MOST Ministries - Mission Opportunites Short Term

TEAM TIME LINE

This time line is written on a 9-12 month planning process. A mission trip can certainly be done in less than 12 months simply with all the work compressed into a shorter amount of hours. This time line will need to be adjusted to fit you and your congregation. These are simply suggestions from people who have previously participated on a mission team. When you set up your time line, make sure you start at departure day and work back from there. Keep this close by to review from time to time!

9-12 Months Before Departure: Lay the Foundation
- Contact MOST Ministries regarding church's interest, possible dates, service, location and number of potential team members
- Elicit pastoral and leadership support
- Recruit prayer support foundation
- Hold informational meeting to build interest in potential team members, organizational helpers and for congregational support
- Keep list of those interested

9-12 Months Before Departure: Prepare the Groundwork
- Select one person to act as the Team Liaison
- Develop objective or perhaps a vision statement
- Develop funding guidelines and budget
- Contact those who have shown interest
- Contact church treasurer regarding handling of funds Mission location, dates and service

9-12 Months Before Departure: Commitment
- Letter of Intent needs to be signed by the Pastor and returned to MOST Ministries along with the non-refundable registration/deposit

9-12 Months Before Departure: Team Registration
- Complete the Registration and Medical forms
- Make one copy of all your documents for your records and send all originals to MOST Ministries together with a copy of your signed passport photo
- Hold Team Development Meetings and begin strategic planning for involving people

6 - 9 Months Before Departure
- Read through the training materials received in the Welcome Mailing
- Start the Bible Study
- Start project preparations
- Begin fund raising and public awareness campaigns
- Select Team Medic and begin to assemble first aid kit

3-6 Months Before Departure
- First payment due
- Continue your team meetings and project preparations
- Schedule the Commissioning Service with your pastor for the Sunday before departure if possible

2 Months Before Departure
- Contact your prayer partners and give them your pre-field itinerary and prayer requests
- Begin weekly team building/training meetings
- Consider a team building field-trip, (most camps have team building programs already in place), day retreat or weekend camp
- Continue fundraising

1 Month Before Departure
- Continue team meetings
- Complete personal/congregational fund raising
- Make your final payment to MOST
- Schedule a Team Packing Meeting with MOST Ministries and your Team Leader

2 Weeks Before Departure
- Receive your Departure Mailing
- Set time to meet with your Personal Debriefer
- Schedule a departure prayer service with pastor (brief prayer/communion service inviting family, prayer partners, church leadership)
- Complete arrangements for personal medical needs (immunizations, re-fill prescriptions, etc.)

1 Week Before Departure
- Attend your Commissioning Service
- Give your prayer partners your on-the-field itinerary
- Attend your Final Team Meeting
- Give your emergency information to the appropriate people (family members, pastor, church secretary)
- Make sure everyone has their passport and allotted luggage with MOST luggage tags attached
- Review baggage restrictions
- Brief prayer service (at the church prior to departure to the airport)

Departure
- Sending off prayer service
- Remember your passport and airline tickets

On The Field
- Communicate to MOST Ministries' Team Leader any concerns regarding your health and / or culture shock) that you may be experiencing.
- 1-2 Days After Return
- Meet with your personal debriefer

1 Week After Return
- Receive your re-entry mailing
- Attend your Team Debriefing Meeting
- Contact MOST Ministries regarding any concerns

2-3 Weeks After Return
- Attend Team Meeting and exchange photos
- Debrief with pastor and leadership
- Complete your Short Term Evaluation Form and return it to MOST Ministries.
- Report to congregation.
- Report to prayer partners