GROUP LEADER PACKET INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MISSION TRIPS

Transcription

1 GROUP LEADER PACKET INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MISSION TRIPS 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME social media what is access who we work with ACCESS LEADERSHIP who s who trip coordinator info GENERAL TRIP INFORMATION timeline purpose and project what to expect country specific info PREPARE TO TRAVEL travel agency passport and visa requirements travel and medical insurance info packing list PRARE CULTURALLY do s and don ts access international participant covenant PREPARE SPIRITUALLY prayer training witnessing training OTHER RESOURCES rescource checklist final day of week / day of travel checklist fundraising ideas sample support letter sample prayer walk experience preparation prayer guide after the trip suggestions access participant release form participant list form PAGE

3 WELCOME We are so glad you chose to go on an Access International trip this summer. We hope the information in this packet will be helpful in the planning of your trip. Some of this information is general and applies to all of our Access trips, but other parts of the information are location specific. SOCIAL MEDIA To keep up with us all year, follow us on social media. WHAT IS ACCESS Whether next door or across the globe, the church is called to go. Access International was designed to help you and your students fulfill Jesus commission by providing affordable, all-inclusive international mission trips through LifeWay Students. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 HCSB Trips are designed to accommodate students and leaders who have never traveled abroad or seasoned travelers. In-country ministry will be done through a local church or alongside a long-term missionary. Our hope is for students to return with a broadened worldview and a heart for sharing the gospel in their context. 3

4 WHO WE WORK WITH As of summer 2016, Access International is working and partnering in multiple ways with 9 different countries. Each of these sending organizations has been well researched by us. We trust, believe in, and support the mission they represent and pursue in their respective countries. The International Mission Board (IMB) The IMB partners with churches to empower limitless missionary teams who are making disciples and multiplying churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God. Their mission is evangelizing, discipling and planting reproducing churches among all peoples in fulfillment of the Great Commission. The IMB believes in the power of mobilizing students and young adults and sees this generation as a crucial part of their ministry around the world. Mobilizing Students Mobilizing Students exists to launch student missionaries. Their staff has been sending students on international mission trips since Their entire ministry is a strategic effort to give churches, student ministries, schools, and campus ministries a safe, full-service, and inexpensive platform to engage students in missions all over the world. They desire to help you facilitate what they call a spiritual collision where the Kingdom Dream clashes with the American Dream students have grown up with, causing them to rethink their entire life s focus. We pray they will hear Jesus calling them to give their lives away! UK-USA Ministries Mike Taylor, head of UK-USA Ministries has a passion for helping students see the call of God on their life for the gospel. Mike believes God has called UK-USA Ministries to the NE of England to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting and hopeless generation that have grown up in a Post Christian world. UK-USA Ministries believes that through the process of relational evangelism, we can reach the children, students and young people of the UK. They want to be the conduit that connects students and churches in the USA to the young people of the United Kingdom. Camp Bahamas Camp Bahamas was born out of Richard and Andrea Albury, who felt God s call into full-time ministry and watched together as God grew passions in both of them a heart for the youth of the Bahamas. Camp Bahamas facilitates short-term mission trips throughout the year on the island of Eleuthera. Teams who join alongside Camp Bahamas will participate in assisting with building projects associated with developing the Camp Bahamas property, Vacation Bible Schools, community outreach, evangelism and continued discipleship for their Bahamian campers in the communities where they live. 4

5 ACCESS LEADERSHIP The Access International team is here to help you and your students prepare culturally, financially, and spiritually for your Access trip. We are here to answer your questions and do whatever we can to assist you in leading your students on this international experience. We are praying it will broaden their worldview and heart for sharing the gospel in an international context. WHO S WHO Access Coordinator- Amanda Craft Group Leader- Church group leader bringing the group Trip Coordinator- Access representative leading trip Field Representative- Missionary on the field, full-time Contact the Access Office if you have: Registration questions or changes Payment questions Problems getting in touch with your Trip Coordinator Questions about this group leader information Phone: Amanda Craft Events and Registration accessintl@lifeway.com Mail: 1 LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN Website: accessthenations.com TRIP COORDINATOR INFO Contact your Trip Coordinator if you have questions about: *Coordinators will be making contact with you beginning in late January. Lodging, meals, and other on-site arrangements The trip schedule and activities What to pack Country and culture-specific information After Jan. 15 you will be sent contact infromation for your trip coordinator. 5

