group leader`s guide

Transcription

2014
GROUP LEADER’S
GUIDE
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IWC Group Leader’s Guide
A Group Leader’s Guide for International World Changers
Copyright © 2013 International Mission Board
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—
except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
All verses and passages quoted in this material are taken from The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise noted.
Theme Content: Chad Williams
Editor: Felicity Slemp
Theme Art: Kathy Flores
Design: Rebecca Valerio
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IWC-2014 Group Leaders Guide.indd 2-3
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table of contents
Welcome to IWC
6
Introduction
7
Contact information
10
Immunizations
46
Travel precautions
51
About the author
8
44
Pack smart, pack light
55
Helpful hints for smooth travel
IWC online: more resources
1. Register and Recruit
11
Registration checklist
14
Theme introduction
16
Conduct a discovery meeting
19
4. Prepare Spiritually
57
Spiritual preparation checklist
59
Burden or blessing?
61
IWC Student Guide videos
62
Creation to Christ storying
Project information handout
21
Group leader agreement
23
Who can participate?
25
Child protection policy
28
IWC participant responsibilities
30
IWC participant covenant
63
64
5. Prepare Culturally
Cultural checklist
Learners, not knowers
66
Cultural basics
69
Cultural differences
(that irritate Americans)
2. Prepare Financially
32
Financial checklist
34
Fundraising ideas
36
Emergency insurance
3. Prepare to Travel
38
Travel checklist
41
IWC travel FAQs
43
Passports and visas
4
6. Prepare to Serve
72
Ministry checklist
75
Prayer – your top priority
77
IWC dress code
79
81
82
Lodging at the project
Ministry skills inventory
Final words
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welcome to international world
changers!
INTRODUCTION
The Christian life is an all-or-nothing matter. God is not satisfied with
some of your time, some of your attention, some of your obedience,
and some of your devotion and love. You will ultimately not be
satisfied with anything less than God as your God.
There is something special in the way that joining Christ in His mission
in the world opens your eyes to His greatness and goodness. His love
for the world becomes your love for the world. As you watch others
embrace His worthiness, it compels you to devote more and more of
yourself to Him. That, in a nutshell, is the message of this year’s theme,
“All.”
On behalf of the Richmond staff and all who will work together to make
International World Changers happen, welcome to this opportunity to
prepare your team! We are thankful and excited that you have chosen
to commit your group to this project, and we look forward to what God
is going to do in and through you and your students.
Know that our Project and Ministry Coordinators (PC and MC) will be
in touch with you after they visit your project location in January. While
our office will continue to help you with registration and general
information, your PC and MC will be your link for the specific project
details regarding lodging, ministry, culture and people group, daily
schedule and what to bring.
We thank Chad Williams for his work in writing the discovery meeting,
theme introduction, and the group sessions. May they serve you well in
your preparation.
Your group’s journey to join God in taking the Gospel to the ends of
the earth starts now, even before you buy tickets and get on a plane.
We are at your service as you lead your group to join God in His
mission.
George Siler ([email protected])
International World Changers
International Mission Board
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This booklet is your guide to prepare for the project. A properly
prepared group is essential to your project. You already know that the
investment of your group’s time and money is at stake. Even more
important, the work of our missionaries, your witness for Christ and
the reputation of God’s kingdom is at stake. Please do not be careless
about reading this guide and fail to lead your group to prepare
physically, socially, culturally and spiritually!
In addition to this guide, IWC provides you with the 2014 ALL
Pre-Project Study which will give you specific learning sessions to
prepare your team spiritually to minister on the international mission
field. Also, there is a 2014 ALL Student Devotional Guide to give to
each member of your team. Plan for your team to begin using the
devotional guide at least five to six weeks before your project.
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Chad Williams is the student minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church in
Decatur, IL. He has also served churches in Knoxville, TN, and Durham,
NC. He has been an IWC coordinator and speaker since 2009. Chad
is married to Jennifer and they have two active young boys, Nate and
Peyton. He is passionate about sending students overseas on
mission and preparing groups and students to serve overseas.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTACT THE IWC RICHMOND TEAM IF YOU HAVE:
• registration questions or changes
• payment questions
• problems getting in touch with your Project Coordinator (PC)
• questions about this booklet or the Pre-Project Study
CONTACT YOUR PC IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT:
• lodging, meals and other on-site arrangements
• the project schedule and activities
• what to pack
• vaccinations
• country and culture-specific information
CONTACT OUR DESIGNATED TRAVEL AGENT ABOUT:
• air travel questions
• payment for airfare and visa (if required)
• passport questions
TRAVEL AGENT - MTS
Mail: MTS Travel, 116 Lake St., Ephrata, PA 17522
Web: mtstravel.com/iwc
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800-418-2929 (toll-free)
Cary Boster 919-791-3968
Lesa Blankenship-Allen 919-791-3967
EMERGENCY INSURANCE
Mail: Gallagher Charitable International Insurance Services,
PO Box 5845, Columbia, SC 29250
Phone: 800-922-8438 or 803-758-1400
For on-site medical emergency and 24-hour assistance and evacuation:
SAS Account Number: 7425V
+44 207 902 7149 (London, England)
[email protected]
IWC RICHMOND TEAM
Mail: International Mission Board,
PO Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767
Web: imbstudents.org/iwc
Phone: 800-999-3113 (toll-free) plus extension:
Sheila Balthaser (Logistics) ext. 1355 (or 804-219-1355)
Juliana Ramirez (Finances) ext. 1255 (or 804-219-1255)
George Siler (Director) ext. 1057 (or 804-219-1057)
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IWC ONLINE: MORE RESOURCES
Rather than cram this notebook with lots of pages that you might
not read, we offer our website as a place for to give much more
information about the process of preparing for an international mission
trip with IWC.
CHECK IMBSTUDENTS.ORG/IWCMORE FOR:
• Adult volunteer opportunities (at a project)
• Child protection information
• Cultural resources (preparing to cross cultures)
• DiscipleNow (free curriculum for a missions-oriented DNow)
• Distinctives (what we value in the way we conduct IWC projects)
• Evangelism resources
• Frequently asked questions
• Fundraising ideas (great suggestions and guidelines)
• Immunization information
• Insurance
• Lodging
• Ministry skills inventory
• Parents’ concerns (get help dealing with their questions and concerns)
• Participant preparation checklist
• Parent video (a testimony from a parent)
• Personal evangelism
• Prayer strategies
• Prayer walking
• Preparation checklist
• Promotional resources (IWC logos, videos, ads, poster)
• Risk management
• Sample group participant interview/reference forms
• Stories (read about previous IWC projects)
• Travel planning (it’s more than a plane ticket)
Can’t find what you need? Email us at [email protected] or call
804-219-1355.
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1. recruit and register
IN THIS SECTION
• Registration checklist
• Theme introduction
• Conduct a discovery meeting
• Project information handout
• Group leader agreement
• Who can participate?
• Child protection policy
• IWC participant responsibilities
• IWC participant covenant
Recruitment will be a vital time for your IWC trip. You want to start early
and make sure you have as much information as possible to give to
parents and students. Don’t hesitate to call the IWC office or your PC
with questions. It is important for parents to see you are prepared so
they can trust you with their children overseas.
REGISTRATION CHECKLIST
Conduct a discovery meeting (recruitment).
o Schedule and plan a meeting with potential participants and
parents to share basic information about the project and to
determine how many participants to register. (See p. 16.)
Register your group online with IWC.
o Registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. A
deposit of $125/person is due with registration. The deposit is
non-refundable and non-transferable. Registration ends on
March 15.
o Access registration at imbstudents.org/iwc from the tab marked
“Apply/Register.”
o To request additional spots after you have registered, please
contact us at [email protected] or call 804-219-1355.
o Keep handy a copy of the Group Leader Agreement. (See p. 21.)
Dialogue with your Project and Ministry Coordinators.
o After their training and onsite project visit in January, your PC and
MC will contact you with information concerning your project. Try
to be prompt in responding to calls and emails.
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Conduct an orientation meeting.
o This is your first meeting with confirmed participants. Here you
provide more specific information about the project and lead the
group to commit to your preparation process. We encourage you
to host this meeting after you have been in touch with your Project
Coordinator to get project details.
o Consider these agenda items and topics:
• when money is due; fundraising
• the schedule for group learning sessions (Pre-Project Study) and
personal devotions (IWC Student Devotional Guide)
• cultural information
Pay the balance of fees to IWC by May 1.
Pay the balance of airfare to MTS at the due date.
“This guide offers a detailed plan for a
Discovery Meeting for you to present a
project to potential participants (and their
families). We strongly advise that you
conduct such a meeting as early as possible
and at least six months before the project.”
• recruiting of prayer partners
• travel details; securing of passports and visas (if needed)
• required vaccinations
• discover special needs of participants (dietary, access, etc.)
• the schedule of future meetings
Conduct the required child protection screenings and background
checks for all participants aged 18 or older.
o Conduct child protection training available at
going.imb.org/volunteers.
o All participants should receive child protection training.
(See p. 25.)
Complete the participant update (online) for group registration by
April 1.
o Use your online account to complete this step.
o We need the names and details of your group members for safety
and security reasons as well as to pass along to our coordinators
for their planning.
o Confirm that background checks have been completed.
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THEME INTRODUCTION
ALL OF GOD.
To love the Lord our God
with all that we have is what
He asks of us; to love Him
with all of our hearts, all of
our souls and all of our minds
(Matthew 22:37). At IWC,
we like to ask students,
“Is your vision of God
compelling enough for you
to lay down your life for
Him?” We are part of the
International Mission Board
(IMB) whose vision is a
multitude from every
language, people, tribe and
nation knowing and worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ. We seek to
address what it means to have a big view of God and the life of
obedience that follows. As part of our mission projects we provide
challenging preparation materials and free resources like D-Now
curriculum (imbstudents.org/dnow) and Creation to Christ
(imbstudents.org/iwcmore).
“The Christian life is an
all or nothing matter.
God is not satisfied with
some of your time, some
of your attention, some
of your obedience, and
some of your devotion
and love. You will
ultimately not be
satisfied with anything
less than God as your
God.”
ALL OF THE WORLD.
IWC is an opportunity to see God at work across the world. It helps
students trade the tourism mindset for a missionary heart. Our projects
focus on the unreached peoples of the world in faraway places, but
we also desire to see students connect with the unreached peoples
who have immigrated to their own home town. We want you, your
students, and the church to embrace a people group, partner with a
missionary, and join in dreaming of the day when people of every tribe
and tongue have come to know and love Jesus Christ.
ALL OF LIFE.
Webster’s defines “all” as, “The whole of one’s possessions, energy, or
interest.” This IWC project is not just another trip. We want students
to expand their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. As a
short-term mission experience, it is a serious introduction to overseas
service and cross-cultural evangelism. We want participants to consider
what it means to put God first in their education, career, leisure….all
of life! We are glad to introduce them to missionaries who have made
missions a long-term commitment and national believers who joyfully
serve and often sacrifice much for Christ.
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CONDUCT A DISCOVERY MEETING
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this session is to recruit participants
for your project, address the initial questions, discuss the country and
project, lay out a plan for the trip and introduce students and parents
to IWC and the theme, All.
