturday.
Do a fund raising drive and donate the
proceeds to the poor.
Help with church maintenance.
Visit a mission, volunteer to help.
Lead worship for a Sunday service
Incorporate New Leadership Development Techniques You Have Learned
It is possible that you, the youth leader, returned from the trip with a few new “tricks” in your bag. Why not
implement some of the philosophy to enhance your regular youth group activities.
Let the youth take more ownership of the youth group…Show, Help, Let Model of leadership
development.
Experiential education…Use initiatives, games and teachable moments to illustrate your Biblical
teaching.
Plan activities that push youth into the “not so comfortable” yellow zone.
Develop a youth group covenant and review it regularly.
Use consensus decision making, when appropriate.
Incorporate debriefing times following strategically planned activities.
Implement different styles of worship and integrate the disciplines you may have experienced.
If you have questions regarding the application of the activities or about helpful resources, e-mail us
([email protected]), or contact our office at 800-884-8483.
800-884-8483
General FAQ
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General Frequently Asked Questions
Replies To Our Most Common General Youth Leader Inquiries
What time zone are you in?
The entire experience will be in the Eastern Standard Time Zone. All times communicated have this time
zone in mind.
What does the per-person fee include?
For the missions portion, the fee includes all regularly scheduled meals, and lodging from the time the
group arrives until the time when they leave. The preparation materials, qualified staff, and detailed
planning and set-up for the missions experience are also included. Worksite fees are also included (if
you would like to make a donation to help cover these costs, we will certainly accept them). We also
provide primary medical and liability insurance up to $3,000 on each participant. We do not cover the
costs of transportation for your group. During Ichthus, the fee covers the items specified in your package
choice when you signed up.
Where do the staff members come from for the missions portion of the trip?
We hire dedicated Christian college students and older individuals from around the country and
internationally. They are from many different denominations. All are 18 or older, hold to the "historic
creeds" of the Christian faith. At least one on your trip will hold appropriate First Aid and CPR certification.
How far away is the nearest hospital?
There are hospitals within about 25 minutes of each community you will serve. There is also a functional
emergency medical response system set up in all of the counties we serve. Also servicing Central
Kentucky is a life flight helicopter system (for extreme emergencies).
What is your policy about medication for youth?
All participants must fill out a Participant Information and Liability Release form that specifies their
medications and the procedures for using them so that our staff is aware of the medication. A medical
doctor will need to give the OK by signing the form for someone on medication to participate in the
experience. The medication will be kept by the youth and self-administered. If this is not possible, a Youth
Leader must set up a system to oversee (or administer) the medication. Our staff will not administer any
prescription medication. Staff members may administer non-prescription medicines such as non-aspirin,
antacid and antihistamine for first aid purposes only.
What if we bring someone who has not filled out his/her Participant Information and Liability
Release form?
This form is mandatory. It needs to be filled out properly with the appropriate signatures and handed over
to your staff upon your arrival. No group member (including all adults) will be allowed to participate in any
activity without the form correctly filled out and signed (including the parents’ signatures). It is imperative
all of the information is completed accurately for medical and insurance purposes. If a youth arrives and
the correct form is not with him/her, we will need to make phone calls to the parents, youth leaders will
need to sign as witnesses to the calls, etc. It is a big hassle. Just bring the correct form.
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When are my payments due?
The payment deadlines vary from group to group based on when your group registers and what week
your group is coming. Details about your payment deadlines are explained in the contract that you
signed/will sign and returned to our office. If you cannot find your copy of the contract, please call our
office and speak with the Program Director. You will also receive invoices prior to your payment
deadlines outlining the amount due. If you have any questions about invoices you receive or any other
financial questions please call our Program Director.
What do I do if the number of my group participants changes?
Please notify the director of your program with your number changes. All significant number changes
must be made by May 1st. After May 1st, you will be financially responsible for group numbers dropping
below 20% of your stated number of participants at May 1st. If your numbers change after that date,
please notify the director of your program as soon as possible.
How many chaperones do I need?
You need at least one adult participant for every seven youth participants. If there is at least one female
youth, at least one female chaperone is required; if there is at least one male youth, at least one male
chaperone is required. If you have a problem with this policy, please contact the director of your program.
Can parents send mail to their youth?
Due to a number of considerations, we will no longer handle any mail for group participants. If you would
like your participants to receive mail, have all mail delivered to you prior to your trip, and bring the mail
along with you on your trip. You can then distribute mail at some point during your experience.
Once we arrive, how does transportation take place?
Your group is responsible for all transportation and transportation costs during the week. Most groups
use 15 passenger vans or mini-vans. Buses are not recommended as some aspects of your trip involve
very rural routes beyond the capability of a bus.