6 TIMELINE FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP AFTER REGISTRATION Hold an information meeting with parents/leaders/students to inform them of the trip location, dates, cost, and purpose Contact travel agency to reserve spots Apply for passports Begin fundraising 6 MONTHS OUT: ORIENTATION/PREPARATION MEETING Remind participants about deadline for balance of payments Distribute forms to be collected at 3 month meeting > Release form > Copy of Insurance card > Copy of Passport Talk about pre-trip study and/or local ministry project requirements for participation > Walk through Participant Covenant > Country specific info > Ministry prep > Spiritual prep: Prayer Guide Tentative itinerary in country Discuss departure dates, return dates, and extra meals > Meals to/from the country are not covered > Souvenirs & vending are not covered > Passports & all shots are not covered Remind participants of suggested vaccinations 3 MONTHS OUT: FINAL PREPARATION MEETING Spiritual Prep >Recruit Prayer Partners >Walk through Creation to Christ, How to Share Your Story, and FIRM Ask parents/church members to write encouraging notes to students to give to you prior to departure Expectations >Walk through What to Expect Collect Medical Release forms and a copy of passport and inssurance card Final Names due: April 1 Final Balance Due: May 1 1 MONTH OUT: FINAL PREPARATIONS Prepare Church Group Debriefs Day of departure details Spiritual Prep > 2 week prayer guide 6

7 GENERAL TRIP INFORMATION All of the information below is specific to the country you will be traveling to. Below is a brief ministry description for your location, details about the culture and what kinds of things to expect when traveling and staying in country. We hope that this information helps you gain a better understanding of the culture in which you will be serving and what to expect as you prepare your students to pack their suitcases, get to the airport, step foot in a foreign place and serve with Access International. PURPOSE AND PROJECT Join in the effort to reach unengaged people groups from other countries in urban areas south of Madrid. Conduct a ministry to children, meet their families, and open up opportunities to lead them into Bible studies and seeker groups. Plan to prayer walk in unreached areas, assist with the distribution of evangelistic materials, and look for opportunities to share your testimony of Jesus Christ. A really valuable part of this project is helping the missionary team discover new areas and opportunities for ministry. 7

8 COUNTRY SPECIFIC INFO The country of Spain is full of diversity from its culture to its landscape to its extensive history. Many cultures such as the Romans, Moors, Phoenicians, and Gypsies have had a profound impact on the culture of Spain.The diversity of Spain makes it an incredibly fascinating country and great place to visit. History Spain has been the destination of migrants for all of history. Settlers from Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean have come to live in Spain. Under Roman occupation of Spain, Christianity became the main religion. However, when Muslims invaded from Africa, Islam spread throughout the country. A civil war took place in the 1930s killing more than 500,000 people. General Francisco Franco won this war and ruled as a brutal dictator until his death in After this, Spain began to transform itself into a modern, industrial, and democratic European nation. People Groups There are many different people groups in Spain, but the main people groups include Spaniards, Catalonians, Basques, Galicians, and Aragonese. Capital Madrid Language Castilian Spanish (74%), Catalan (17%), Galician (7%), Basque (2%) Religion Roman Catholic (67.8%), atheist (9.1%), other (2.2%), non-believer (18.4%), unspecified (2.5%) Currency Euro Population 48,958,159 (July 2017 est.) Climate The climate of Spain is temperate. Summers are clear and hot in the interior of the country and more moderate and cloudy along the coast. Winters are cloudy and cold in the interior and partly cloudy and cool along the coast. 8

9 WHAT TO EXPECT - lodging at the project - meals -clothing (*keep in mind climate, culture, work) - transportation- - internet and cell phones - money 9

10 PREPARE TO TRAVEL TRAVEL AGENCY Fellowship Travel International Joan Hazelwood (804) ext. 109 This is the travel agency we are suggesting everyone going on an Access trip use, but you are not limited to this agency. Joan has all the details about Access trips already and will work to find you the best deal. If you do decide to go with someone else remember that many times a better deal does not include emergency insurance, 24-hour-day emergency assistance, appropriate arrival/departure times, and airlines working in partnership. PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS Passport- Visas- html Immunizations- (search by country) ITINERARY More information concerning itinerary will be sent to group leaders closer to travel dates. INSURANCE STATEMENT 10