KEY SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Matthew 22:37-40
OVERVIEW:
This meeting will determine whether students will or will not
participate, so your professionalism will speak volumes to them (and
parents) about trusting you with a trip to a foreign country. If this is your
first time to lead an international mission trip, do not take this
information meeting lightly because it can determine the success or
failure of your trip before it even begins.
Make sure you are prepared for the expected questions from parents
about cost, safety, the destination country, rationale for an international
mission trip, dates of the trip, payment dates, fundraising and
immunizations. Answer the questions they are not asking too, about
passports, what is IWC, age requirements, housing on the field and
weather.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
• Passport applications
o available at travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
• Project Information Handout with a timeline of important dates
(See p. 19.)
• IWC Participant Covenant (See p. 30.)
• Visual presentation with cultural information and vision for the trip
• Optional: a video story clip from imbstudents.org. See the “Explore”
section.
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ADVANCE PREPARATION:
• Invite eligible students (current 9th graders and older) and parents to
the discovery meeting. Make the invitations personal.
• Involve other leaders well in advance to assist in planning.
• Enlist someone to give a mission trip testimony. Choose a student
or adult who has participated in a mission trip before (preferably an
international mission trip), or give your own testimony about a trip you
have taken. Ask the speaker to emphasize how the trip changed the
speaker’s life. This is a message for the parents to see that there is a
huge benefit to their children’s lives in joining this mission team.
• Prepare a visual presentation or poster with the following information:
o Theme - All! (Logo is available at imbstudents.org/iwcmore).
o Theme verse - Matthew 22:37-40
o Light of the World map
• This map graphically shows the desperate need for the Gospel
where you are going.
public.imb.org/globalresearch/Pages/MapLight.aspx
o Review the theme introduction in this guide.
o Specifics about your IWC project: project name, dates, cost,
estimated airfare.
o Cultural information about your host country such as
demographics, people groups, history, language, currency, and
pictures of the location (if possible). See peoplegroups.org as a
possible source of information.
o A screenshot of a passport or link to the US Department of State
website.
o Briefly walk attendees through applying for a passport.
• Prepare your own version of the Project Information Handout (See the
template on p. 19.).
o Try to provide a simple checklist of information so participants
have a handy way to know what is required to go. Include a
calendar or list of important dates. This could also include prayer
needs for the trip.
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• Send out regular email reminders before the deadlines listed on the
check list/calendar.
STEPS FOR LEADING THE SESSION:
1. Begin the meeting with a prayer for God to draw the hearts of those
He wants to participate and to give them a passion for the host
country and people.
2. Explain the vision for taking an international mission trip, even if you
have shared it before. The vision can never be shared too often.
3. Read Matthew 22:37-40 and introduce the “All” theme.
4. As an optional activity, show a video clip from
vimeo.com/imbstudents.
5. Invite the mission trip testimony speaker to share.
PROJECT INFORMATION HANDOUT
WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHANGERS (IWC)?
• IWC is a program of the International Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention (SBC). It works directly with SBC missionaries to plan
and conduct short-term mission projects all over the world for Christian
students ages 15 through college. Most IWC projects are composed of
groups from several churches across the United States.
• IWC seeks to “change the world” of both the participants who attend the
project as well as the people receiving the ministry at the project. This is
an opportunity to both learn and serve. IWC wants students to meet
missionaries, see God at work and fall in love with a people group.
• Good preparation is important to an IWC project. The coordinators of
each project are recruited carefully and trained. They make pre-project
visits to the host country with missionaries who serve as hosts.
6. Distribute copies of the Project Information Handout.
Participants are required to complete a pre-project study and a set of
7. Go through the PowerPoint presentation, encouraging attendees to
takes notes on the handout. Make sure the PowerPoint and handout
follow the same order.
personal devotions. Both adults and students are given various roles to
a. Discuss important deadlines and ask parents to commit to meeting
those deadlines.
b. Offer time for Q&A.
• IWC seeks to equip churches, campus ministries, and participants to get
involved on the front lines with long-term Southern Baptist missionaries
and their outreach strategies. This is no “one and done” project!
Missionaries continue the work after the project and invite churches and
students to partner with them in other ways.
8. Distribute the IWC Participant Covenant. (See p. 30.)
a. Briefly describe the requirements for participants.
b. Ask those who are ready to commit to the trip to sign the covenant.
9. Allow time for Q&A.
10. Collect all contact information needed to send updates to the
students and parents.
11. Close the meeting in prayer.
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perform at the project.
PROJECT DETAILS:
• Location
• Dates
• People group(s) to/with whom
you will minister
• Climate
• Religion(s)
• Basic description of ministry tasks
COSTS:
• IWC registration cost
• Estimation of airfare
o Emergency insurance is
included
o Includes cost of getting to
gateway city
• Immunizations
• Passport and visa costs
• Fundraising or other assistance
(if provided)
• Total cost
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DATES:
• Your signup deadline
• Deposit due
• Payment schedule
• Passport application due date (Set this date early in the schedule.)
• Visa application due date, if needed (Allow 4 weeks after passports
are in hand to receive the passports back with the visa stamped in
them.)
• Immunizations due date, including costs and locations (Some
immunizations require multiple visits to the doctor/health clinic.)
• Meeting schedule for training sessions
• Optional: Fundraising event schedule
GROUP LEADER AGREEMENT
As leader of my group at a 2014 IWC project, I agree to these
conditions:
1. Proper enlistment of group participants:
a. Participants must be professing believers in Jesus Christ and
members of the church.
b. Participants must be at least 15 years of age or have completed
the ninth grade prior to the project.
2. Proper enlistment of adults:
a. At least one adult sponsor must be enlisted for every five students
(one adult male for every five males or fewer; one adult female for
every five females or fewer).
b. Adult sponsors must be at least 21 years of age or older and are
expected to work alongside the students.
3. Payment of project fees:
a. The deposit of $125 per person is non-refundable and nontransferable.
b. Balances are non-refundable and non-transferable after May 20.
c. Airfare, passports and visas (if needed) are separate and additional
costs to the IWC registration fee.
d. The balance due for the group should be paid on or before May 1.
e. A $25 per person late fee will be charged for balances not received
or postmarked by the deadline.
4. Travel arrangements:
a. I agree to use the IWC approved travel agent to arrange
international air travel to this project for my group. I understand
that I can make my own arrangements to the gateway city, if
desired.
b. I understand that any costs related to airfare are billed separately
by the travel agent. Airfare through the approved IWC travel agent
includes emergency insurance.
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5. Child protection measures:
a. I will screen all of my group members through the process
recommended in this IWC Group Preparation Guide.
b. I will lead my church or campus organization to request and
review a criminal background check on every participant of age 18
or above or obtain evidence of such a background check (within
the last four years) to guard against the physical and/or sexual
abuse of children in relation to every aspect of this project.
6. Completion of the IWC Pre-Project Study:
a. I will ensure that each participant completes all components of
the required IWC study, including individual and group activities.
b. I will prepare my group to submit to the IWC leadership at the
project and participate as directed in meetings and ministry
efforts.
c. I will lead my group to adhere to the IWC dress code and
participant responsibilities as found in the IWC Group Preparation
Guide.
7. Final registration:
a. I agree to provide group member names and information to IWC
by April 1.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
International World Changers is for high school students, college
students and adult leaders of student ministries.
ALL PARTICIPANTS….
• Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
• Be actively involved in a Great Commission church or campus ministry
• Complete the IWC preparation study and engage in local missions
prior to the project
GROUPS INCLUDE:
• Students who have completed the ninth grade or are at least 15 years
old prior to the start of the project
• College students through age 26
• Adult sponsors (at least age 21), one required for every five high
school students of the same gender
• Group Leader: Please use a screening process for approving group
members. Check our online resources at imbstudents.org/iwcmore
for sample interview forms, reference form and a participant checklist.
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING WITHOUT A GROUP:
• Must be at least 15 years old or have finished the ninth grade
• Must complete an online application with references. Individual
registration costs an additional $75. High school individual
participants will be assigned to an adult team leader who will meet
them at a gateway airport.
ADULTS:
• Adults serve as sponsors with a group and also as full participants in
the project.
• IWC requires a minimum 1 to 5 ratio of adult sponsors per students of
the same gender. Less than this ratio invites problems with
supervision and security. Adults must be age 21 or older.
• All adults, including married couples, will be housed with students
and not separately.
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• Adults may be asked to help with transportation, supervision and
discipline.
• Suggestions for the Group Leader: Enlist only adults you know and
trust. Adults who have been members of your church for more than
five years are the best candidates. Use the child protection screening
process outlined in this guide. Make sure the adults participate in
every aspect of your group’s preparation for the project. Realize that
adults will gain as much as the students in this experience.
WHAT ABOUT EXTRA ADULTS?
• IWC welcomes the participation of parents of youth and adults who
serve as volunteers and partners in student ministry. IWC is geared
toward students, yet recognizes the value of cross-generational
ministry.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
OVERVIEW
As a program of the International Mission Board, International World
Changers staff is committed to providing as safe and secure an
environment as possible for all minors entrusted to our care. In a world
where sexual and physical abuse of children remains an ongoing reality,
the IMB seeks to be diligent to protect minors, whether they are
participants enlisted to serve on mission projects, children of our field
personnel, or those to whom we seek to minister. Many churches and
ministry partners have adopted procedures to guard against child
abuse in their programs and activities. IMB has joined with this
effort and has developed a policy that involves two simple preventative
measures for volunteers seeking to serve on the mission field: screening
and training.
IWC REQUIREMENTS
IWC implements this policy through the following requirements:
• Every group (church or campus organization) attending an IWC
project must screen its adults (aged 18 and older) using the following
methods:
o An application or personal interview that asks questions of the
adult in order to evaluate whether there is anything in his or her
character or behavior that suggests this person could pose a risk
of danger to children.
o A criminal background check (within the last four years) that
involves a search over local, state and national databases.
o Confidential references (if the adult has fewer than two years
involvement with the church or group) from three people who
have known the adult for at least six months.
• Each individual participant who attends an IWC project without
a group will be screened by IWC through an application process,
confidential references and a criminal background check.
• IWC coordinators and staff will be screened by IWC through an
application process, confidential references and a criminal
background check.
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• Adult participants who agree to serve in an additional volunteer
role as a crew manager or first aid coordinator must complete an
application (see “Additional opportunities for adult participants” in
the Prepare to Serve section, p.74.) to be submitted to the PC.
• All participants must review basic principles of child protection
through training materials provided by IMB or a comparable source.
DISQUALIFICATION
An individual shall not be allowed to serve as a short-term mission trip
participant engaged in work in collaboration with the IMB where the
background screening or any other information reveals any information
demonstrating that the individual engaged in:
(1) any prior behavior constituting sexual abuse of a child,
b. We suggest that you obtain references for any adult participant
who has not been in your church or program for at least two
years.
3. Lead your church to conduct a criminal background check for every
person 18 and older (as of January 1, 2014) in your group.
a. Make sure the background check covers county, state and
national records.
b. IMB uses ProtectMyMinistry.com. Your church or organization
can set up an account which will allow your adults to go online
and provide their information and consent for the check. Results
will be provided confidentially to the organization’s designated
agent.
c. IMB considers background checks to be valid for up to four years.
(2) any crime of a sexual nature, or
(3) any other behavior that reasonably indicates that this individual
would pose a risk of sexually abusing a child.
