BELIEVERS CHURCH MISSIONS SHORT-TERM MISSION TEAM INFO PACKET

BELIEVERS CHURCH MISSIONS SHORT-TERM MISSION TEAM INFO PACKET 2015

Table of Contents Intro page 2 Current Mission Fields page 3 Trip Requirements page 5 Commitment Statement page 8 Small Groups SE Projects Nicaragua Info Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C 1

WHAT DOES MISSIONS MEAN? Missions is basically Jesus calling us to others. We are not only called just to know Him, but also to make Him known to others. It is a simple mission; we allow ourselves to be used to point people to Jesus. This means we willingly use our new life in Him to benefit and share with others. THE GREAT COMMISSION Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 NIV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NIV WHO CAN BE A PART OF A MISSIONS TEAM? Essentially everyone can take part in missions; however, there are certain restrictions that apply to each trip. Believers Church is committed to sending you out fully prepared for God's use. We have designed a training program specifically with you in mind. WHAT MIGHT OCCUR ON A MISSIONS TRIP? -Vacation Bible School -Work projects (i.e. building homes) -Opportunities for medical work to be provided -Opportunities to just show love and compassion 2

Be prepared for anything! The key to any trip is flexibility. We may not know exactly what we will be doing until months or even weeks before we arrive (or after we get there!). Our purpose in going to these areas is to serve them in whatever needs they have at the time. We need to fight the tendency to Americanize them we are there as servants and nothing else. These trips will provide you with a greater appreciation for the work/service of a long-term missionary. OUR CURRENT MISSION FIELDS: PUERTO CABEZAS, NICARAGUA - ORPHANETWORK "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27 We take this verse seriously. In response, Believers has chosen to partner with ORPHANetwork in Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, second only to Haiti. Their extreme poverty has led to an increase in the number of orphans in the country...not orphans in the traditional sense, but children who have been abandoned by their parents because the parents couldn't afford to take care of them. So, we are partnering with ORPHANetwork in the city of Puerto Cabezas to assist the Verbo Church with the funds necessary to run the orphanage. Our partnership with ORPHANetwork also gives us the opportunity to make annual trips to serve the kids in the orphanage and to have a personal stake in what takes place there. http://www.orphanetwork.org/ BELEM, BRAZIL - WORD OF LIFE "I believe it is the responsibility of every generation to reach their generation for Christ" - Jack Wyrtzen Pioneered by Harry Bollback and Harold Reimer, Word of Life Brazil was the first international outreach of Word of Life Fellowship. With a growing burden to reach young Brazilians with the gospel, the Brazil ministry was officially 3

established in 1957. The first youth camp was held in Atibaia the following year with 300 young people. Today, the ministry is led by John Reimer and based near Sao Paulo where it includes a four year Bible Seminary program with over 200 full time students, youth camp, the Estancia - a Bible conference center, weekly marriage and family seminars, and the EMME singing group. Another location in Belem began in 1989 and includes a Christian Day School, a camp and retreat facility, and a Missionary Training Institute where students are trained to minister to the Amazon people accessible by boat. http://missions.wol.org/content/brazil LYON, FRANCE - INTERNATIONAL TEAMS Lyon is a city in east central France. It is the third largest French city, situated between Paris and Marseilles. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second largest metropolitan area in France after Paris, with 1,783,400 inhabitants at the 2007 estimate, and approximately the 20th to 25th largest metropolitan area of Western Europe. Kevin and Cheryl Stauffer are missionaries to France with "International Teams" and work in "The Evangelical Church of Greater Lyon." They were actually assigned to Pastor Jamey when they first arrived - his job was to help them get situated in a new country. Kevin is "Worship and Arts Pastor" but even more than that, he is training other French leaders in the importance of worship and equipping new leaders in how to implement strategies in worship and the arts to reach those in the country who are not yet followers of Jesus. Eglise Protestante Evangélique de Villeurbanne-Cusset, French-speaking church ICCL-International Christian Community of Lyon, English-speaking church NEPAL -BEYOND TEARS WORLDWIDE Steve & Tara have been Beyond Tears Worldwide staff members since August 2003, but have been working in Nepal much longer than that. 4

Steve, who is Canadian, grew up in the French Alps where his parents ran a Family vacation center for a French church association. He first went to Nepal in 1997 when he spent a year helping with the construction of a hospital. He returned to Nepal in 2001 for six months. He met Tara at that time. Tara was doing her practical training as a nurse s aide & mid-wife at the hospital that Steve had built 4 years earlier. Tara came from Maina, a village in North Western Nepal. It takes 5 days to walk to or from her village. They were married on February 14th 2002. They have been working at Surket in western Nepal ever since. They joined Beyond Tears Worldwide soon after it was started. TRIP REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW Attend all training events Consistent church attendance Participate in BeGroup(s) Participate in SE Project(s) Timely payments ATTEND ALL TRAINING EVENTS Training events are designed to prepare each trip participant logistically and practically for the trip. Those going are required to attend 4 training events. Minors must attend with their parents. It is imperative that you attend each meeting as we will cover different aspects of preparing for missions trips. They will give us an opportunity to grown spiritually (through home studies, verses to memorize, etc.); to grow as a team (team building exercises); and prepare us culturally and emotionally for what we will experience. In addition, we will prepare for the work that we will be doing. If a team meeting is missed, you must meet one on one with a trip coordinator and you are responsible for reaching out to schedule this meeting. CONSISTENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE Consistent attendance is defined as attending church 3 out of 4 Sundays each month. 5