11 PACKING LIST Essential items to bring in a carry-on bag Passport/Visa Cash/credit card Phone and charger Converter plugs Flight information Prescription medications Eye glasses and/or contacts, if you wear them Travel size toiletry items (check tsa.gov/travel for rule and restrictions) At least one set of clothes - your luggage may not arrive when you do. You ll be glad for an extra set of clean clothes if you have to wait on your luggage. The names and phone number/contact information of your project coordinator and field representative Essential items to bring in checked luggage Copies of your passport and visa Toiletries Tylenol, Pepto Dismal, Ammodium AD, Tums Personal snacks Journal Bible Pens Camera and charger Clothing - remember the climate, culture and your project assignment Closed-toe shoes Rubber flip-flops - to wear in the shower Sunscreen/chapstick with sunscreen Wet wipes/tissues/antibacterial gel Feminine products - these aren t available in many countries Picture of family to share with internationals ITALY SPECIFIC PACKING LIST Shorts that are below that knee Skirts below the knee Jeans Shirt and tie are suggested but not required for preaching or teaching Light weatherproof jacket Hat Sunscreen 11

12 PREPARE CULTURALLY Culture is a way of life for a particular group of people. It encompasses their assumptions about the world, customs, traditions, language, belief system, social structure and norms. People look at the world and process experiences through this cultural lens. As North Americans, we too often think that everyone is like us or they should want to be like us. As Christ-followers, we have a responsibility to value the people we will serve, which includes appreciating and caring about their culture. Realize that you are not bringing Jesus to this people group and country. Jesus is already there, and you can join in the work that Jesus is already doing, whatever it is. Do all you can as a Group Leader to prepare your participants to cross cultures, be ready to try new things, and make efforts to learn some of the language of your location. Below is a list of basic DO S and DON TS for visiting and serving in a different cultural context than your own. 12

13 CROSS CULTURAL DO S AND DON TS DO maintain a good and pleasant loving attitude at all times with all people, regardless of how tired you may become. DO take time to create meaningful relationships on a person-to-person basis. Seek out the nationals for fellowship and be patient and unhurried. Sit with the local people in the churches, hotels, airports and park rather than clustering up with your own group. DO be willing to give information, share literature, and pose for photographs without having to be begged by those needing your help. DO be hospitable and courteous. Take whatever is offered or served to you graciously, and do the best you can with it without being offensive and without taking undue risks. DO stay healthy. Be careful what you eat and get as much rest as possible. Be careful to stay protected when in the sun and drink plenty of bottled water. DO plan to bring a sense of humor when you visit another culture and be ready to laugh at yourself. DO honor the methods and strategies of the missionary. DO come with a teachable spirit and without a sense of cultural superiority. DO NOT be noisy and boisterous in public area, nor speak disparagingly of the nationals, their country, their customs, their dress, their use of English, or their living conditions. Respect their feelings and pride. DO NOT smoke, dip, or chew any tobacco products, or drink any alcoholic beverages or drinks that look like alcoholic beverages. Smoking or drinking would be a serious contradiction to the principles of the local Christians, missionaries and to the witness they have in the country. DO NOT be by yourself. DO NOT refuse to eat or ridicule the local food but be open to try new foods of the culture. DO NOT make promises to nationals to help them come to the United States or to send them anything of substantial value. Even a hint on your part may be interpreted as being a firm commitment. DO NOT bring expensive looking jewelry, even if you know it is only costume jewelry. Be careful about bringing expensive cameras, electronic devices, or other items you cannot afford to lose. DO NOT become involved in politics or discussions of political issues or questions. DO NOT forget that you and your group are visitors and the Field Representative and local believers are residents. Trust that they have done their homework and know best how to reach the local people. DO NOT insist on knowing why. Just be ready to do what is to be done by responding quickly. There is not always time to explain the reason for every request. At times, the circumstances just do not permit a full explanation of the reason. A valuable resource is the collection of video stories on vimeo.com/imbstudnets. Many of these show experiences of crossing cultures and can give you insight into your trip and how to prepare to serve. 13

14 ACCESS INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANT COVENANT COVENANT Then Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 HCSB As a member of an Access International 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 ACCESS INTERNATIONAL MISSION TEAM MEMBERS MUST... Be a maturing follower of Jesus Christ. 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. 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. 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, and other ministry leaders with whom we partner. I agree to the above and I covenant to faithfully serve as a member of the Access leadership and mission team in accordance with the heart and passion of Jesus Christ and His church. Participant name Date Participant signature Parent or guardian signature (for students under 18) 14