An individual shall not be allowed to serve on a short-term mission
trip in collaboration with the IMB if that individual has engaged in any
behavior that reasonably indicates that this individual would pose a risk
of physically abusing a child.
GROUP LEADER—STEPS TO CHILD PROTECTION
1. Develop and use an application and/or interview process for
recruiting the student participants for your group.
a. Suggested student interview questions are included online at
imbstudents.org/iwcmore.
b. A covenant agreement for your participants is available as part of
the discovery meeting session in the Register and Recruit section
of this guide.
4. Determine if any of your adult participants fail to pass the child
protection standard listed in this policy (see “Disqualification”). This
information should be confidential. Please consult with your pastor
or supervisor for help in addressing this issue if it arises.
5. Train your participants in basic principles of child protection.
a. Many churches already have training in place for those who work
with children and youth.
b. IMB has child protection training materials available free of
charge. Please visit going.imb.org/volunteers.
c. Each adult should participate in their church’s training or work
through the materials provided by the IMB.
6. Confirm online in the registration that you as Group Leader have
completed these steps for every adult (age 18 and older) in your
group.
2. Develop and use an application and/or interview process for
recruiting and screening the non-minor participants (over 18 as of
January 1, 2014) for your group.
a. Adult interview questions are offered online at
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IWC PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
No project is without expectations and standards. We want this to be a
great mission trip for you, your church group and the people you serve
on the field. So much is at stake, even in a short-term mission
experience. Do your part to live up to these responsibilities:
1. Be responsible for exhibiting a Christ-like Spirit. Strive at all times
to exhibit the best attitude towards other participants, your host, your
project leadership and the residents of the community. Do not abuse
others with your words. Be an encourager. Be quick to make the best
of things.
2. Be responsible for keeping yourself healthy. The use of tobacco,
tobacco products, alcoholic beverages and non-prescription illicit
substances is prohibited. Let the first aid coordinator know of any
prescription medications you will be using during the week.
6. Be responsible for guarding the possessions of others. Show the
utmost of respect for others’ property and possessions by not
tampering with or taking anyone’s belongings. Do not play jokes by
hiding someone’s things.
7. Be responsible for maintaining a clean environment. Do your best
to keep all areas of the lodging facility clean and free from litter. It is
part of your witness when you are careful to respect the property and
grounds of the place we call “home” for the week. Any damage to
the lodging facility property or grounds becomes the personal
responsibility of the person causing the damage.
These responsibilities are designed to make the week a pleasant
experience for everyone involved. If IWC participants choose not to
accept these responsibilities they forfeit the privilege of project
participation.
3. Be responsible for the safety of yourself and others. Possession
and use of fireworks, firearms and weapons of any kind is prohibited.
Avoid practical jokes; they usually end up with someone getting hurt
in some way.
4. Be responsible for following the IWC schedule. No changes will
be made in assignments or schedule without the permission of the
Project Coordinator (PC). In consideration of others, “in rooms” and
“lights out” times will be respected.
5. Be responsible for staying in designated IWC areas. For your
own safety and security, you must stay with the group at all times.
Please do not leave the ministry site or lodging facility without the
permission of the PC. Also, there should be no “aimless wandering”
in the lodging facility. Girls should not be in the boys’ rooms and
boys should not be in the girls’ rooms.
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IWC PARTICIPANT COVENANT
Note to Group Leaders: This
template is designed with all
groups in mind. Download a
customizable version at
Your specific group or
leadership style may include
additional expectations.
Check with your PC or the
IWC staff in Richmond, VA,
before omitting any part of
the covenant. We
recommend including parents
of high-school participants
in the signing time so they
know what they must do to
help prepare their student(s).
“...Go and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit. Teach these new
disciples to obey all the commands
I have given you”
(Matthew 28:19-20, NLT).
As a member of our mission team,
you will have a special opportunity
to fulfill the Great Commission in
a variety of ways: through going,
praying, reaching and serving. To
be a member of our mission team
carries special responsibilities and
expectations, as listed below:
Our mission team members must…
• Be a maturing follower of Jesus Christ.
• Guard the health of the team and the mission experience by limiting
behaviors that are either culturally insensitive, divisive, or call into
question the integrity of our Christian witness, including (but not
limited to) the use of alcohol or tobacco, or inappropriate sexual
behavior.
• Be willing to avoid exclusive or romantic relationships with other team
members, locals, or ministry staff while part of the project.
• Be prepared on this trip to engage in major effort, long days of
ministry, lots of walking, learning and respecting other cultures,
forgoing the comforts of home, possible excessive heat or cold and
working alongside students from other groups.
• Be willing to comply with and support decisions made by our team
leadership, our missionaries, the IWC staff and other ministry leaders
with whom we partner.
I agree to the above and I covenant to faithfully serve as a member
of the IWC mission team in accordance with the heart and passion of
Jesus Christ and His church.
Participant Name: Date: • Be an active and supportive church member.
• Be a supportive team player and work toward building genuine
biblical community among our team.
• Be a person committed to fervent prayer for the people group we
will serve, the missionaries with whom we will partner and the other
members of our team.
Participant Signature: Parent or Guardian Signature (for students under 18):
• Attend and participate faithfully in team preparation and training
meetings.
• Be responsible by turning in paperwork on time, applying for a
passport or other documentation on time and making payments for
the trip by the due dates.
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2. prepare financially
IN THIS SECTION
• Financial checklist
• Fundraising ideas
• Emergency insurance
AIRFARE BALANCE:
Pay balance of your airfare due as listed on the contract provided by
the travel agent.
Passport names and beneficiary information must be submitted to
the travel agent before tickets can be issued.
IWC project fees cover your group’s
costs at the project such as:
FINANCIAL CHECKLIST
IWC DEPOSITS:
Pay IWC deposit of $125 per participant at the time of registration.
These are non-refundable and non-transferable. Group participant
names are not required at this time.
The deposit holds your space in the project. Spaces are limited by
the capacity at each project. Registration is conducted on a
first-come, first-served basis.
• meals at the project, housing, in-country transportation
• experienced leadership and program elements
• project T-shirt, pre-project study materials and ministry supplies.
Airfare, passports, visas, immunizations and USA travel costs are not
included in IWC project fees. They are separate expenses.
Update registration numbers with IWC (if needed). The last day to
register or add participants is March 15. Contact the IWC office
(804-219-1355) to make any last-minute changes to your list of team
members.
AIRFARE DEPOSITS:
Pay airfare deposit. The travel agent will require a separate deposit
per person to hold seats for the international itinerary.
The due date will be listed in a contract you will receive after you
have finalized your itinerary details with the agent.
IWC BALANCE:
Pay project balance by May 1.
o Please submit online or by mail a check to IWC with a postmark no
later than due date. Balances submitted after the due date require an
additional $25 per person penalty fee. All registration fees are
non-refundable and non-transferable.
Balances are non-refundable and non-transferable after May 20.
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FUNDRAISING IDEAS
• You might be allowed to make a presentation to the church at which
time a love offering is taken.
Some groups have access to budget funds to help students lower the
cost of their mission trip. Others allow fundraising activities. Some do
both and others neither. We’ve compiled a short list of possible
fundraising events here for you to consider to with the cost of your
project.
• You may be given a list of individuals to contact as possible donors.
Before asking for
support from anyone
else, ask yourself (and
your group) what you
will sacrificially give to
your own support. You
cannot ask others to
sacrifice financially if
you are not willing to
do the same.
Consider what you can
alter in your lifestyle
that would provide
money for the mission
project.
• Give up eating out.
• Give up movies.
“I have seen God provide
time and again when groups
are diligent, so don’t get
overwhelmed by fundraising.
I encourage you to put the
responsibility on the
students. We always make
students do as much work
possible because this is part
of their preparation for the
trip and they learn the
meaning of service. This
approach helps to ensure
they earn the right to go.”
(Chad Williams)
• Give money usually spent on new clothes.
• Ask for money for the trip instead of Christmas or birthday gifts.
Many churches are very willing to give to students involved in missions.
Talk with your pastor—don‘t surprise him or your church leaders by
going to others first. There are several avenues a church may choose to
use to support you and your group:
• A missions committee may have funds for which you can apply.
• The student ministry or mission ministry may have a budget for
student missions trips.
34
• You may make presentations to several Bible study groups or classes.
FUNDRAISING WITH FOOD
• Chili cook-off – Ask people to bring homemade chili to a fellowship
for competition. Ask attendees to pay for their meal with a donation.
• Spaghetti or pancake meals – Set a per-plate fee.
• BBQ fundraiser – Pre-sell the meat by the pound at catering prices.
• Bake sale.
FUNDRAISING WITH LABOR
• Work Angels – Advertise in the church bulletin that students are
available for hire to do basic yard work or house work. Mention that
all proceeds will support the students on their mission trip.
• Scripture memory challenge – Each student recruits sponsors to
donate money per verse. The challenge is how many Bible verses a
student can memorize by a certain date. A bonus on the memory
challenge is that the verses can be Scripture they need to know for
the trip.
• Sports challenge – Similar to above but based on making shots out of
a hundred tries.
• Bible challenge – Ask people to sponsor books of the Bible for a
dollar amount. Then, at a lock in, the entire group reads straight
through the Bible, or at least through every book that has been
sponsored.
OTHER FUNDRAISING OPTIONS
• Auctions – Dessert auctions can be a huge fundraiser as well as
regular auctions where items are donated as prizes/gifts.
• Car wash – An oldie but goodie. Please make sure the cars actually
get cleaned.
• 5k walk/race – A race is a very popular event. With an entry fee and a
course, you can have a nice event for families and the community.
• Support letters – Assist students in writing letters to potential
supporters. Some groups prefer to limit these letters to people
outside the church. Asking for support through prayer and finances is
always helpful, with or without the finances!
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2/3/14 11:32 AM
EMERGENCY INSURANCE
• Repatriation arrangements in the event of death.
Your airfare cost will include the cost of international emergency
insurance. This insurance plan has been developed to cover all
International Mission Board volunteers and provide a basic level of
Personal Accident Protection, Disability, and Property Insurance. This
plan is not intended to replace any personal insurance that you may
have. If you are not covered by a primary insurance plan please contact
the International World Changers office.
OVERVIEW OF POLICY
Your international coverage will be with Gallagher Charitable
International Insurance Services, PO Box 5845, Columbia, SC 29250.
Your basic coverage includes:
• Medical assistance
If you or someone in your group suddenly becomes ill or is in an
accident, the policy can help with:
o Locating medical facilities, including physicians, hospitals, or
dentists.
o Verifying insurance coverage.
o Making arrangements with providers of medical care to avoid cash
deposit, when possible, prior to obtaining treatment.
o Communicating with family members, personal physicians and
employers back home of the participant’s condition.
o Assisting family or friends who are traveling with the patient.
• Emergency medical evacuation
Medical evacacuation makes proper medical care available from
anywhere by:
rrangements will be made for the transfer of the deceased person,
oA
and for a family member to accompany the remains.
FILING A CLAIM:
While at the project, our coordinators will work with you to handle any
emergencies. However, if you have any kind of emergency while
traveling, or if you need to file a claim after the project, do the
following: 1. Call Specialty Assist first, unless you have a medical emergency. If you
have a life or otherwise threatening situation, get help first. Seek local
help appropriate to the situation.
