Since 1994, I have led many teams overseas on mission trips.
Through these trips, I have found that there are certain strategies and
steps that are imperative in setting up short-term mission trips. I have
put together a list of the top eight key steps that will help you set
up an effective short term mission trip.
1.
Where - This is the first step in planning any short term mission trip.
You will need to determine what country and what region. On my Global
Ventures team trips, we always try to hit a region that is more densely
populated and also travel out to the more rural villages to minister.
Your in-country contact will help you decide the best location for your
short term mission trip.
2. Decide what type - There are many
different mission trips to choose from. So as a leader, you will need to
ask yourself what type of trip you want to set up. Do you want it to be
humanitarian aid based or more evangelistic in nature? Personally,
Global Ventures always focuses on evangelism. I feel that this is the
best way to make a lasting impact on a region.
3. Travel planning
and time frames- You must always plan for time spent traveling as well
as what medium you will use to get from point A to point B. Ninety
percent of Global Ventures travel is done by airplane, however it is
imperative to also plan for transportation for your team once
in-country. Many times when taking my teams overseas, travel time alone
could take two days. This is important to allot for when planning your
ministry week.
4. Action Plan - This is your in-country itinerary,
this is your strategy to carry out the type of mission trip that is
planned. Think through the day to day events/schedule and what it is
going to look like. This will determine the level of success. You action
plan is also heavily dependent on your in-country contacts (see no.6).
5.
Define roles of team members - Before you travel overseas with a team,
it is important to define job roles for certain team members. These
roles will give your team members responsibility and also help you as a
leader delegate things that you need help with. These task/jobs include
things like: water distribution, team leading, crowd counting, etc.
Being able to trust others with key roles will help your team trip run
smoothly.
6. Relationships in-country - I can't stress how
important it is to have dependable in-country contacts. These are
individuals who live in the region you are traveling to, and will help
you with the logistics of your trip. These contacts will aid you in
finding the best locations, hotels, transportation, etc. for your team.
It is very important to find good, trustworthy nationals who can help
make your trip a success. Most of the time, Global Ventures recruits
individuals from the local church in country.
7. Safety of the
team- In some areas of the world, especially third world nations, more
precautions must be made to ensure safety. These team members are
technically in your hands, and you are responsible for making sure that
they are protected and out of harm's way. There are certain regions
where night travel is discouraged due to bandits, gangs, etc. In these
instances, day travel is imperative. To ensure that Global Ventures team
members are safe, (or incase of emergency), we always travel in groups,
and my team leaders always have cell phones. The safety of your team
should always be at the forefront of your mind.
8. Exit Strategy -
In the instance of severe political unrest or outbreaks, you will need
to have an immediate exit plan in place. This is the quickest, safest
way to get your entire team out of the country as soon as possible. The
exit plan must be formulated prior to the trip so if a plan of action is
necessary, it can be carried out immediately. Safety of your team is
another reason why is so important to have dependable contacts in each
country you travel to. They will be able to help you find the quickest
and easiest route to safety.
These are just a few of the key
elements of what it takes to put together a successful trip. Team
members always enjoy seeing the world from a different perspective.
Global Ventures takes several of these trips each year, and with these
steps and your own creative ideas, you too can create a great short term
mission trip and experience for your team members!
Learn more about the logistics of short term mission trips, or experience the world with Global Ventures.
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