It is also expected that as a regular attender wanting to serve in another country that you are a part of serving the church, locally. We expect our Mission Team Members to serve on a Volunteer Team at Believers. PARTICIPATE IN BEGROUP(S) Each trip participate MUST participate in a BeGroup. BeGroup participation is expected throughout the year. (See Appendix A). PARTICIPATE IN SERVANT EVANGELISM PROJECT(S) Each trip participate is expected to participate in 3 Service Evalgelism Projects prior to the trip. Two SE projects can be accomplished inside of the BeGroup, picked by the participant. One SE project will be a mandatory 2015 Team SE Project in which team members will serve together. (See Appendix B). TIMELY PAYMENT Participants will need to begin saving and paying toward their trip now. Monthly payment toward the balance of your trip is STRONGLY encouraged. In order to ensure that each trip participant s ticket is ready for purchase, each trip participant must have paid ¾ of the total trip monies due by 3 months prior to trip date. You will also need to save for the cost of shots that you may want to get. Finally, you will need to have a current passport and/or visa. HOW WILL THE TRIP BE PAID FOR? We will NOT be doing group sponsored fundraisers to pay for this trip. We will raise our own support (see below for some money saving/raising ideas). IDEAS TO HELP YOU: 1. Have EVERYONE in the family participate! 2. Write letters to friends, family, churches you have a relationship with, and ask them to support you in this endeavor. Payments can be mailed to you or directly to Believers Church. Have them write ON2015, Your Name in the memo of the check. 3. Have a yard sale. 4. Ask friends and family to give toward your trip in lieu of birthday and Christmas gifts. 5. Use tax refunds and/or work bonuses. 6

6. Do without something. It s about $5 per day stop going to Starbucks or grabbing the fast food lunch; skip a meal out once every other week. Sacrifice in some way. 7. Do NOT substitute your giving to the church. God will not honor that. Note: Direct contributions to your own mission trip are NOT tax deductible. HOW DOES BELIEVERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIP? Believers Church pays for ministry related activities and supplies related to what we will be doing in country. *Some scholarships may be available. 7

BELIEVERS CHURCH MISSIONS TEAM COMMITMENT Thank you for serving as a Missions Team Member at Believers. As a Missions Team Member, you will be viewed by those in your group as part of a larger group and by the church as an extension of the church. As a result, we ask that you enter into commitment with the other Missions Team Members by making the following commitments: 1. I will embody and reflect the Core Values of Believers and will follow the leadership of the Trip Coordinators/Team. 2. I will strive to create an environment of growth within the team by: Attending all training events. Building authentic relationships with those in this group by showing care, providing encouragement and praying for their needs. 3. I will faithfully attend Believers on Sundays and demonstrate the W2 principle of working in one service and worshipping in another. 4. I will make BeGroup a priority by: Faithfully attending my BeGroup. Preparing beforehand for group each week. Honestly exploring my next steps for spiritual growth. 5. I will participate in local SE Projects. 6. I will honor my financial commitment to this trip. Name Date 8

BELIEVERS MISSION STATEMENT AND CORE VALUES MISSION STATEMENT Making Jesus # 1, one person at a time! CORE VALUES REACHING Found people find people GROWTH Taking next steps RELATIONSHIPS Broken people love people SERVING It s not about me GENEROSITY We can t out give God 9

APPENDIX A BEGROUPS No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than to study and act upon God s Word. To be a healthy disciple of Jesus, studying God s Word must be your first priority. By the end of each BeGroup, our hope is that we help you: Learn the Word of God as you ve never learned it before. Love the Word of God as you ve never loved it before. Live the Word of God as you ve never lived it before. God s Word is not meant just to inform you, but to transform you! God never meant for Bible study to simply increase our knowledge. Receiving, reading, researching, remembering, and reflecting on the Bible is useless if we fail to put God s Word into practice. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalms 119:105 APPENDIX B SERVANT EVANGELISM PROJECTS WHAT DOES SERVANT EVANGELISM (SE) LOOK LIKE? Servant Evangelism is sharing the love of Jesus through intentional acts of kindness and an invitation to attend Believers Church. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments. Matthew 22: 37-40 HOW DO YOU DO SERVANT EVANGELISM? 1. You need a good idea. 2. Secure the materials that you need. 3. Information about Believers Church (an invitation card). 4. Place to do the project (park, ball fields, etc.). 5. Willing servants. 10