2. Out of the U.S. contact:
Specialty Assist
24 hour Assistance and Evacuation
SAS Account Number: 7425V
+44 207 902 7149 (London, England)
[email protected]
3. If in the U.S. contact:
Angie Cooper, 800-922-8438
E-mail: [email protected]
4. Follow the instructions given to you. Bear in mind that any changes
you make in your flights (including emergency evacuation) without first
contacting Specialty Assist will result in your being held responsible for
substantial costs. Specialty Assist must make the arrangements for any
emergency travel and other major expenses.
o Providing advisers on hand to consult with attending physicians.
o Making arrangements for land or air transfer if deemed medically
necessary. This also includes a family member being able to travel
with the ill participant.
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3. prepare to travel
IN THIS SECTION
• Travel checklist
• IWC travel FAQs
• Passports and visas
• Immunizations
• Travel precautions
• Pack smart, pack light
• Helpful hints for smooth travel
TRAVEL CHECKLIST
Make initial travel arrangements with the IWC-appointed travel
agent.
The IWC travel agent will know if the exit fee is already included in
the price of the ticket or not.
When scheduled, provide MTS with passenger name information.
o Gather information from participants for tickets and emergency
insurance enrollment. This includes: Name as it appears on
passport, passport number, birthdate, beneficiary and beneficiary
relationship to the participant.
o It is critical to supply the travel agent with participants’ names as
they appear on their passports (first, middle and last). Tickets will
not be honored with incorrect name info and ticket change fees
are not cheap!
o Your cost with MTS includes the required emergency insurance
that will cover medical emergencies and evacuation. You will need
to supply beneficiary information for each of your participants.
o Verify the number of your participants and discuss the project
itinerary. The travel agent will have a pre-booked itinerary through
a USA gateway city (such as New York, Atlanta, Houston, Miami,
or Washington, DC).
Pay balance and receive ticket confirmation info.
o Determine how you will get to the gateway city. The travel agent
can assist with booking a domestic flight if needed.
o Honor the due date! The agent cannot issue tickets without
payment in full.
o Get pricing: Remember that MTS will bill you separately for
airfare. A $100 or $200 deposit per person will be required to
hold your seats.
o Most tickets will be issued electronically, meaning that passengers
only need the confirmation number and a passport. Some tickets
may be paper and must be carried with the participant to check in.
o Book seats. Think conservatively in blocking a number of seats.
Many group leaders tend to over-estimate their group size if they
have not already had a discovery meeting and begun recruiting
participants.
Things to discuss with your PC:
o Receive a contract and itinerary. Confirm the deadlines for
deposits, final payment, name list, and passport information.
o Emergency contact information while overseas
o Clearing customs and what to expect with immigration forms
o Money exchange
o Dress code
Make sure each of your participants has or is applying for a
passport.
o Immunizations needed
o Passports must be valid for at least six (6) months after the project
travel is completed.
o Optional gifts to bring for Field Representatives or local ministry
partners
o Work with the travel agent to secure visas (permits for entry) if
needed. Visa fees are additional to the cost of airline tickets. A
few countries may also have an exit fee payable before departure.
o Special items needed for ministry
38
o Local weather for your host country
o Spending money needed for a tourist day or activity
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2/3/14 11:32 AM
“If this is your first
time to lead a group
overseas, be ready
for sticker shock.
The price tag for
airfare and overseas
expenses catches
many people by
surprise. This makes
your trip planning
and communication
to participants all
the more important.”
o The amount of walking/
physical activity required
during the project/ministry.
Be sure to prepare your team
physically!
Create a list of items to pack.
o Investigate luggage
allowances and restrictions for
your airline.
Schedule a final participant/
parent meeting to discuss all the
travel and ministry logistics.
o A “Final Preparations”
meeting is provided in the
Pre-Project Study.
o Complete and collect a signed
and notarized IWC Participant
Form from each of your
participants. Bring these
with you to the project! This
form gives important personal
medical information and
authorization for medical
treatments. Participants will
not be allowed to serve with
a ministry crew without a
completed form. These will
be mailed to you in the spring
along with T-shirts and other
items.
IWC TRAVEL FAQ’S
1. WHY DOES IWC REQUIRE YOU TO WORK THROUGH OUR
TRAVEL AGENT?
a. With today’s competition for limited group seating on airlines,
IWC blocks some seats well in advance of the project to ensure
that participants can arrive and depart as scheduled. By
pre-arranging an itinerary, we make it possible for small groups
and individuals not to have to buy immediate-purchase tickets.
b. A travel agent helps us arrange for our groups and individual
participants to fly together when possible and to arrive and depart
at similar times. This coordination eases the burden of arranging
in-country transportation from the airport to the group housing
location.
c. The IWC-appointed travel agent is fully informed of international
travel, provides real-time support while groups travel and seeks to
minimize logistical difficulties such as using split tickets, multiple
carriers, inadequate layover times and entry/departure
requirements.
d. A travel agent is essential for group travel to negotiate
competitive airfares with airlines, offer delayed-payment
reservations and inform participants of issues and best practices
in travel.
2. WHAT TRAVEL AGENCY DOES IWC USE?
MTS Travel, 116 Lake St, Ephrata, PA 17522
Web: www.mtstravel.com/iwc
3. CAN WE DEVELOP ANOTHER ITINERARY BESIDES THE ONE
OFFERED?
a. Yes, if your group has at least fifteen (15) members and the
new contract does not jeopardize our existing contract for other
participants.
b. Sometimes it is possible for IWC and MTS to customize an
itinerary for a group to save them money and eliminate extra
flights.
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4. WHAT IF WE HAVE GROUP MEMBERS WHO WANT TO USE
FREQUENT FLYER MILES?
a. IWC prohibits the use of tickets obtained with frequent traveler
deals or other special promotions for project travel. Our projects
occur during heavy travel seasons when flight delays,
overbookings, and cancelled flights are common. Frequent
traveler tickets are usually the last to be remedied.
b. Frequent flyer tickets cannot be handled by a travel agency. Our
travel agent cannot assist persons with these arrangements as they
cannot be people booked through their system.
5. I KNOW A TRAVEL AGENT. CAN WE USE THIS PERSON
INSTEAD OF MTS?
a. No. See the above reasons why IWC uses a specific agency.
b. IWC’s commitment is to be transparent about all costs, and to
work with groups to provide reasonable airfares. Many times a
“better deal” does not include emergency insurance, 24-hour-day
emergency assistance, appropriate arrival/departure times, and
airlines working in partnership.
6. WE WANT TO STAY LONGER OR VISIT ANOTHER CITY. CAN
WE REQUEST CHANGES ON THE ITINERARY?
a. IWC must approve all changes (known as deviations) from the
original international itinerary provided by our travel agent.
b. IWC does not permit any deviations on the way to a project.
c. All arrangements for deviations, such as meals, lodging, and
supervision are the responsibility for the group or individual. IWC
and its representatives assume no liability.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
PASSPORTS
• All IWC participants must have a passport valid for six (6) months past
the return date of the trip.
• Processing a new or renewal passport request generally takes six to
eight weeks. Winter and spring are peak times for people to request
passports because summer is a high travel season. During peak
times, passport processing can take 8 to 12 weeks. Please allow
plenty of time for your passport to be processed so that you receive
it back several months before you leave for your project.
• DON’T FORGET TO SIGN YOUR PASSPORT!
• U.S. Citizens: For information on obtaining or renewing a passport,
visit the US Department of State’s web site:
travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.htmml. U.S. passports
are valid for 10 years.
• Non-U.S. Citizens: You will need a valid passport and, in some cases,
a visa. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of
your Alien Registration Card (ARC or “Green Card”) and any other
documentation required by the countries on your itinerary due to
your alien status.
VISAS
• Some countries require a visa in order to enter the country. This
document, which is stamped in your passport, is usually obtained
through the country’s consulate offices in the United States.
• If needed, the IWC travel agent will help you acquire a visa or will
give you further instructions about what to do if your country of service requires a visa.
• Keep in mind that you must have a valid passport before you apply
for a visa. A visa requires about six to eight weeks to process, so
please plan accordingly, especially if you have to apply for or renew
your passport.
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• Applying for a visa can take up to three weeks and you must send in
your passport to receive the visa.
• Check travel.state.gov/content/visas/english.html for country-specific
information and to find out if you project country requires a visa.
Communicating with your PC is vital when preparing your team. Ask
every question you think is needed; there are no silly questions.
Make sure you are aware of the local weather, the physical demands
of the trip and the ministry expectations. Be sure to pass along all
you learn to your team so they are “in the know”!
IMMUNIZATIONS
your mission in this way). Be aware, however, that the immunizations
necessary for travel to some countries are not standard vaccinations
that most doctors keep on hand.
• Your private physician will very likely be the least economical option
with these special immunizations. Private practices will most likely
have to order some of the vaccinations that are not commonly used,
raising the cost. Generally, this scenario also holds true for walk-in
clinics like PrimaCare and Patient First.
• Be aware that one of the preventative medications given orally for
malaria, Larium, has a generic equivalent that is less expensive. Many
pharmacies do not keep the generic brand in stock, however, the
sooner you take your prescription to them, the sooner they can order
the generic. That means you must go to the health care facility of
your choice as soon as possible to receive the prescription.
REQUIRED:
International World Changers insists that all participants have current
Tetanus and Hepatitis–A immunizations. All childhood immunizations
should be up to date.
RECOMMENDED:
Please make use of the immunization information published by
the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov. The CDC usually takes a
very conservative (protective) position on health concerns for
Americans traveling abroad. Your PC will make you aware of specific
immunizations recommended by the Field Representatives at your
project site. Remember, however, that ultimately you must be
responsible for the appropriate immunizations for yourself and
your group.
SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST PRICE ON IMMUNIZATIONS.
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
• County health clinics, in general, will give you the best price.
• A travel clinic will have the immunizations, but can be a bit pricey.
• A doctor whom you know personally may be willing to give you the
immunizations at cost (or even free if he or she wants to contribute to
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TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS
(Condensed from travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1180.
html)
When you travel abroad, the odds are in your favor that you will have a
safe and incident-free trip. Travelers are, however, sometimes victimized
by crime and violence, or experience unexpected difficulties. No one
is better able to tell you this than the U.S. consular officers who work
in more than 250 U.S. embassies and consulates around the globe.
Every day of the year, U.S. embassies and consulates receive calls from
American citizens in distress. Happily, most problems can be solved
over the telephone or by a visit to the Consular Section of the nearest
U.S. embassy or consulate. There are other occasions, however, when
U.S. consular officers are called upon to help U.S. citizens who are in
foreign hospitals or prisons, or to assist the families of U.S. citizens who
have passed away overseas. We have prepared the following travel tips
to help you avoid serious difficulties during your overseas travel. We
wish you a safe and wonderful journey!
BEFORE YOU GO
• Safety begins when you pack. To help avoid becoming a target,
do not dress so as to mark yourself as an affluent tourist. Expensivelooking jewelry, for instance, can draw the wrong attention. Always try
to travel light so you can move more quickly and will be more likely
to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set
your luggage down, leaving it unattended.
• Carry the minimum number of valuables and plan places to
conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure
when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your
person, you may wish to put them in various places rather than all
in one wallet or pouch. Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside
pockets that are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy
shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat
safer. One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or
money belt worn under your clothing.