What happens if my group arrives late on Sunday?
Often groups run into traffic, have vehicle problems or take more time than planned to eat. If you will be
arriving more than 1 hour late, notify the director of your program. That allows him/her to notify your CP
staff. It also allows the CP staff to begin setting up camp, so you will not have to do it in the dark. Please
do your best to arrive on time Sunday as there are many key activities planned for the evening.
What is the food like?
During the missions portion of the experience, we try to provide your group with healthy food for the
whole week. High sugar foods, high fat foods and other so-called “junk foods” are avoided as much as
possible. We challenge each group to try to avoid the junk food for a full week (it is much harder than you
think!). The food as a whole is tasty, nutritious and will be devoured by all! For more information, check
out the paragraph on food located in section 3 of this manual.
If you will have meal tickets during Ichthus, there are concessions available on the festival grounds like
Subway, Chick-fil-a, a pizza place, and lovely greasy festival food!
Can we bring snacks?
We discourage groups from bringing extra snacks on the missions portion of the trip as it distracts from
meals and can be unhealthy. Participants should not keep food of any kind in their tents. We have had
problems with critters ruining tents to get to food stashes (Kentucky has bears… but we’re more afraid of
mice here). Occasionally participants with special medical concerns will need to bring along special food
or snacks for their condition. We recommend that their snacks be kept in a cooler or sealed container.
During the music festival, it is up to you. Be warned, however, that almost every bit of ice cream in the
county will be sold out!
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What will the weather be like?
Although the weather varies, the average summer highs are between 82-90°F. The average lows are
around 60°F. It typically rains about 5 inches a month, so chances are high that it will rain at least once
while you are in Kentucky.
What happens in the case of severe weather?
During the missions portion of the trip, all staff members are trained in our severe weather procedure.
At Ichthus, they keep a close eye on the weather and will inform you of any warnings and what to do.
Evacuations can and do happen in cases of severe weather warnings.
Can we make a covenant before we arrive?
We recommend that your group make a covenant before you arrive. If you would like to wait until you
arrive to make a covenant, our staff can help guide you through the process. For more information on
covenants and options, see the section about covenants in the “Choices Youth Leaders Will Need To
Make” part of Section 5 in this GPM.
What fun things are there to do in area?
While you are participating in your experience, you will find very little extra time to sightsee. However,
many youth leaders seek extra activities prior to and after their experience. Kentucky has a variety of
opportunities. For more information, check out www.mykentuckyvacation.com and feel free to contact
your program director.
If you have questions related to your specific program, check out the Frequently Asked Questions
for your program located in Section 5 of this GPM. We would love to answer any other questions
you may have. Feel free to call our office any time. 800-884-8483
Forms To Return
To Our Office
In This Section:
Participant Information & Liability Release.
Church:
Leader:
Participant Information & Liability Release
Including Participant Information, Emergency Contact, General Health History, Health Examination Documentation and
Professional Recommendations, Assumption of Risks and Agreements of Release and Indemnification
Important. This is a legal document! It must be read and understood in its entirety by all who sign below.
It must be signed by all adult (over 18 years of age) participants (including chaperones and other volunteers) and by a parent
(preferably both) or guardian of participants who are minors. Parents and guardians (referred to in this document as “parent”) sign and
agree for themselves and on behalf of the minor participant. A copy of this form may be used as if an original.
Ichthus AdventureServe mission experiences are provided by a partnership between Confrontation Point Ministries and Ichthus
Ministries. Administrative support and programming for these experiences is provided by Confrontation Point Ministries. Thus,
Confrontation Point Ministries provides this Participant Information & Liability Release Form to obtain necessary health information and
liability release for the missions portion of the experience, June 17-20, 2012.
If you have any questions, contact Confrontation Point Ministries at 800-884-8483.
A. Participant Information
To be filled out by the participant’s parent/guardian (if the participant is under the age of 18) or by the adult participant.
Participant Name
Gender
/
DOB
/
Age
Parents/Guardians
Home Address
City
ST
-
ZIP
Parent/Guardian Address (if different) ____________________________________________________________________________
City
___________________________________________________________
Home Phone
-
-
ST ________
Alternate Phone
ZIP ___________ - ________
-
-
Parent/Guardian Business Phone _________ - ________ - ________________
B. Emergency Contact
Parents/guardians of participants under age 18 must provide the name of someone to be notified if the parents/guardians
are unavailable in an emergency. Adult participants must provide the name of someone not attending the trip who can be
notified in an emergency.