15 PREPARE SPIRITUALLY Most student leaders who engage in international missions have discovered that preparing students for a mission project is one of the best ways to disciple and help them see God at work. Logistics are important, but spiritual preparation is the main thing. Carve out time to prepare and train to share the Gospel, and create opportunities to develop team unity. Below are some helpful prayer and witness training rescources that will help your team to prepare spiritually for your Access trip. PRAYER TRAINING Prayer -- Your Top Priority The most important thing you can do for your team and this project is pray. Develop a list of prayer requests and share these with many others, devoting time at each meeting of your participants to pray together. A prayer strategy for your group: Lead each person in your group to enlist 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 this project 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: Pray for the project leadership to be wise, discerning and full of grace. Pray that God will glorify Christ through this project. Pray for opportunities to share your faith. Pray for boldness as you witness. Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people you will encounter. Pray for cultural sensitivity and understanding. Pray for team unity. Pray for local believers at your project to be encouraged and strengthened. Pray for favor with other nationals and opportunities to build relationships. Pray for the missionaries to find new doorways to ministry. Pray for safety in travel and health on the field. Pray for humility and a flexible spirit. Pray for protection from loneliness and depression. Pray for peace of mind for family in the U.S. Pray for churches in the country to reach out to meet the needs of the people around them. Pray for the Lord to send more laborers into the harvest fields. Pray that lost people will become open to hearing about Jesus and will accept Him as their Lord. Pray for those in positions of leadership within the country for their salvation and witness. Pray that God will use your mission experience to create a passion in you for missions. Plan a fasting experience. 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. 15

16 FIRM THE PURPOSE The gospel shows us the Lord s desire for us to be in relationship with Him. Without the context of relationship, the fact that God wants to have a relationship with people doesn t make sense. We have to be willing to invest in others and learn to build relationship so the gospel makes sense when we share it with others. But, taking the first step and starting a conversation with a stranger can be intimidating, especially when that stranger might not speak the same language as you. You are going to have lots of opportunities on your trip with Access International to share the gospel, but spouting off Biblical information to a stranger in a foreign country means nothing unless you have first connected with them on a person level. It is said that, People don t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Below is a simple acronym to help make starting conversation easier. HOW TO USE FIRM F - family Tell me about your family. Do you have any brothers or sisters? I - interests R - religion What hobbies do you enjoy? Do you play sports? If so, which ones? What is your favorite thing to study in school? Do you celebrate Christmas/Easter? If so, how? Do you attend church? M - message Share your story and the gospel. 16

17 CREATION TO CHRIST CREATION TO CHRIST 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. 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. WHY THIS APPROACH? Most people in an unreached people group have little to no basis for understanding key tenets of the gospel message, such as sin, salvation, heaven, the cross, and the divinity of Christ. Others have a faulty understanding of Christianity and the Bible, meaning that they will not be on the same page with you in your spiritual conversation. This is becoming very much prevalent in the US but also throughout western countries. Creation to Christ starts with who God is and summarizes the key stories of the Old Testament to build a case for humanity s separation from God and the need for salvation from God. The creation to Christ presentation involves twelve stories with images and a brief summary of each story. The images simply serve as a prompt for an individual to use in sharing the stories. You can visit imbstudents.org/iwcmore to download the outline and a PowerPoint presentation to use to introduce this to your group. If you visit imbstudents.org/c2c, you can find videos of students sharing about each of the points in the creation to Christ narrative. 17

18 SHARE YOUR STORY HOW TO SHARE YOUR STORY At some point during the project, you or any member of your team, including students, could be called upon to share your testimony or lead worship or devotion as part of your mission project. Everyone should be able to share their testimony publicly prior to the trip. An even a better idea is for everyone to write their testimony out into one 1 paragraph. These can be pre-printed on small cards and easily translated into the local language, but know that you may need to change a few words in your testimony based on the culture in which you are serving. One of the best ways to share the Gospel after we have already initiated conversation and established a connection with people is to share what God has done and is currently doing in our own lives. This gives our audience a glimpse of what a relationship with God looks like. By telling our story we tell them a part of His story. This can be easily formed and communicated through the completion of the following three prompts: SHARING YOUR STORY My Life before Christ How I met Christ and how He changed my life Today Christ impacts my life... 18

