So… you’re leading a short-term team. What do you pull off the shelf to train them? Would it be “Foreign to Familiar?” … “Serving With Eyes Wide Open?” … or maybe “Round Trip?” The church for which I’m Missions Committee Chairman just did a trip to visit one of the missions we support in Haiti. I recommended the latter, based on the recommendation of Pat, a great friend and Missions Minister in Southern Indiana. Our group loved it. It’s extremely affordable (like — $20 for everything, including videos and rights to copy up to 1000 copies for your church or agency). The insights and discussions that came out of our participation in the course were *exactly* what you’d want a short-term team to cover. Can’t say enough positive things about it.
But what’s your favorite resource? What tool would you recommend? Just click “Comment” below and write in your solution. Thanks in advance for your response.
Look at Mission Launch -team leader training program by Mission eXcell.
We also like the new Live in The Light devotional Bible study journals that cover pre-field, on-field, and reentry for each team member.
How do I order or receive the Training for Short-term Missions Trip Participants.
I would recommend the book “BEFORE YOU GO” authored by pastor Jack Hempfling, available on Amazon.com. It is a 40 day devotional written to help prepare a “short-termer” for what they will face, culturally, spiritually, relationally and so on once they get to the field. I cannot say enough about this book as a tool for preparation for successful short term trips overseas.
My wife, Yvonne, has successfully led 38 teams over the past several years. She has assembled a sheath of materials, covering from cultural adaptation and interpersonal relationships to spiritual warfare and how to pack! Request by email: Yvonne_Pirolo@yahoo.com.
i love _The Short Term Missions Workbook_ by Tim Dearborn. i’m usually pretty against prebought curriculum – i think as the leader, you probably know your team and your goal the best and though you might not think you have it in you to jot something down to prep, you do. it’s also a classic example of contextualization – use the material but tailor it to your team.
The devotional “Before You Go” is one of the tools we have used in YWAM. It’s has been an excellent resource for our short term outreach teams and I would recommend it for anyone .
Delta Ministries has several resources one of which is called “The Next Mile” for pre field, on the field and post field training. It provides great follow up so that the trip isn’t the end but the beginning of missions for many. The also have a free downloadable “Starter Kit” for short term missions. Go to http://www.deltaministries.com for information.
Check out “Mission Launch Team Training,” discipleship training designed for international or domestic teams.
Used by churches, sending agencies, and schools, as well as Moody Bible Institute!
Cindy Judge, author of “Before You Pack Your Bag, Prepare Your Heart,” wrote the forward to the new second edition, saying: “Team leaders I know have longed for such a curriculum.”
http://www.missiontriptraining.com for more information