Contact Name
Home Phone
-
CPM Participant Information & Liability Release
-
Alternate Phone
-
-
Page 1 of 6
C. General Health History
The following is to be filled out by the participant’s parent/guardian or by the adult participant. Please note that if any
question in this section is answered “yes,” Part D of this form MUST BE completed by a licensed medical practitioner. If
all questions in this section are answered “no,” it is recommended (not mandatory) that Part D of this form be completed
by a licensed medical practitioner.
Has the participant ever been treated by a doctor for any of the following? Every item must be checked.
Yes
No
Major Dental Problems
Skin Problems (other than acne)
Hearing or Vision Problems
Kidney Problems
Cysts, Tumors or Growths
Serious Injuries
Bone or Joint Problems
Back Problems
Emotional Problems
Disabilities
Frequent Ear Infections
Convulsions or Seizures
Heart Defects or Heart Disease
Bleeding or Clotting Problems
High or Low Blood Pressure
Hernia
Diabetes or Hypoglycemia
Asthma or Breathing Problems
Eating Disorders
Yes
No
Dizzy Spells or Migraines
Diarrhea or Constipation
Diseases
Parkinson’s Disease
HIV/AIDS
Tuberculosis
Cancer
Hepatitis
Other Diseases
Severe Allergies
Insect Stings
Foods
Drugs or Medicines
Poison Ivy
Pollens
Other Allergies
Operations/Serious Injuries:
Disabilities or Recurring Illnesses:
Dietary or Activity Restrictions:
Current Medications with instructions
Other Comments:
Date of Last Tetanus Shot
/
Family Physician
Do you carry family medical or hospital insurance?
Carrier:
/
Height
Weight
Phone
-
-
If yes, please list your policy information below.
Group/Policy #:
Page 2 of 6
D. Professional Health Care Recommendations
To be completed by a licensed medical provider. If the participant answered “yes” to any question in Part C, this part is required.
If the participant answered “no” to ALL questions, this part is recommended but not required.
Participant Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Does the participant have any physical conditions requiring restriction(s) in an active camp program that may include high-intensity
activities? (Circle) YES NO
If “YES,” describe the restriction(s):
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Is the participant under the care of a physician for any specific medical condition, or receiving ongoing treatment? (Circle) YES NO
If “YES,” describe care or treatment:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Current or ongoing medications? (Circle) YES NO
If “YES,” please list medications:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Known allergies or dietary restrictions:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional comments & activity restrictions:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If the participant answered “yes” to any question in Part C, a physical exam is required in order to complete this document. If so, please
record the date of the exam below and blood pressure:
Blood Pressure _______________
If the participant answered “no” to ALL questions in Part C, has the participant had a physical health examination within the past 24
months? (Circle) YES NO (If “No,” a physical exam is recommended at this time, though not required.)
Date of most recent Health Exam (today’s date if receiving exam): _____________________________________________
I have reviewed the participant’s health information as listed in Part C of this form, and I have performed a physical exam of the
participant if required as described above. In my medical opinion, I find him/her to be in suitable condition for participation in an active
camp program that may include high-intensity activities, except for those restrictions I have noted above.
Practitioner Signature_________________________________________________ Date Signed:______________________________
Practitioner Name
(Print)
Office or Business Address
City
ST
ZIP
Page 3 of 6
E. Activities and Risks, Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risks, Agreements of Release and Indemnity
and Other Provisions
For and in consideration of the services of Confrontation Point Ministries (sometimes referred to in this document as CPM) the
undersigned, for themselves and on behalf of a minor for whom they may sign, acknowledge and agree as follows:
ACTIVITIES AND RISKS
CPM missions experiences include a number of activities, including but not limited to service activities, cleaning, construction repairs,
and other activities specific to a particular program experience. The same elements that contribute to the fun and unique character of
these activities also can cause loss of or damage to equipment, emotional/physical injury or illness, and in extreme cases, permanent
trauma and/or death. While CPM does not wish to reduce a participant’s enthusiasm for a missions experience, CPM does want
participants and their families to be informed of and understand that these activities include inherent and other risks and hazards. The
following list is not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive list of possible activities, injuries, risks, or hazards. The risks and
outcomes hereafter described are inherent in the activities—that is, without them the activities would lose their basic character and
appeal. Other risks, inherent and otherwise, may be encountered.
Camping, Hiking and Other Risks
Participants will be lodging at a church or other group lodging facility and must be transported to and from activity sites; therefore, it will
be necessary to travel by motorized vehicle on public roads. Accidents might occur during this travel time to and from activity sites.