19 RESCOURCE CHECKLIST The following section contains rescources you will need as you prepare for your trip. Below is a brief explanation of each rescource. Travel Checklist: List of important documents you will need for the day of travel as well as an airport departure checklist to help you stay organized Fundraising Ideas: Suggested ways for your students to use self-support, youth events, labor to raise funds for your Access trip Sample Support Letter: Example of a letter that can be used to send to friends and/or family members to ask for their support in sending a student on an Access trip Sample Prayer Walk Experience: Example of a prayer walk you could lead your students through to further help your group prepare for your Access trip Sample Prayer Guide and Template: 4 ½ week guide leading up to your Access trip After the Trip: Ideas on ways to debrief with your group once you get home from your Access trip Participant Release Form: Form that every person going on the Access trip must fill out and send into the office before leaving for your Access trip (keep one copy for your records) 19

20 TRAVEL CHECKLIST DAY/WEEK OF TRAVEL INFO Important documents for day of travel Flight Info (printed copy of all e-tickets) Team Roster (final group list of names & list of ministry teams for projects) Medical release forms (printed copy of all parental consent-medical release forms) Insurance (copy of policy #) Emergency Info (copy of all your emergency contact # s) Trip devotionals and worship guide (copy of devotions and worship guide to be used when in country) Access Group Leader Packet (copy of group leader packet) Airport Departure Checklist: I have my Important document for day of travel with me. Have the group meet in front of the departure terminal ticket counter 3 hours before your scheduled departure time. Bring a role of neon colored tape or ribbon to mark every persons checked luggage for easy identification in baggage claim areas. Call roll & check each person s passport Make sure every has a copy of their passport in every piece of luggage (checked & carry-ons) Insure everyone has 1 set of clothing and pertinent hygiene items in their carry-on in case of luggage is lost or delayed Make sure parents have pertinent contact info. Remind the group of proper travel procedures: Be professional, especially during customs checks. If questionsed, be kind, cooperative. Use the buddy system :Have everyone buddy up in groups of 2-3 and stay together so nobody gets lost. When traveling, group leader always goes first, group in middle, and assign another adult leader to take the rear. This insures quick travel without losing anyone. Utilizing family group with an adult leader responsible for 5-10 students is also an efficient way of keeping your group together & accountable when traveling. Circle up and pray as a group Check in as a group at the ticket counter with the group leader first. Inform desk agent of your group total & destination. HOW TO FILL OUT CUSTOMS FORM 20

21 FUNDRAISING IDEAS 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 other neither. Below is a short list of possible fundraising events for you to consider to help with the cost of your trip. Start early There is no substitute for ample time to raise funds for your mission project. Recruiting your participants before Christmas, for instance, gives them the chance to ask friends and relatives to support their mission project instead of giving a gift. Begin with self-support Before asking for support from anyone else, ask you 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. Give up eating out Give up movies or other entertainment Give money usually spent on new clothes Stop purchasing music or apps Ask for support instead of birthday or Christmas gifts Think about how much you could give out of your person savings Fundraise with events If your church ministry permits it, consider hosting one or more of these events: 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 Auctions -Promote desserts specially made by church members. conduct a silent auction with items donated by church members and the community. 5k walk/race - Fundraising with labor Car wash Work Angels Advertise that students are available for hire to do basic yard or house work. Mention that all proceeds will support the students on their mission trip. Recruit an adult to coordinate assignments Other options Support letters 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. Sports challenge Ask people to sponsor players specifying a dollar amount for shots out of a hundred tries. 21

22 SAMPLE SUPPORT LETTER Dear Friends and Family, Hi! How are you doing? I hope that God is doing as many exciting things in your lives as He is in mine! I am having a wonderful year at _(high school or college name)_. I want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity that God has presented to me. God has opened a door for me to go to (Oaxaca, Mexico) this summer. After much thought and prayer and discussion with my parents and church leaders I have felt God leading me to pursue this opportunity. I will be a part of a team who will join alongside the International Mission Board s ongoing ministry to local churches in Oaxaca, Mexico. Our team will be joining these local churches to reach their communities by leading sports camps, English camps, and neighborhood and block parties. Our goal is that our efforts in connection with the local churches would help in sharing the Gospel to Oaxaca, Mexico. While God has opened up a door for me to develop a greater heart of compassion for His people around the world, the exciting part is that you will be able to share in this compassion in several ways. You can help by praying for me and my fellow students. We will need prayers that God will prepare us for our visit and bless our efforts as we minister. We will also need prayers that our financial needs will be met. I need to raise $ to attend this trip, and that is quite a challenge! Secondly, you can be involved in what God is doing in sending me to Mexico this is summer through financial support. God has given me a special call to go, and I am counting on Him to call those of you He has called to send. I also know that He has a special team picked out for prayer support. I understand and realize that not everyone is called to help every cause. I trust that you will hear God s voice and know if this is an area in which you can minister. If you can support me with either $25 or $50, I would be very grateful. I have enclosed a self-addressed envelope for you to use if you are so led. Either way, I know everyone is called to pray, and I would very much appreciate your prayer support. I look forward to letting you know about all that God is doing in (Oaxaca, Mexico) and what He has done in my life and the life of my team when we return home. Thank you, (Student s name) 22

