How to choose a missions experience

Group, Nov/Dec 1999 by Borthwick, Paul

how many experienced field staffers will be assigned to our group?

A higher proportion of local staffers in relation to team members usually translates to higher quality work and learning. Your young people will have more opportunities to be mentored, and they'll see local Christian leaders as "real" people.

On-site leaders with lots of local experience can serve as a bridge to the community and they can help explain or interpret the team's experiences. But if on-site staffers are novices, they won't offer your team seasoned leadership or savvy help in responding to emergencies.

what requirements for participation does the organization set?

In other words, who will your kids be working with? We sent a team to work with an organization in a poor area of rural America. Our hosts clustered small youth groups together for ministry and service, but had few preliminary requirements for those who participated. As a result, our kids worked alongside teenagers who openly admitted they were not Christians. Our team was caught off guard-they came expecting to do evangelism, but not with their fellow team members!

how does the host's ministry philosophy blend with ours?

This question addresses both team size and time together with your kids. If you want to spend intense one-on-one time with your teenagers, it's unwise to partner with a ministry that sends teams of 35 young people out with five adults. You'll spend your time just keeping the troops in line

If your goal is to build community among your team members, choose an organization that specializes in it. One group funnels team members from the same church into various work projects. Group members see each other on the trip to the location, at night, and on the way home, but not during the project itself.

what's the organization's track record?

Ask for four or five references before signing on with a group. Call other youth leaders. Ask questions about the group's philosophy, team dynamics, and ministry. And remember to ask questions parents have about safety records and adult supervision.

what will it cost us?

Before you sign a contract, make sure you understand the organization's pricing structure. What will it cost if you have to cancel? What if you bring five fewer kids than the contract states? What do administrative costs cover?

We owe it to our teenagers and their parents to discover how our money is spent. 0

Paul Borthwick is a veteran youth leader, an adjunct professor of missions at Gordon College, and a staffer at Developmental Associates International in Massachusetts.