Accidents might also occur at the activity site. Participants may be involved with preparing meals over stoves and may be burned or
injured while cooking. They might suffer mental anguish or trauma from the experience of being injured. Participants will have free and
unsupervised time. All the above, and other hazards and risks can cause harm. Participants are responsible for their own safety and
the safety of other group members.
General Construction / Home Repair / Service Activities
CPM missions experience participants will be involved in some specific home repair, home building, or other service activities which
may include but is not limited to: the use of chemicals for cleaning, the use of power tools, painting, scraping, yard work, roofing,
carpentry, dry walling, digging, insulating, removal of old materials, carrying of new materials, loading and unloading of equipment, and
other facets of home repair, remodeling, and renovation. These activities include, but are not limited to: the usage of power tools such
as drills and saws as well as the use of hand tools. The foregoing activities can or will also require climbing on and about and under
structures with or without supplies, tools or materials as well as working on ladders in high places such as atop roofs or other aspects of
construction work. Construction sites can be dangerous and the nature of the work is inherently risky. Participants might get sun
burned, dehydrated or suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or heat cramps. Participants may be injured by a fall, being struck by
falling objects, stepping on sharp objects such as nails or by the use of power tools. CPM staff are not construction professionals and
trip leaders/chaperones are ultimately responsible for construction activities and safety at service locations. CPM staff may not always
be present or immediately available at the worksite/service location, in which case, trip leaders/chaperones, who are not building or
other professionals, and who may not have medical training, will supervise all activities.
Swimming
Though swimming is not a specific part this group’s CPM missions experience, there may be opportunity to swim at a public facility. If
this is the case, swimming is the programming of that facility and is NOT provided under the programming and responsibility of CPM. If
opportunity exists to swim at a public facility, the Youth Leader may choose to take responsibility and liability for this activity and allow
the group to swim. Swimming includes inherent dangers and participants may receive bruises, cuts, abrasions, punctures, strains,
sprains, broken bones, severe injury or even death, including by drowning. Some injuries may result from unsafe entry/exit into and
from the water.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF RISKS
I, an adult participant, or Parent of a minor participant (for myself and on behalf of that minor), acknowledge and agree that I have read
and I understand the above descriptions of the potential activities, injuries, risks, and hazards involved in the activities of a CPM
missions experience. Notwithstanding the inherent and other risks and hazards, I consent to my, or the minor’s, participation in a CPM
missions experience. I assume full responsibility for myself, or the minor, and any and all risks and hazards associated with
participating in a CPM missions experience. I expressly acknowledge and assume all risks of CPM activities, inherent or
otherwise, and whether or not described above.
AGREEMENTS OF RELEASE AND INDEMNITY
I, an adult participant or the Parent of a minor participant (for myself and on behalf of that minor) hereby voluntary agree to release,
relieve, surrender, waive, discharge, hold harmless, defend and indemnify CPM and its owners, agents, partner organizations, partner
churches, volunteers, officers, and employees from any and all liability, claims, actions or losses (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
of any kind or nature, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, whether for personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, loss of
services or otherwise, arising out of my, or my child’s, enrollment or participation in a CPM missions experience or use of CPM’s
equipment. I specifically understand that I am releasing, discharging and waiving, among others, any claims or actions that I
Page 4 of 6
or the minor may have, or acquire, for the negligent acts or other conduct of the owners, agents, volunteers, officers, or
employees of CPM. This release shall be binding to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any part of the release is deemed to be
unenforceable, the remaining terms nevertheless shall be enforceable.
OTHER PROVISIONS
I, an adult participant or Parent of a minor participant (for myself and on behalf of the minor), further acknowledge and agree
as follows:
If a controversy, claim, or dispute arises out of or relates to this Document or my, or the minor’s enrollment or participation in a CPM
missions experience or use of CPM’s equipment, and if the controversy, claim, or dispute cannot be settled through direct discussions, I
will endeavor first to settle the controversy, claim, or dispute in an amicable manner through mediation administered by the American
Arbitration Association under its Commercial Mediation Rules before resorting to arbitration. Thereafter, any unresolved controversy,
claim, or dispute which arises out of or relates to this Document, or my, or the minor’s, participation in a CPM missions experience or
use of CPM’s equipment shall be settled through arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its
Commercial Arbitration Rules. Judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof in the State of Kentucky, and the arbitrator shall award to the prevailing party, if any, all of its costs and attorneys' fees as
determined by the arbitrator(s). I, on behalf of myself or the minor participant, further agree that the site of any mediation and/or
arbitration shall be Lexington, Kentucky.