23 SAMPLE PRAYER WALK EXPERIENCE Come near to God and He will come near to you (James 4:8). Christians are called to take their prayers beyond the walls of the church and home to the places and people where we find ourselves. This exercise is called Prayerwalking and all Christians can participate. Prayerwalking involves several of the following ideas that will help participants be more focused and effective in their prayer efforts. Prayer walking is intentional, intercessory, praying on-site with insight, low profile with high presence, and low risk with high potential. We would like to encourage you to incorporate prayerwalking into your participation at the project on a daily basis. It may occur while you are in transit to or from your project or may be a scheduled part of your ministry. This will be the catalyst that will allow the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of people before you ever arrive to your ministry site. Below you will find a sample prayerwalk. Please take the time to be involved in this activity. A few suggestions before setting off on your first prayerwalk: Pray that you will begin to see the people and the place that you are in through Christ s eyes. Prepare to become burdened for the people group and the country. Pray with others. Praying in pairs or in teams opens an important dimension of intercession. Map out a route. You want all your energy to be focused on praying, not on finding your way home. Schedule plenty of time. Have a time of prayer before beginning your prayerwalk. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps and your prayers as you walk. Pray as specifically as possible. You should already be familiar with the historical, cultural, and spiritual background of the country. Draw on this information as you pray. Be alert to your surroundings. God will bring you into contact with people, places and situations precisely so that you will lift them up to Him. Prayer Station 1: A solitary place on the grounds of your church or facility (Adoration) Take this time to lift up the name of God in praise and adoration. Look around at all the things God has made. Pause to look at the sky. What colors do you see? Are there clouds? Are there plants or trees around you? Look at the detail in the leaves, the flower pedals, the stem or trunk. Are there people, animals or insects around you? Observe their movement. Thank God for all the wonderful things He has made and for being our Creator. Then praise Him for the life He has given you, for every breath you take; and most importantly, for the gift of His son, Jesus. Praise Him for answered prayers and for making provisions. Praise Him for the difficult times and times of challenge for being our Hope. 23

24 Prayer Station 2: A typical classroom (Evaluation and Confession) Take time to evaluate your reason for participating in an IWC project. Consider your attitude about the preparation, the commitment required, and your expectations of the experience. Confess to God the areas of your life in which you may need your attitude adjusted in order to be fully committed to Him and to the task that is ahead. Acknowledge that you need God to complete the task and be in full accordance with His will. Prayer Station 3: Worship center (Thanksgiving) Find a place among the pews or chairs. Thank God for your church and for its commitment to missions and to seeing the lost come to know Christ. Thank God for the opportunity to serve Him. Thank Him for choosing you to be His child. Thank God for those in your church who have provided support and encouragement to you and to others preparing for an IWC project. Recall specific names of people who have spoken a kind word, made a financial contribution, taught a study session, prayed for participants, etc. Thank God in advance for His protection and for the lives that will be changed as a result of your efforts in Christ. Prayer Station 4: Broom/supply closet or kitchen (Thanksgiving) Thank God for the many people who have been diligently working on the logistics of your IWC project. Thank Him for providing a lodging facility. Thank Him for the person(s) who will be preparing meals, providing transportation, keeping the facility clean, serving as a nurse, providing leadership on the work sites and ministry sites, etc. Prayer Station 5: Playground or children s classroom (Supplication) Pray for the children who will participate in day camps, Vacation Bible Schools and other ministries with which IWC will come in contact. Pray for the children who live in the neighborhoods in which IWC will be serving and the children of residents on whose homes you will be working. Pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with them. Prayer Station 6: Parking lot Pray for God s protection as you travel to and from the project site, and for His traveling mercies during your project week. Remember the other church groups who will also be traveling to various ministry sites in North America and around the world. Pray for the health of everyone on your project. Prayer Station 7: Church baptistery or altar Close your time in prayer, remembering that our ultimate goal is to bring people to know Christ, to move beyond meeting their physical needs to seeing their lives spiritually transformed. Pray for those with whom you will come in contact who have no knowledge of Christ, as well as those who have heard the good news yet have no desire for it. Pray for those who know Christ and have accepted His gift of salvation but are longing for restoration of a spirit that has been broken, a hope that has disappeared. 24