APPENDIX C ORPHANETWORK TRIP Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua Guidelines/Expectations WHEN IS THE 2015 TRIP? TBD around the 2 nd week of August, 2015 WHERE IN NICARAGUA WILL WE BE GOING? Puerto Cabezas, a town in the North East Corner of Nicaragua. There we will be partnering with Pastor Earl and Verbo Church, in partnership with ORPHANetwork. WHAT WILL WE BE DOING? There are a wide variety of serving opportunities that we will be involved in: Feeding 500+ community kids through the Local Church Initiative (LCI) Small Groups (ages 12-20) Work Projects construction, maintenance, cleaning, painting in the dorms and church, etc. Sex/Health Education in the local schools Teaching in classrooms at Verbo Schools 11

HOW LONG WILL WE BE THERE? The trip is basically a week total 2 days of travel and 5-6 days of serving. WHO CAN GO? This is not a youth trip, nor is this an adult trip; it is a church-wide missions trip. Adults of any age can go. Families with children are encouraged to go together. 4real students, 15 and up, can also be a part of the team without an adult family member present. Kids under the age of 15 cannot be a part of the team unless accompanied by at least one parent. WHY THE LIMITATION? Because of the nature of the trip, the travel, the distance from home, the cost, etc. We have a goal that all students have an opportunity to go on at least one missions trip during their time in 4real. Missions trips aren t the same as summer camp or other youth activities. Students younger CAN go; we are just saying that they need to go with a parent. If a student can t go this year, they will have an opportunity to go next time. HOW MUCH DOES THE TRIP COST? Approximately $1,700 for expenses including: food, lodging, travel, hospitality, translators, etc. You will also need to save for shots that you may want to get the cost can range from $50.00-$400.00/person depending on your needs. Finally, you will need to have a current passport a new passport is approximately $160.00. PAYMENT SCHEDULE (PER PERSON): Made to Believers Church with the designation of ON2015 + Your Name. Commitment Deposit $ 50.00 (non-refundable) First Payment due by 1/4 $412.50 Second Payment due by 3/ 1 $412.50 Third Payment due by 5/3 $412.50 Final Payment due by 7/5 $412.50 OR MONTHLY October $189.00 November $189.00 December $189.00 January $189.00 February $189.00 March $189.00 April $189.00 May $189.00 June - $189.00 12

For any financial questions or to discuss your payment plan, contact Heather Carl heather.carl@believerschurch.org, 488.7541. IMMUNIZATION INFO This will be discussed in more detail at the first team meeting. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/nicaragua.htm 13

SAMPLE LETTER: Dear Family and Friends, I/We am/are excited to tell you about an amazing organization my/our church, Believers, is partnered with in Nicaragua called ORPHANetwork (ON). Their vision is to see every orphaned child reaching their full, God-given potential. The mission of ON is to: Rescue abandoned children Prevent at-risk children from becoming abandoned Create the opportunity for a new life Share Christ with everyone I/we is/are part of a short-term mission team to Puerto Cabezas (Port), Nicaragua in August of 2015. We will be working with and through a local Christian church as we believe the local church is the hope of the world! ON wants to work toward finding and identifying successful indigenous leaders that share their values and mission and get behind their work. ON believes (and we agree) Nicaraguans are the best ones to solve the problems of Nicaragua. As a church, Believers places a strong emphasis on the value relationships have in moving us along in our spiritual journeys. That common value is one of the many reasons our partnership with ON is so exciting. The trip in 2015 is not a one-time deal this is a long-term commitment our church has made to ON and Verbo Church, Casa Bernabe (orphanage), and the Local Church Initiative (LCI ~ feeding center) in Port. I/We would like to encourage you to learn more about ORPHANetwork through their website: www.orphanetwork.org. As a team, we will be caring for, loving on and playing with the kids at Casa Bernabe and the LCI, working on various construction projects, and whatever else God leads us to do! While we prepare for our trip to Port, will you please partner with us in prayer? We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to serve in this way! We pray expecting God to use, challenge, and change us as individuals, a family, and a church. Some prayer needs for Puerto Cabezas are: As a number of older kids transition out of the orphanage, pray they would acclimate to their new surroundings, holding onto Jesus for guidance in this next stage of their lives. Pray for Pastor Earl, the orphanage director, his wife, Damaris, and the staff that cares for the children. Pray the children would come to know Jesus, and feel loved and secure as they live at Casa Bernabe. 14

Of course, there is a cost (approximately $1700 each) to be part of this trip. As you pray with and for us, if you feel God leading you to be a part of this mission by giving financially, I/we would be so grateful! Checks should be made payable to Believers Church; memo Your Name(s), ON2015. May God s richest blessing be on you because of your prayer and/or financial support! [We] pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen. ~ Ephesians 3:20 (CEV) ~ 15