46
• If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any medicines
you need in your carry-on luggage.
• To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in
their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions
and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or
contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your
need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of
carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or
consulate of that country before you travel.
• Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your
passport’s information page to make replacement of your passport
easier in the event it is lost or stolen.
• Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of
each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual
observation of your identity or nationality. If possible, lock your
luggage.
• Don’t bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home: valuable
or expensive-looking jewelry, irreplaceable family objects, all
unnecessary credit cards, your Social Security card, library card and
similar items you may routinely carry in your wallet.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case
they need to contact you in an emergency. Make two photocopies of
your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver’s license and
the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one
photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other
in a place separate from where you carry the originals. Leave a copy
of the serial numbers of your travelers’ checks with a friend or relative
at home. Carry your copy with you in a separate place and, as you
cash the checks, cross them off the list.
LEARN ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
• Check the U.S. Department of State’s Country Specific Information
pages to learn about entry requirements, currency regulations,
unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political
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disturbances, areas of instability and special information about
driving and road conditions. These pages also provide addresses and
emergency telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates. In
general, the Country Specific Information pages do not give advice.
Instead, they describe conditions so travelers can make informed
decisions about their trips.
• Check the U.S. Department of State for travel warnings that are
issued in addition to Country Specific Information. The travel warning
may recommend that Americans defer travel to that country because
of a dangerous situation there. Travel alerts are a means to
disseminate information about relatively short-term conditions posing
significant risk to the security of American travelers. They are issued
when there is a perceived threat, even if it does not involve
Americans as a particular target group. In the past, travel alerts have
been issued to deal with coups, pre-election disturbances, violence
by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events. The
web address is travel.state.gov.
PRECAUTIONS WHILE TRAVELING
• Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at
home. Be especially cautious in (or avoid) areas where you may be
more easily victimized. These include crowded subways, train
stations, elevators, tourist sites, market places, festivals and
crime-ridden neighborhoods. Don’t use short cuts, narrow alleys, or
poorly lit streets. Try not to travel alone at night. Avoid public
demonstrations and other civil disturbances. Keep a low profile and
avoid loud conversations or arguments. Do not discuss travel plans
or other personal matters with strangers. Avoid scam artists by being
wary of strangers who approach you and offer to be your guide or
sell you something at bargain prices. • Beware of pickpockets. They often have an accomplice who will
jostle you, ask you for directions or the time of day, point to
something spilled on your clothing, or distract you by creating a
disturbance. Beware of groups of vagrant children who create a
distraction while picking your pocket. Wear the shoulder strap of your
48
bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to
avoid drive-by purse-snatchers.
• Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost,
act as if you know where you are going. Try to ask for directions only
from individuals in authority. Know how to use a pay telephone and
have the proper change or token on hand. Learn a few phrases in the
local language or have them handy in written form so that you can
signal your need for police or medical help. Make a note of
emergency telephone numbers you may need: police, fire, your hotel
and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are confronted,
don’t fight back – give up your valuables.
• Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visitors in the lobby.
Do not leave money and other valuables in your hotel room while
you are out; use the hotel safe if possible. Read the fire safety
instructions in your hotel room. Know how to report a fire and be sure
you know where the nearest fire exits and alternate exits are located.
(Count the doors between your room and the nearest exit; this could
be a lifesaver if you have to crawl through a smoke-filled corridor.)
• If a country has a pattern of tourists being targeted by criminals on
public transport, that information is mentioned in the Country
Specific Information section about crime. Only take taxis clearly
identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs.
Well-organized, systematic robbery of passengers on trains along
popular tourist routes is a problem. It is more common at night and
especially on overnight trains. If you see your way being blocked by a
stranger and another person is very close to you from behind, move
away. This can happen in the corridor of the train or on the platform
or station. Do not be afraid to alert authorities if you feel threatened
in any way. Extra police are often assigned to ride trains on routes
where crime is a serious problem.
• To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change your travelers’
checks only as you need currency. Countersign travelers’ checks only
in front of the person who will cash them. Do not flash large amounts
of money when paying a bill. Make sure your credit card is returned
to you after each transaction. Deal only with authorized agents when
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you exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs. Do
not change money on the black market.
• If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to
the local police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims
and as an explanation of your plight. After reporting missing items to
the police, report the loss or theft of:
o travelers’ checks to the nearest agent of the issuing company
o credit cards to the issuing company
o airline tickets to the airline or travel agent
o passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
• When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and
under its jurisdiction. You can be arrested overseas for actions that
may be either legal or considered minor infractions in the United
States. Familiarize yourself with legal expectations in the countries
you will visit. Country Specific Information includes information on
unusual patterns of arrests in particular countries, as appropriate. A
number of Americans have been arrested for possessing prescription
drugs, particularly tranquilizers and amphetamines that they
purchased legally elsewhere. Other U.S. citizens have been arrested
for purchasing prescription drugs abroad in quantities that local
authorities suspected were for commercial use. If in doubt about
foreign drug laws, ask local authorities or the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate.
• In many countries you can be detained for photographing securityrelated institutions, such as police and military installations,
government buildings, border areas and transportation facilities (bus
depots, train stations, etc.). If you are in doubt, ask permission before
taking photographs.
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PACK SMART, PACK LIGHT
1. PACK SMART.
Keep three things in mind when you pack:
• the climate of your assigned country
• the culture of your assigned country
• the work of your ministry assignment.
Much of the information in this section is based on the experience and
suggestions that come from Field Representatives who live and work in
overseas and know the cultures. Please take this seriously! Do your own
research as well. Find out about the average temperature and rainfall
for the area. If you are traveling to Slovenia during the winter, you will
need thermal underwear, but leave your long johns behind if you’re
going to Uganda. Also, carefully consider your ministry assignment—if
you will be doing construction work, bring suitable sturdy clothes you
don’t mind ruining.
Here are a few more guidelines to remember about clothing:
• bring modest, rather than revealing clothing
• avoid graphic T-shirts and clothing that conflicts with Christian witness
and values
• plan to be comfortable, but not sloppy
• choose low-maintenance clothes in basic colors
• bring washable fabrics rather than dry-clean only.
Remember that the way you dress makes a statement (whether you
realize it or not) about how you think about yourself, your views of the
country you will be entering and, most importantly, your view of God.
The American dress code is typically more casual and immodest than in
many other cultures. You don’t want to offend people before you ever
open your mouth. Contact your PC to ask about the kind of clothing
that is appropriate for church services, social events, work and tourism.
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2. PACK LIGHT.
Take this literally: Pack only what you can carry. You may be dashing to
catch connecting flights, chasing trains pulling away from stations and
hauling your luggage up stairs in your lodging. You should be able to
walk quickly without being burdened by your luggage. Pack only what
you need. Leave behind everything you can do without.
Remember your baggage limit: Check with the travel agent or airline
about how many check pieces of luggage you can take. The allowable
number of checked bags varies by airlines. Your travel agent will know
the amount of checked luggage you can have and the weight limit per
piece for your airline. You will be charged if your luggage exceeds the
weight limit. These days, airlines are increasingly strict about weight
and size limits for carry-on luggage, as well. Consult your travel agent
about limits for carry-on pieces.
A word to the women: The prospect of having to wear the same thing
twice in a week may be painful to you, but we promise that no one will
be scandalized if you do. Most of the people in your host country will
be doing the same. Pack sensibly. Three pairs of shoes are enough—
tennis shoes or hiking boots, comfortable everyday shoes and maybe
a pair for dressier situations. If you need one entire suitcase for your
shoes, you better think again. Take a few tops and a few bottoms (pants
or skirts depending on cultural appropriateness) that mix and match.
Get several looks out of a few pieces.
ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO BRING IN A CARRY-ON BAG:
• Airplane boarding passes and itinerary (be sure you have ticket
numbers and confirmation codes).
• Passport/visa—Do not pack your passport in your checked luggage!
• Cash/traveler’s checks/debit card
• The names and phone number/contact information of your PC and
Field Representative
• Reading material
• Travel size toiletry items—shampoo, soap, cleansers, toothbrush,
toothpaste, comb or brush, antibacterial hand soap that doesn’t
require water, etc. There are security regulations about the amount of
liquids that you can have in your carry-on baggage. Remember the
3-1-1 rule: All liquids and gels cannot exceed three ounces (by listed
volume), packed together in a one-quart-sized, clear, plastic,
zip-top bag with a limit of one bag per passenger. Greater quantities
of liquids or gels must be placed in checked luggage or left behind.
For more information, visit: www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-11-carry-ons.
• Any prescription medications you need (in their original containers),
even if you won’t need it during the flight. If you packed
prescriptions in checked baggage and your luggage is lost, you may
not have your medication(s) the entire trip.
• At least one extra set of clothes—your luggage may not arrive when
you do. You’ll be glad for an extra set of clean clothes (including
several pairs of underwear) while you are waiting for your luggage to
catch up to you.
ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO BRING IN CHECKED LUGGAGE:
• A photocopy of your passport and visa. (Include in each bag
you check.)
• Clothing—Remember the climate, culture and your project
assignment.
• Closed-toe shoes—Make sure they’re made for walking and well
broken in.
• Rubber flip-flops or thongs—To wear in the shower.
• Hat—For protection from the sun.
• Camera and extra batteries—If your camera is dear to you, you may
want to include it in your carry-on.
• Sunscreen/lip balm with sunscreen.
• Wet wipes/tissues/waterless antibacterial soap.
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• Eye glasses and/or contacts, if you wear them
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• Toilet tissue—It’s never a bad idea to have some on hand. Travel
tissues work as well.
• Insect repellent—Check the recommended Deet level.
• Feminine products—These aren’t available in many countries.
• Flashlight/penlight.
• Towels and washcloths—Check with your PC. Often the towels that
are provided on the project are not the same as towels in the U.S.
Wash cloths are not available in many countries.
• Ministry-related materials (Your MC will advise you on this).
• Optional: Gifts for Field Representatives. This is typically optional
and your PC will advise on what is appropriate.
• Pictures of your family, friends, city and favorite activities. Use these
to make conversation with new friends at the project, but not to make
a statement about your wealth or living standards. For example: bring
a photo of your family, but not of your house because your house will
seem like a mansion according to the standards of the people with
whom you work at the project.
• Sleeping bag—If required at your project.
THE NON-ESSENTIALS—WHAT TO LEAVE BEHIND:
• Girls: Most of your make-up—Take only what you absolutely can’t live
without. You can definitely live without four shades of eye-liner and
five different lip-sticks.
• Jewelry—It is risky to travel with and wear jewelry in many countries.
• Hair-dryer and curling iron—High-powered American appliances
aren’t likely to work or will blow circuits. You will not only need an
adapter, but also a transformer just to use your hair-dryer.
• Electronics—Unless required by your project assignment.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR SMOOTH TRAVEL
Work out the details of a travel plan for your group. This includes all the
steps for getting to and from the airport, moving through check-in and
security, and clearing customs and immigration in your host country.
Your PC can help with some of this as well, especially with information
about the destination airport.
TO HELP WITH YOUR PLANNING:
“The one area you
might be okay in being
obsessive-compulsive
is in having a travel
plan. The more you do
here in advance and
communicate it to your
group, the less likely
they and their families
will deal with fear and
stress and the more
likely the trip will get
off to a good start.”