If the agreement to arbitrate is deemed not enforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, I agree to bring the controversy, claim, or
dispute, if at all, exclusively in a Kentucky state court in Fayette County, Kentucky. I, on behalf of myself or my child if a minor, hereby
waive any right to assert that the place of trial is not convenient or to otherwise object to venue with respect to any proceeding brought
in accordance with this paragraph, and stipulate that the Kentucky state court in Fayette County, Kentucky shall have jurisdiction over
me, or my child if a minor. Any such dispute shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Kentucky.
CPM reserves the right to refuse participation to any person it judges to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of
participating in its activities. I therefore represent that the medical and health information I have provided on this form is true and
accurate to the best of my knowledge. I accept full responsibility for any omissions and potential consequences regarding my failure to
disclose any existing or past health condition. I am, or the minor child is, in good physical condition and therefore fully capable of
participating in and able to undertake all of the activities involved in a CPM experience. I, or the minor, do/does not have any medical
condition that would prevent my, or his/her, participation in any activities except for those restrictions listed in Sections C, D and E of
this form.
CPM has been hired by the church organizing this trip to facilitate a group experience. Accordingly, CPM is an “independent-contractor”
who works for the church organizing this trip and its group’s leader. Inasmuch as the parents of youth participants in the group do not
accompany their children on the experience, the group’s leader, not CPM, assumes primary responsibility for the youth for the duration
of the trip, including for enforcing all CPM regulations. The leader is also responsible for any necessary discipline of the youth in cases
when rules or regulations are being or have been violated. The group’s leader, not CPM is ultimately responsible for the safety, care,
and well-being of the group and its members, including chaperones and other volunteers. If at any time the leader feels that the safety,
medical, or disciplinary structure provided as part of the experience is inadequate, he/she has the duty and authority to request
additional safety, medical, or disciplinary assistance from CPM. These additional measures may include added rules and/or added
physical procedures. CPM has arranged for other services and activities to be provided by persons who are not employees of CPM.
While CPM believes it has selected these persons reasonably, it has no responsibility for their acts or omissions.
I hereby give permission for any qualified guide or medical personnel to render or obtain routine health care and/or necessary
emergency medical care, and dispense medications for myself, or for the minor participant. I give said personnel the permission to
make such medical decisions as they deem proper and to exchange medical information with third party medical care givers. I
understand that, if the participant is a minor, the parents will be contacted by the Youth Leader in cases when emergency medical
services or professional medical care are needed. I, on behalf of myself or the minor, understand that CPM will secure primary
accident insurance up to only $3000.00 per person per incident and primary sudden illness insurance up to only $1000.00 per person
per incident. CPM has no other medical or liability insurance on which the participant or participant’s family may rely. I, for myself and
on behalf of the minor, understand that I assume full financial responsibility for any medical treatment rendered for myself, or for the
minor, outside of these policy limits or for pre-existing conditions not covered by said policies. I therefore represent that I have, or the
minor has, adequate health, disability and life insurance, or I have made adequate alternate arrangements for myself, or for the minor,
to cover any such expenses.
I, on behalf of myself and the minor participant, agree that alcohol and illegal drugs will not be used while undertaking any activity with
CPM. I also assume full financial responsibility for any physical damage to persons or property caused by myself, or the minor child.
I hereby give CPM and its representatives and agents absolute permission to use photographs, videotapes and other images,
quotations from comment/evaluation forms and voice reproductions of me, or the minor, for any purpose and media, and waive any
proprietary, personal or other right to inspect and pre-approve such use. I, on behalf of myself or the minor child, also release and hold
CPM and its representatives and agents harmless from any and all claims of blurring or distortion or alteration of such images or voice,
whether intentional or otherwise.
Page 5 of 6
I agree that, should there be an issue or dispute as to the validity of any release that I have signed, this document shall supersede any
other document that I have read or signed about my legal rights concerning CPM. I also understand that the terms of this agreement
shall continue to be in effect even after the trip has ended.
I HAVE READ THE ABOVE STATEMENTS AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. I AM
VOLUNTARILY EXECUTING THE AGREEMENT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ITS SIGNIFICANCE ON BEHALF
OF MYSELF, MY CHILD OR WARD AND MY/MY CHILD'S ASSIGNEES, HEIRS, NEXT OF KIN, EXECUTORS, AND
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES. I AM AWARE THAT I AM RELEASING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS THAT I, OR
THE MINOR, OTHERWISE MAY HAVE. NO ORAL REPRESENTATIONS STATEMENTS OR INDUCEMENTS
APART FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN MADE.
Participant Signature (If 18 years of age or older)
Parent/Guardian Signature (If participant is a minor)
Printed Name of Participant
Printed Name of Parent/Guardian
Date
Date
Page 6 of 6

Group Preparation Manual Ichthus AdventureServe Missions

Transcription

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