25 SAMPLE PRAYER GUIDE PREPARATION PRAYER GUIDE Date: Old Testament: New Testament: Prayer: June 7 Psalm 8 Acts 1 Team Member name June 8 Psalm 148 Acts 2 Team Member name June 9 Psalm 91 Acts 3 Team Member name June 10 Psalm 3 Acts 4 Team Member name June 11 Psalm 62 Acts 5 Team Member name JUne 12 Psalm 51 Acts 6 Team Member name June 13 Psalm 96 Acts 7 Team Member name June 14 Psalm 71 Acts 8 Team Member name June 15 Psalm 51 Acts 9 Team Member name June 16 Psalm 18 Acts 10 Team Member name June 17 Psalm 139 Acts 11 Team Member name June 18 Psalm 19 Acts 12 Team Member name June 19 Psalm 150 Acts 13 Team Member name June 20 Psalm 16 Acts 14 Team Member name June 21 Psalm 121 Acts 15 Team Member name June 22 Psalm 63 Acts 16 Other people/churches on the trip June 23 Psalm 145 Acts 17 The Holloman Family June 24 Psalm 130 Acts 18 Other missionaries in Mexico June 25 Psalm 119:1-56 Acts 19 Local churches in Oaxaca June 26 Psalm 119: Acts 20 Children/adults coming to sports camps June 27 Psalm 119: Acts 21 Children/adults coming to english camps June 28 Psalm 1 Acts 22 Our delight will be in the law of the Lord June 29 Psalm 136 Acts 23 People who will attend the block parties June 30 Psalm 73 Acts 24 Translators July 1 Psalm 67 Acts 25 That God would be gracious to us and bless us July 2 Psalm 15 Acts 26 That we would do what is right and speak truth July 3 Psalm 25 Acts 27 That we would allow the Lord to lead us in and teach us new truth July 4 Psalm 61 Acts 28 Allow us to sing praises day after day, even the hard days July 5 Psalm 105 James 1 Believers in Oaxaca July 6 Psalm 112 James 2 Unbelievers in Oaxaca July 7 Psalm 25 James 3 and 4 Preparations/Logistics July 8 Psalm 23 James 5 Travel and Safety 25

26 PREPARATION PRAYER GUIDE Date: Old Testament: New Testament: Prayer: Psalm 8 Acts 1 Psalm 148 Acts 2 Psalm 91 Acts 3 Psalm 3 Acts 4 Psalm 62 Acts 5 Psalm 51 Acts 6 Psalm 96 Acts 7 Psalm 71 Acts 8 Psalm 51 Acts 9 Psalm 18 Acts 10 Psalm 139 Acts 11 Psalm 19 Acts 12 Psalm 150 Acts 13 Psalm 16 Acts 14 Psalm 121 Acts 15 Psalm 63 Acts 16 Psalm 145 Acts 17 Psalm 130 Acts 18 Psalm 119:1-56 Acts 19 Psalm 119: Acts 20 Psalm 119: Acts 21 Psalm 1 Acts 22 Psalm 136 Acts 23 Psalm 73 Acts 24 Psalm 67 Acts 25 Psalm 15 Acts 26 Psalm 25 Acts 27 Psalm 61 Acts 28 Psalm 105 James 1 Psalm 112 James 2 Psalm 25 James 3 and 4 Psalm 23 James 5 26