• Make sure you have an
in-country address and phone
number for your project
site before you travel. You
may need this in case of lost
luggage. Be sure to get this
info from your PC and have
it handy in case you arrive at
the project and your luggage
is delayed. You will need to
file a claim at the airport.
• Are you prepared to pay the
airlines for checked luggage
for both directions of the
trip? Make sure you know
how many pieces of luggage
your group members can
check without extra cost. Also
check the weight limit for each bag. The airlines will charge for extra
weight in a suitcase. Don’t forget the return trip (with souvenirs)!
• Will your group members need to pay an entry fee upon arrival or
exit tax when departing the project? A few countries levy such taxes
on visitors. Sometimes this fee is included in the cost of your airfare.
Check with your travel agent and your PC.
• Find out what your group will need to get through customs and
immigration. Your PC can provide you with a Short Tenable
Statement (STS) that everyone can use as they travel. An STS is a
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brief, truthful statement that participants should memorize and
prepare to give if asked to explain their plans or activities by
immigration officials or other authorities. Keep in mind that in nearly
all circumstances, you and your group fall in the category of
“tourists.” In most countries, “missionary” means a paid worker, not
a volunteer, so you are not a group of missionaries and you are not
going to work.
IN THIS SECTION
• Spiritual Preparation Checklist
• Burden or blessing?
• IWC Student Guide videos
• Creation to Christ storying
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION CHECKLIST
SIMPLE TIPS FOR AS YOU GO:
• Make sure all of your group members understand to keep their
passport with them and not in checked luggage.
• Go over airport security processes and carry-on restrictions. Make
sure everyone has their passport out and available at check-in and
keeps the passports and boarding passes handy until everyone is
through security.
• Make sure everyone knows to take their shoes off in security as well
as anything metal (belts, coins in pockets, etc.).
• Make sure they know to wait on the other side of security (but away
from the security area) for the whole team before moving to the
terminal.
• Let them know it is okay if they get checked at security. Assure them
to just listen and answer the questions honestly.
• Watch them put their passports and boarding passes in a safe, easily
accessible place once you are through security and on your way to
the terminal.
• Walk them through the plan for retrieving luggage at the destination
airport and what you will do if anyone’s luggage is lost.
• Walk them through the experience of customs and immigration.
Instruct them to answer the agents’ questions, but not to offer extra
information or detail about the trip.
• Explain your plan for money exchange.
• Make sure everyone always stays together. Use the buddy system.
• Stay calm and confident as the leader. Don’t be afraid to ask
questions of airport/flight personnel.
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4. prepare spiritually
Ask students to sign and return your version of the Participant
Covenant (See p. 30.).
Set group meeting times in order to complete the sessions of the
Pre-Project Study.
At least six weeks before the project, distribute the IWC Student
Devotional Guides to your participants. Require them to complete
the devotions as part of their preparation.
Engage your group in a prayerwalk around a neighborhood, school,
or the downtown of your city.
Schedule and organize some type of outreach/ministry event for
your team.
Practice sharing the Gospel and testimonies with each other.
Enlist every team member to pray out loud at least once.
Preach teachability and flexibility.
TEACHABILITY
Go as learners. Few concepts are
more important for your team to
understand as you head into this
trip than the need for teachability.
Some teams arrive on the field
thinking that they will enlighten a
Field Representative about how
to have a successful ministry. In
reality, we all are going to join
Missionary to student
group: “I’m so glad
you’re here. Just
know that you aren’t
bringing Jesus here.
He’s been here a long
time already and
waiting for you to
join Him.”
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and support the Field Representatives in their ministry plan and vision
for the people of that area. We should go with the attitude of wanting
to learn about the ministry, the people and the culture.
Even if you and your students have a highly successful ministry at
home, few parts of that North American ministry will translate well into
another culture. Willingness to learn from your Field Representative
about how to communicate the Gospel in your host culture is the most
important attitude your students can adopt.
FLEXIBILITY
With teachability comes the need for flexibility. Schedules will change.
The fancy sock puppets you brought may have to be used for a simple
rice bag game. Shockingly, the rest of the world is not as type A and
schedule-oriented as North Americans are. Help your team to
thoroughly understand these attitudes. We have seen trips ruined
because participants struggled to be flexible.
Discuss these topics at every meeting you have. Emphasize this idea
with your team over and over so they are ready for it when it becomes
a reality on the mission field.
BURDEN OR BLESSING?
Have we emphasized enough yet how critical it is that you and your
group be ready to work together and focus on God’s purposes at this
project? Missionaries know whether or not you have prepared your
group spiritually. The number one concern from the field is, “Do they
know how to share their faith?” Can you imagine somebody bringing
to your ministry team a group of students for you to use who don’t care
about your ministry or don’t have a clue why they came?
Please do not short-change your students’ preparation by ignoring the
opportunities to make this project a “big deal” in your student ministry.
Guide your group through prayer experiences, witness training, Bible
study, and local ministry. The lives your students may see changed the
most may be their own.
GOOD ADVICE TO SPIRITUALLY PREPARE YOUR TEAM:
1. Keep spiritual preparation the main thing. Do not be sidetracked
from spiritual preparation by logistical
“In addition to this questions. Parents and students will
group guide, IWC bombard you with logistical
provides you with questions at every meeting. Do not
allow the volume of questions to
a Pre-project Study cause you to neglect spiritually
(six sessions) and a preparing your students for the trip.
Student Devotional Be prepared to answer the questions,
Guide to help you but defer them until the end of the
meeting after the spiritual preparation
prepare your
is finished.
participants.”
2. Engage in prayer. Pray for God to work in and through your
participants now. Lead your team to enlist prayer partners. Spend
time in prayer for the people you will encounter and for opportunities
to share. See the Prepare to Serve section of this guide (p. 72) for
more details.
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3. Lead the IWC Pre-Project Study. Schedule, plan and conduct all the
group preparation sessions. Short-cutting this part of the preparation
often leads to short-circuits overseas! These sessions will help your
students embrace the “why” and “how” of the project while building
unity within your team. Make sure prayer is a key part of all these
meetings.
4. Use the Student Devotional Guide. This companion piece to this
guide is required for your students’ preparation for this project. Hold
your team accountable for completing it. It will deepen their spiritual
walk and focus them on God’s heart for the nations.
a. Plan for your participants to start the devotion guide at least five
weeks prior to the project.
b. Make sure your participants bring the guide to the project. It has
a week of devotions for use at the project as well as a follow-up
devotion for the journey home.
5. Prepare to share the Gospel. Memorize Scripture that is vital and
appropriate for sharing the Gospel in the context of that people
group and culture. Your MC can provide you with a list of relevant
Scriptures. Use the “Creation to Christ” storying presentation in this
section to prepare your group to share Christ.
6. Create opportunities to develop team unity. Many groups plan
a retreat weekend or weekly meetings before the project to both
prepare and develop the team. Serving together and focusing on
God’s purposes at the project is paramount for a successful mission.
The Pre-Project Study sessions are action-oriented and intended to
develop team trust and unity. They are not just classroom lectures.
Please do not short-change your students’ preparation by ignoring
the guided prayer experience or the local ministry event!
IWC STUDENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE VIDEOS
New for this year, IWC has worked with our writers to develop some
brief videos to correspond to the six main themes of the IWC Student
Devotional Guide to enhance the experience of students preparing for
a project. While the videos are highlighted in the guide, you may wish
to show some or all of them in your group preparation sessions.
See vimeo.com/iwcstories.
ALL OF GOD - There is an amazing, beautiful, glorious God beyond
your wildest dreams who invites you to be close to Him.
ALL OF ME - Your journey of joining God in taking the Gospel to the
ends of the earth starts with being a fully-devoted disciple of Jesus.
ALL OF THE WORLD - God is on a mission to redeem His creation and
establish His kingdom both globally and eternally and seeks to work
through you.
ALL OF THE BIBLE - All of God’s Word is given to help you
understand, receive, live by, and share the message of the Gospel.
ALL OF THE CHURCH - You are designed to be a part of the church,
which was created by God to be the representation of Christ on earth
and fulfill the role as His “sent ones.”
ALL OF MY LIFE - God chooses you to help finish the job of His
mission with the strength He supplies.
7. Dialogue with your Ministry Coordinator (MC). The MC will tell
you how to prepare for ministry, if there is anything you can bring and
how to best prepare to engage the local people.
Please refer to the Pre-Project Study for more spiritual preparation.
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CREATION TO CHRIST STORYTELLING
One of the best ways to share the message of the Bible is through its
stories. Individual stories speak powerfully, but in linking those stories
into their larger narrative, the message is even stronger. Many believers,
and especially students, may not have a handle on the comprehensive
view of the Gospel and God’s mission that comes from a “creation to
Christ” overview.
5. prepare culturally
IN THIS SECTION
• Cultural checklist
• Learners, not knowers
• Cultural basics
• Cultural differences (that irritate
Americans)
CULTURAL CHECKLIST
Do some homework:
WHAT IS CREATION TO CHRIST?
The Gospel is the big story of how God has worked from the beginning
of time to bring salvation to man. It begins with the creation of the world
and goes through the resurrection and rule of Christ. Creation to Christ
storying involves telling smaller biblical stories in the order in which they
happened as part of the connected narrative of Scripture. Usually this
means beginning with creation and moving sequentially through at least
the resurrection of Jesus.
THE IWC VERSION
IWC offers participants its own visual presentation of Creation to Christ,
involving twelve (12) stories with images and a brief summary of each
story. A storying bandanna will be provided to your participants, and the
Pre-Project Study will use Creation to Christ as the evangelism
training component. For now, visit the IWC website at imbstudents.org/
iwcmore to download the outline and a PowerPoint® presentation to
use to introduce this to your group. IWC makes the images available for
free if you wish to produce your own version.
Tell me more about storying!
For more information about storying,
see the IMB website
oralitystrategies.org.
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o Dialogue with your PC for specific information about your host
country, the people and the culture. Be sure to ask what clothing
is appropriate for the culture and the weather.
o Look online and in bookstores for information regarding the social
make-up of the country, the terrain and major interests of the
people to whom you will minister.
o Find out about the religion or religious background of the people
to whom you will minister. Peoplegroups.org is one good
resource.
Conduct a cultural event to simulate your host country.
o Stage an ethnic meal for
your team, or eat at an
ethnic restaurant to gain
some experience in the
local cuisine.
o Watch a movie together
which is set in your host
country (preview this in
advance for appropriateness).
o Invite an immigrant
family from your host
country to visit and share
with your team.
Introduce your team to the
do’s and don’ts of speaking
through an interpreter.
“Cultural preparation
is an essential part
of preparing for the
opportunity to serve
overseas. The best
advice is ‘Know
before you go’—do
as much homework as
you can to learn about
cultural differences,
language, and living
conditions.”
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Get basic language training for your
team.
o Develop a handout of basic and
most-used words.
o As part of a session, practice
speaking the words together.
o Encourage individuals to do some
of their own language learning
through the use of software, or
even a class at school.
“It is very easy to
conduct ministry
totally unaware of
cultural differences
and go with what
you know, but that
approach can be
disastrous for the
mission.”