27 AFTER THE TRIP Just because you land on American soil does not mean your project is over. In fact, it is never over! The call for you to be on mission continues. You and your participants need to know what comes next. It is important that participants debrief and reflect on their project experiences in order that the impact of the project would extend into application in their daily lives at home. It is a good idea to bring everyone in the group back together shortly after the project to celebrate God s work. Your group s involvement in this project could and we hope it does lead to great things. Plan a debrief Plan to meet with your group as soon as possible after your return. Invite others who have supported the project to attend so they can celebrate the results of the project and enjoy the pictures, stories, and testimonies. Use this meeting to introduce students to other missional opportunities at your church and the community. Plan a report session Plan a report session to your church or larger student group in the week or month following your return. Dream about what s next Will this project be a one-and-done or does it have potential for you and your group to continue your involvement? Don t forget about the relationships that were made with the missionary, field representative, and local believers. Make it a priority to develop and share prayer requests from the field. Use Skype and social media to keep the connection personal. These are the kind of relationships that should be cherished and can grow into partnerships with them and their country of service for years to come. Follow-up ideas Organize a Guided Prayer Experience- Missions begins, continues and is constantly undergirded by prayer. Organizing a prayer walk for a neighborhood or school which is in the community around your church can help students see this as their local mission field. Establish a Missions Legacy- Too often we rush from one ministry event to the next without taking time to savor and reflect on what god has done. Plan a banquet to honor prayer supporters and donors of the trip or make a scrapbook/photo montage with pictures and testimonies from trip participants. Create Missions Literacy- Use enthusiasm originating from this mission trip experience to develop an ongoing awareness of world mission, people groups, and way to engage in meeting need. Consider adding a missions moment to your weekly bible study or worship experience to highlight a need, a missionary, or event related to missions. Create a Bulletin Board- Include details about the people groups you have serve and the missionaries in place. List prayer requests, people group needs, and challenges in these particular fields. If you don t have mission programs for the children in your church, talk to the leaders in your church about the possibility of starting them. Help to enlist participants to serve as leaders for this ministry. 27

28 PARTICIPANT RELEASE FORM PERSONAL INFO TRIP LOCATION: TRIP DATES: NAME (FIRST, LAST): DOB: / / SEX: MALE/FEMALE HOME ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: PHONE: EMERGENCY CONTACT: DAY PHONE: NIGHT PHONE: PASSPORT INFO CHURCH INFO PASSPORT #: COUNTRY/STATE OF ISSUE: DATE OF EXPIRATION: / / CHURCH NAME: GROUP LEADER: GROUP LEADER PHONE: CITY STATE MEDICAL PROFILE LIST ANY MEDICATIONS YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING: LIST ANY MEDICINES OR SUBSTANCES TO WHICH YOU ARE ALLERGIC: WHAT OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS WOULD YOU ALLOW ACCESS TO ADMINISTER (EXAMPLES: TYLENOL, PEPTO BISMOL, BENADRYL,ETC..): FAMILY PHYSICIAN: PHYSICIAN PHONE: PHYSICIAN ADDRESS: DATE OF TETANUS SHOT: / / I, the undersigned, do hereby consent and authorize Access International, etc or any of its representatives to use and reproduce photographs, film, video, or other electronic imaging of me and information relating to my circumstances for present and future fundraising and advertising purposes. I further agree to allow the Access International office of LifeWay to use my name and other information provided by me during interviews and conversations unless otherwise stipulated for present and future fundraising and advertising purposes. I wave any right that I may have to approve the photographs, film, video, or electronic imaging or background copy which may be used or to approve the use to which it may be applied. I, the undersigned, do for myself (or for /and on behalf of my child under 18 years of age) give permission for an attending physician or hospital to administer medical care if deemed necessary by the Access International Trip Coordinator and the physician or hospital staff during the Access International project. I, the undersigned, do for myself (or for /and on behalf of my child under 18 years of age) hereby release from all claims and forever hold harmless the coordinators, field representatives, employees, and agents of Access International, LifeWay, from any and all claims and demands for personal injury, sickness, and death, as well as property damage and expenses of any nature by myself (or my child under 18 years of age). I also assume personal responsibility for all medical bills, for myself (or my child under 18 years of age) and do certify I have secured primary medical insurance for myself (or my child under 18 years of age). I understand that insurance. Further, should it be necessary for me or my child to return home due to disciplinary actions, for medical reasons, or otherwise, I hereby assume responsibility for all transportation costs. SIGNATURE DATE / / NOTARY 28

29 FINAL WORDS We hope this guide has been helpful in preparing your and your group for international missions with Access International. Thank you for being willing to step out of your comfort zone by going overseas and challenging your student to do the same. It is our joy to pray for your students knowing how great of an impact this trip experience could have on them. There is no substitute for direct mission experience. We are praying that students and leaders across the globe this summer with Access International will see and experience the kingdom of God in an international setting, in a way that changes their lives. We are confident students will come back with a better understanding of the greatness of God and a deeper connection with each other as the people of God on mission. Our hope for the future is that you don t stop here. Don t stop finding mission opportunities down the street, across the town, and across the world. Don t stop challenging students to center their lives on Christ and the Gospel and let that take them wherever they need to go in life. -Access International Office 29

30 30

31 31

32 32

33 33

34 34

35 35

36 36