CULTURAL APPRECIATION
As North Americans, we too often think that everyone is like us or they
should want to be like us. Emphasize to your team the importance of
appreciating and caring about the culture of the people with whom you
will work. They are as proud of their country as we are of ours. When we
enter another culture desiring to learn and appreciate the differences
rather than judge it or put it down, the local people will be much more
receptive to the message we have come to deliver.
LEARNERS, NOT KNOWERS
When you take your group to another country to serve, it is extremely
important that they go with a teachable spirit and without a sense of
cultural superiority. It’s important to recognize that you and your
students are the product of your North American culture. There are
things that you believe are true, right, and normal that have nothing to
do with your Christianity and everything to do with your cultural identity
as a 21st century American.
Looking through your “American lenses,” the sight of three Indian men
sleeping side-by-side in the same bed is shocking. The men in the bed
simply think of it as an efficient use of space. If you ask a woman in
West Africa for directions to the neighborhood store and she sticks her
tongue out and uses it to point down the street, you might consider her
gesture rude. From her point of view, she is simply being helpful in a
culturally appropriate way.
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• Lead your group to “step out” of their cultural mindset and take the
viewpoint of an outsider. For instance, what do American television
shows and movies, which have a worldwide audience, lead people to
believe about Americans?
• Challenge your group with questions: How does your standard of
living compare to others in the world? Are all our Western comforts
essential for a meaningful life? What are the ways we practice worship
that are cultural but not necessarily prescribed by the Bible? What
worship practices in the Bible do we not usually do?
• Plan to bring a sense of humor when you visit another culture and
be ready to laugh at yourself.
HONOR THE METHODS AND STRATEGIES OF THE MISSIONARY
Confrontational evangelism does not work very well in Wales. Similarly,
girls witnessing to guys in a Muslim culture can send some really
unwanted “sexually available” signals! Missionaries are very familiar
with ministry efforts that, at best, are cultural blunders and, at worst,
offensive and insensitive.
• Remember that you and your group are visitors and the missionary
and local believers are residents. Trust that they have done their
homework and know best how to reach their people group.
• Teach your group that they are not bringing Jesus to the people/
country. Jesus is already there! They are preparing to join in the work
that Jesus is already doing, whatever it is.
• Ask your Field Representative and PC to define what will make the
project a success and embrace their response as your goal. You may
do more good than you know by prayerwalking a community or
surveying a neighborhood. Your group’s efforts may be to “prepare
the soil” for what God will do later. Be humble enough to accept a
seed-planter’s role when asked instead of the harvester’s.
• Pray about ways that cultural differences can be used as witnessing
tools. Casual and oftentimes amusing discussions about culture,
customs and traditions can naturally present an opportunity to share
your faith. For instance, it is impossible to talk about the way we
celebrate Christmas or Easter without mentioning the person of
Jesus Christ.
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CULTURAL BASICS
WHY PREPARE MY STUDENTS CULTURALLY?
One of the most valuable things you can do for your students is to take
them overseas and let them see God at work despite language and
cultural barriers. It gives them a bigger view of who God is and it will
make a lasting impact in their life. A key part of that impact is
helping students embrace the people and culture of the country they
are visiting. By doing so,
“Culture refers to the total they will see the diversity
way of life for a particular of God’s creation while
also seeing how similar
group of people. It
we are as children of
encompasses their
God. So take this part of
assumptions about the
your trip preparation
world, customs, traditions, seriously and don’t
ignore it. Being culturally
language, belief system,
social structure and norms. prepared will make the
ministry richer and more
People look at the world
effective and lead to a
and process experiences
better experience.
through this cultural lens.”
ETHNIC FOOD EXPERIENCE
Take your team to an ethnic restaurant, ideally one that is similar to the
culture you will be experiencing. Order a variety of food from the menu
(something different for everyone) so they experience eating
something different and possibly even unappealing. Warn them to
watch what they say and their facial expressions at the restaurant just
as they will overseas. Instruct them to simply smile and try everything.
Their behavior is part of their testimony. This is cultural preparation.
You may not eat out a lot on your trip, but you want your students to
be ready to encounter a different culture and “messing with” their food
is one of the most basic preparation tools. It’s okay if they don’t like the
food or don’t want to eat a lot of it, but refusing something like food
can be very insulting in many cultures. These are the little gestures that
can make a big difference.
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You may have someone in your church who could cook an ethnic meal.
If so, ask them to prepare the meal at their house or someone else’s
house to make the experience more personal. Have them cook a
variety of things that would both be appealing and unappealing. And
give the students the same guidelines as above. This exercise can be a
great teaching tool and bonding experience for your team.
INTERPRETER TRAINING
A valuable resource is the
Take time with your group to
collection of video stories on
practice speaking through an
vimeo.com/imbstudents.
interpreter. If you can find someone
There are many videos that
who speaks a foreign language
show people from other
to help, that is ideal, but not vital.
culture that can give you
Speaking through an interpreter
insight into your trip and
can be scary and intimidating
how to prepare to serve.
without practice. Sometimes far
more words are needed in a
foreign language to translate our sentences and sometimes far less,
which can catch students off guard. Maintaining one’s train of thought
while waiting on the translator to finish is a challenge, as well.
Your team can practice with each other by pairing up with one person
as the speaker and the other as the translator or finding someone who
speaks a foreign language to practice with the whole team. Having a
foreign speaker is ideal because it will help students learn to be careful
about using slang words and colloquial expressions with translators.
LANGUAGE TRAINING
Language training is not possible for every trip or country, but if you
are able to do some basic language training before the trip it will only
enhance your students’ experience. At the least, you could ask your
PC or Field Representative for a list of common words that are good to
know. You can also use software such as Rosetta Stone, or even
enlist someone who knows the language to teach your team the basics.
When traveling overseas, most local people appreciate any effort you
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can make to speak their language because it conveys care for and
interest in who they are as a people and country.
If you live near a college or university, ask the
campus International Student Office about
students at the school from the region/country to
which you will travel. Invite some of these
students to be your special guest and share
about their culture during a team meeting. This
experience will help your team prepare for the
trip and possibly even start a ministry with some
of the international students on that campus.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
(THAT IRRITATE AMERICANS)
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER.
Nothing is more frustrating than not being understood. Many
Americans travel with the highly offensive notion that everyone,
everywhere, should speak English. Au contraire—when you travel to
another country, you bear the responsibility of trying to make yourself
understood. Learning a few key phrases could head off minor disasters.
You may want to start with “Where is the bathroom?” and “I’ll have the
chicken, please.” Then spend as much time as you can with nationals,
and you will be surprised how much you will pick up.
PRIVACY.
Living in America is all about capitalizing on and demanding our private
space. In most other cultures privacy is neither a priority nor a
possibility. Prepare to be jammed into buses, to share bathrooms, to
give up some of your closely guarded personal space.
DIFFERENT NOTIONS OF TIME.
Your watch will probably be the thing you need least on the mission
field. Don’t be annoyed if NOTHING runs on time—buses, trains,
church services, meetings, cultural events. Relax, kick back and leave
your day planner at home.
MOBILITY.
Learn to love public transportation. It is the norm for most places
outside the United States.
CONVENIENCE.
Not everyone has a microwave, a computer, running water, a
telephone, a car, electricity 24 hours a day, a toaster, a hairdryer, instant
oatmeal, a can opener, an eyelash curler … Got the point?
CHOICE.
Don’t count on finding 108 brands of cereal—in fact, don’t count on
finding cereal at all. You’ll learn to like rice for breakfast.
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CLEANLINESS.
In some cultures people may not be in the habit of bathing daily but
weekly or monthly. Standards of cleanliness vary. Did you realize that in
many cultures the American habit of wearing street shoes in the house
is not only considered rude but is also considered filthy?
POVERTY.
Very few other countries enjoy the standard of living to which we are
accustomed. Many students are grief-stricken by the poverty they see
when they travel to developing countries. It may help to remember
that material wealth is not always synonymous with happiness. This
does not excuse the vast economic inequity that you may witness when
you travel; however, it is important to remember that you aren’t on
mission to share material wealth, but to share the richness of knowing
Christ.
HANDLING CULTURE SHOCK
Living in a cross-cultural environment takes some doing. Here’s some
good advice:
• Know that you aren’t alone. Culture shock is practically inevitable.
Take comfort in knowing that almost everyone who lives overseas for
a substantial period of time experiences culture shock in some form
and/or to some degree.
• Learn from it. Culture shock stems from an in depth encounter with
another culture in which you learn that there are different ways of
doing things that are neither wrong nor inferior. If you meet the
shock of cultural differences head on, you can be liberated from
the notion that our culture possesses the single right way—the best
way—of providing for human needs.
• Look for the silver lining. List the positive things you can identify
about your present situation.
• Avoid bad influences. Stay away from other Americans who may be in
a permanent state of culture shock and want to spend their hours
commiserating with you.
• Laugh at yourself. Inevitably you will make mistakes because of your
lack of familiarity with the local culture. Don’t be overly sensitive—
blush, laugh and get over it. Often your national friends will find your
mistakes not only amusing, but also endearing so long as you are a
good sport.
• Be a friend. Invest yourself in relationships with nationals. Try to
develop a deeper, more intimate (not romantic) relationship with one
or two people. National friends can help you untangle some of the
cultural threads that seem so confusing to you.
• Stay busy. Busyness isn’t always a form of denial. Keep your mind
occupied by getting out into the culture and learning language.
Don’t lounge around feeling sorry for yourself.
• Seek the Lord first. Pray that God will give you a deep appreciation
and love for the culture. Pray that He will open your eyes to see
where and how He is working.
Adapted from Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Robert Kohls, 1996,
Intercultural Press
• Dig deeper. Consciously look for logical reasons behind everything in
the host culture that seems strange, difficult, confusing or
threatening. Take every aspect of your experience and search for
patterns and interrelationships. Try to trace every action, habit or
idea that you think is “strange” to its underlying value or values.
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6. prepare to serve
IN THIS SECTION
• Ministry checklist
• Prayer – your top priority
• IWC dress code
• Lodging at the project
• Ministry Skills Inventory
MINISTRY CHECKLIST
Complete the group preparation sessions in this Pre-Project Study.
Conduct a “Final Preparations” parent/participant meeting (See the
Pre-Project Study for instructions).
Continue encouraging your team to finish the fifth week of
devotions in the Student Devotional Guide.
Remind your team to take the devotional guide with them to the
field for the last week of devotions and the debriefing devotion on
the flight home.
o Send recommendations
and adult volunteer
applications to your PC.
Plan for debriefing and
follow up.
o Remember the
debriefing devotion in
the Student Devotional
Guide.
o Refer to the “After the
Project” session in the
Pre-Project Study for
ideas and instructions for
debriefing and follow up.
“The ministry we do at
an IWC project begins
with the missionary
who has requested the
project. We especially
want to meet needs
as determined by our
Field Representatives,
knowing that they will
continue to serve in this
place long after we are
gone.”
o Schedule a debriefing meeting with your team for right after you
return.
Review the IWC dress code (see p. 77) and any special
circumstances discussed with your PC.
o Set a time on the church calendar for your team to report to the
church.
Obtain all needed ministry supplies or gifts as specified by your
PC and MC.
Remind participants to be teachable and flexible. A servant attitude
is vital. Don’t leave home without it!
Inform your students of the IWC Offering.
HOW WILL OUR MINISTRY BE ORGANIZED?
o There will be an offering collected one night during worship to
fund a mission project somewhere in the world. More details
about the offering’s destination will be given at the project.
• Into crews ...
In most IWC projects, ministry takes place through crews. Crews are a
blend of all the participants at the project and usually consist of eight
to ten people, including a crew manager.
Prepare group devotions to be used on the field.
o You will have time on most project days to close the day with a
time of group devotion and reflection.
Complete the Ministry Skills Inventory (See p. 81) for each
participant and return it to your MC.
Encourage the adult participants in your group to consider serving
in a leadership role as the project. IWC needs adults to serve as
Crew Managers and to assist with First Aid.
See imbstudents.org/iwcmore for details.
72
• Under the leadership of a Ministry Coordinator (MC)...
The MC is enlisted by IWC and is primarily responsible for organizing
the ministry elements of the IWC project. The MC works closely with
the Field Representative and the PC to:
• Select ministry sites
• Enlist Crew Managers
• Purchase and/or procure ministry supplies
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2/3/14 11:32 AM
• Set priorities for what ministry is to be done at each site
• Train and prepare participants onsite for ministry
• Contact each group leader to communicate ministry needs and
help groups prepare for the ministry at the project. This may
include learning a skit, practicing songs in the language of the
people group, bringing certain tools or materials and/or learning a
particular way to share the Gospel.
ADDITIONAL ROLES FOR ADULT VOLUNTEERS
Adult volunteers from your team are needed for two additional roles
during the project:
• Crew Manager
This is an adult enlisted by the PC and MC to lead students to
accomplish their task at each ministry site. Each Crew Manager must
have experience in leading students to do ministry.
• First Aid Coordinator
This is an adult enlisted by the PC who assists with medical needs as
they arise at the project. This person must currently serve as a LPN,
RN, Paramedic, or EMT.
Adults in your group who are interested in these position must
complete the Adult Volunteer Application at
PRAYER - YOUR TOP PRIORITY
The most important thing you can do for your team and this trip is pray.
Spend time during each meeting praying and prayerwalk your
neighborhoods in preparation. Make each of your team members pray
out loud during your preparation. If nothing else happens, your
participants should learn how to pray by the end of this experience!
A PRAYER STRATEGY FOR YOUR GROUP:
• Lead each person in your group to cultivate a prayer support
network. Ask each participant to recruit at least one prayer partner.
Instruct the student to ask each prayer partner to commit to pray
for him/her for a determined amount of time each day or during a
certain day each week.
• Arm group members with a specific list of prayer requests. Below is a
general idea, but try to direct their prayers as specifically as possible
for your project and your people group:
o Pray for the project leadership to be wise, discerning and full of
grace.
o Pray that God will glorify Christ through this project.
o Pray for opportunities to share your faith.
o Pray for boldness as you witness.
o Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people you will
encounter.
o Pray for cultural
sensitivity and
understanding.
o Pray for team unity.
o Pray for local
believers at your
project to be
encouraged and
strengthened.
74
“You will never pray too
much. Field Representatives
and your IWC staff can
never have too much prayer.
We implore you to spend
time in prayer in each of
your gatherings.”
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2/3/14 11:32 AM
o Pray for favor with other nationals and opportunities to build
relationships.
o Pray for the missionaries to find new doorways to ministry.
o Pray for safety in travel and health on the field.
o Pray for humility and a flexible spirit.
o Pray for protection from loneliness and depression.
o Pray for peace of mind for family in the U.S.
IWC DRESS CODE
At International World Changers, participants are on mission at all
times: at ministry sites, at the lodging facility and during free-time
activities. Much advance work has been done to ensure that local
people know who we are and why we are there. We are closely
watched. How we dress is an important part of our witness. Participants
should make a special effort to wear clothes that are modest and
appropriate for the ministry to which we have been called.
o Pray for churches in the country to reach out to meet the needs of
the people around them.
HERE ARE THE GENERAL GUIDELINES THAT APPLY TO ALL
PROJECTS:
o Pray for the Lord to send more laborers into the harvest fields.
1. Sleeved shirts are to be worn by all participants at all times (no
tank tops, “wife beaters,” spaghetti straps or midriffs – this includes
dresses) at the ministry site, worship, lodging facility and on the way
to and from the showers. If the sleeves are torn off the shirt, it no
longer meets the code.
o Pray that lost people will become open to hearing about Jesus
and will accept Him as their Lord.
o Pray for those in positions of leadership within the country—for
their salvation and witness.
o Pray that God will use your mission experience to create a passion
in you for missions.
2. Unless you are told otherwise by your PC, long pants must be worn
at all ministry times. Modest shorts are acceptable only within
designated sleeping areas.
3. Durable shoes with closed toes must be worn at any ministry site.
• Plan a fast day. Work together with your group and prayer network to
pick a suitable day for a partial or full fast. Make sure students have
parental permission and are physically/medically suitable for a food
fast. (Offer alternative fasts for those who should not go without
eating.) Provide a simple prayer guide for participants to use during
the day as they fast.
4. Respect for the culture of a particular country may dictate a change
to the dress code. The PC and the Field Representative will make this
determination and communicate this to the Group Leader.
5. The PC will communicate with Group Leader regarding any
necessary Sunday dress guidelines.
6. Participants are to be fully dressed in accordance with this dress
code at all times
“Remember that the way
they are
you dress makes a statement
outside their
assigned room at
about how you think about
the lodging facility,
yourself, your views of the
including traveling
country you will be entering
to the bathroom.
and, most importantly, your
view of God.”
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ENFORCEMENT OF DRESS CODE:
1. Group Leaders are asked to review the dress code with participants
before leaving for the project. The final parent/student meeting is an
excellent time to review the code. Please be certain everyone in your
group understands what is required and what is prohibited.
2. Group Leaders will be asked to enforce the dress code among
participants in their church group during the project.
3. The IWC staff will remind participants and Group Leaders of the
dress code when necessary.
4. Violation of the dress code at ministry sites may result in participants
forfeiting their role in ministry and being transported back to the
lodging facility. Participants will not be allowed to serve if not dressed
according to the dress code.
5. If necessary, the PC will take appropriate action to ensure that all
participants follow the dress code.
WHAT NOT TO BRING OR WEAR AT A PROJECT:
Ø Shirts or dresses with no sleeves
Ø Shirts or dresses with only spaghetti straps
Ø Short shorts
Ø Shirts that expose the midriff
Ø Expensive clothing or jewelry
Ø Clothing with controversial or inappropriate statements or
advertising (such as alcohol, tobacco, or banned-substance
endorsements)
LODGING AT THE PROJECT
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
• Your lodging will be a corporate setting (camp, dormitory, hotel,
hostel) with all of the participants of the project. Your PC will give
you more specific details on the specific kind of housing and what
you might need to bring in regards to lodging (linens, towels,
bedrolls, etc.).
• Your lodging will be by gender with adults and students. Given the
rooms and accommodations available, you as a Group Leader will
decide with your PC who of your participants will room together.
Please communicate to any married couples coming with you that
they will be housed with students and not in their own private room.
• Your lodging may be rustic. The quality of lodging varies from project
to project based on the location, ministry need and availability.
Prepare your group for such situations as shared bathroom facilities,
lack of air conditioning, cold showers, etc. Keep in mind that it is
better to prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised than to
expect the best and be disappointed.
• You may not have constant internet access at the lodging. Although
internet access is becoming universal, the quality and extent in other
countries varies considerably. Your PC will inform you of ways to get
internet access at the project and will make arrangements for ways to
contact home as needed.
• Your coordinators will be staying at the lodging along with other
project leadership.
WHAT IWC EXPECTS:
• Be responsible for your group’s proper use of the lodging during the
project and before departure. Insist on participant clean-up of trash in
rooms. It is part of your witness.
• Please communicate special needs in advance to the PC. This
includes but is not limited to physical disability requiring
handicapped access, dietary needs and allergies. Recognize that
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MINISTRY SKILLS INVENTORY
handicapped access in buildings and public places in a developing
country may not be the same as it is in America.
Music
leader/performer
Children's
Ministry
Sports
2
Drama/mime
F
Crafts
16
Puppets
(Ex.) Jane Doe
Sign language
Group leader Foreign
Language
Group Int. missions
experience?
• Do not allow participants to leave the lodging area by themselves.
Use the buddy system at all times. It is especially important that
participants not be alone when away from the lodging.
Dates Gender
• Make sure your group members respect the rules about modesty and
privacy. Girls and guys should not mix in each others’ rooms.
Project Age
• Whenever possible and practical, secure valuable items like passports
and cameras in a hotel safe or lockable room. Upon arrival, you can
work with your PC to arrange this. Avoid bringing valuable jewelry,
watches and electronic items that you cannot bear to lose.
Participant
group especially to mind the times for lights out and rest. The energy
your group expends in staying up late will be lost the next day in
ministry.
Construction
The Ministry Skills Inventory details the interests, skills and talents of
each member of your group. Please complete the Ministry Skills
Inventory and return it to your MC as soon as possible so ministry crews
can be formed. Find a digital version of this form at:
• Make sure you group members follow the project schedule. Lead your
Please rate on a scale of 1 (no experience) to 5 (leadership ability)
Comments
(special needs,
strengths)
• Do not leave the lodging area at night without permission from the PC.
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
1
Speaks intermediate Spanish; has been on a church mission trip to Belize; plays soccer at
school; moderately allergic to peanuts
Comments
Comments
Comments
Comments
Comments
Comments
80
Adults I would recommend to serve as Crew Manager:
Name Email Name Email
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2/3/14 11:32 AM
final words
We hope this guide has been helpful in preparing you and your group
for international missions with IWC. Thank you for taking your students
overseas. We know it will impact them greatly because we have seen
thousands of lives changed through IWC ministry. There is no
substitution for this experience. We know they will come back with a
better understanding of the greatness of God and they also will share
a bond from the journey together that they
“Let’s not make will never forget.
a missions trip a
one-hit wonder
in a student’s
life. There is
more to God’s
mission than a
trip.”
Our hope for the future is that you don’t
stop. Don’t stop taking students overseas,
but, even more importantly, don’t stop
challenging them to do more in their walk
with Christ. After this experience, challenge
your students to do something bigger—a
next step.
POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS:
• Acquaint your students with the other IMB student opportunities for
overseas service. Visit the imbstudents.org website to see the many
field requests related to Hands On, Fusion, Fusion Impact, Nehemiah
Teams, Face2Face, and Christmas in China.
• Lead your students in a missional study. See the resources at the IMB
website imbstudents.org/all for conducting a missional DiscipleNow,
retreat, or other group study.
• Introduce students and leaders to the longer-term opportunities
for service such as Journeyman (two years) and career missions. See
going.imb.org.
• Consider leading your group to adopt and advocate for a specific
need overseas. See onelifematters.org.
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FACE2FACE
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2/3/14 11:32 AM
International World Changers is a ministry of IMB
(International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist
Convention, providing student groups and individuals
with pre-packaged mission opportunities that respond
to strategic requests of IMB personnel.
CG 400 2/14 P6512
For more information,
visit imbsutdents.org/iwc or call 800.99.3113 x1355.
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IWC-2014 Group Leaders Guide.indd 84
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group leader`s guide

Transcription

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