eric and carol hanson - mission excell

Discipleship Training Curriculum for International Short-Term Teams

Member GuideSecond Edition

Written By

Eric and Carol Hanson

missiontriptraining.com

MISSION LAUNCH TEAM TRAINING Discipleship Training for International Short-Term TeamsMember Guide

Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Eric and Carol Hanson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise (unless noted) – without the expressed, written permission of the authors.

Second Edition 2013

ISBN 978-1-939795-84-7

Mission Excell847 S. Randall Rd., #178Elgin, IL 60123www.missiontriptraining.com

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Video Production: JS Creative (www.kiwimonkie.com)Cover Design: Carol Hanson

Printed in the United States of America

This Team Member Guide is designed to be used in conjunction with a Mission Launch Team Training Leader Guide in a group setting. Each team member is to have their own Team Member Guide for each mission trip. Any children/teenagers traveling with their parent(s) should have their own Team Member Guide as well. To order more Guides, please visit our website: missiontriptraining.com

© 2013 Eric and Carol Hanson v

ContentsAcknowledgements xi

WelcomeYour Team Member Guide 3Get Ready! 3

Team Meeting 1Introduction 7

Welcome and Prayer 7Getting Focused 7Meet the Team 8

Vision for the Mission 9Video 9Trip Timeline 10

Team Building 10Group vs. Team 10Team Covenant 11

Leadership Opportunities 13Support Raising 14

Why Raise Support? 14Two Types of Support 14Steps to Support Raising 15Recap 19Other Support Raising Ideas 19Brainstorm Potential Supporters 20Sample Support Raising Letter 24Sample Response Form 25Sample Supporter Tracking Record 26

Logistics 28Assignments 28Closing Prayer 28Payment and Meeting Schedule 29

vi Mission Launch Team Training: International Member Guide

Self-Study 1Introduction 33

Before Your Next Team Meeting 33

Mission Launch 34Personal Checkup 36

Physical Preparation 36Spiritual Preparation 36Relational Preparation 37Cross-Cultural Preparation 37Personal Motivation 37Expectations 37

Spiritual Preparation 38Support Raising 38Prayer 38Devotions 38Journaling 38Your Story 39Bible Reading 39Scripture Memorization 39

Pray 40Veteran Challenge 40


Welcome and Prayer 43Getting Focused 43Self-Study Review 43

Team Building 44Team Building Game 44

Spiritual Preparation 44Conduits for God 44Self-Study Review: Spiritual Prep 45

Leadership Opportunities 46Logistics 47

Details 47Assignments 47Closing Prayer 47

© 2013 Eric and Carol Hanson vii



Immunizations 52Cultural Checkup 53Poverty and the Poor 55

Why Is There Poverty? 55Who Are the Poor? 55How Do We Confront Poverty? 56God’s Response Through Us 57

Our View of the World 58Understanding Our View 58Encountering Another Christian Worldview 58Navigating New Views 59

Culture Shock 60What Is Culture Shock? 60Coping With Culture Shock 61




Cross-Cultural Experience 66Cultural Awareness 66Trip Timeline 66Cultural Adjustment 67Culture Shock 68“What If…?” 69

Spiritual Experience 70Book of Acts 70Global Expressions of Christianity 70

Logistics 72Details 72Assignments 72Closing Prayer 72

viii Mission Launch Team Training: International Member Guide



Social Customs and Sensitivity 76Time and Space 76Greetings and Gestures 76Conversation 77Those “Loud Americans” 78Photography 78

Crossing Cultures 80Your Story 82

Writing Your Story 82

God’s Story 87Bridge Diagram 87




Ministry Preparation 94Your Story 94God’s Story 94

Team Building 95Team Building Game 95

Logistics 95Details 95Assignments 95Closing Prayer 95

Packing 96Clothing and Appearance 96Packing Tips 97Suggested Packing List 98

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Preparing to Serve 104Health Precautions 107

Insurance 107Immunizations 107Sun Exposure and Insect Concerns 107Sanitary Issues 107Food and Water Safety 108

Working with Interpreters 109The Basics 109When Preaching or Teaching 110




Long-Term Impact 116Logistics 117

Details 117Assignments 118Closing Prayer 118


Before Your Departure 121

Personal Safety 122Money Issues 123

Spending Money 123Tipping 124Shopping 124

Arrival In-Country 124We’re Almost There! 124

x Mission Launch Team Training: International Member Guide


On The FieldTeam Devotionals and Daily Journals 129

Debrief ing MeetingIntroduction 159

Welcome and Prayer 159Thoughts and Emotions 159Memorable Moments 159Paper Pass 160

Trip Debrief 160The Soil of Our Heart 161

Re-Entry 161Reverse Culture Shock 161Imagine Arriving Home 162My Impact Story 163Opportunity and Responsibility 164

Life Application 164Logistics 165

Celebration Party 165Going Home 165Closing Prayer 166

Team Member Evaluation 167

Self-Study 6Introduction 171Going Beyond the Trip 172

Relating to God 172Relating to People 173Finding a Mentor 174

Pray 174Veteran Challenge 175About the Authors 177Notes 179

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” William Carey

Welcome

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out work-ers into his harvest field.”Matthew 9:37-38

I will praise you, O Lord,

among the nations; I will sing

of you among the peoples…Be

exalted, O God, above the

heavens; let your glory be over

all the earth.

Psalm 57: 9, 11

© 2013 Eric and Carol Hanson 3

Welcom

eWelcomeYou are about to embark on an exciting journey with God! You may not realize it, but YOU are an answer to the prayers of Christ-followers around the world.The harvest is plentiful. People everywhere are hungry for the message of Good News, and we continually pray that God will send out workers into the “harvest fields.” You’ve heard that call of God and have responded. Thank you!

Your Team Member GuideThis Team Member Guide is a resource to help you prepare for your upcoming trip. It contains critical information to prepare you spiritually, cross-culturally, relationally, and physically so that your whole team can be effective in another culture, as well as when you return home.Inside your Team Member Guide, you will find places to take notes during each meeting, so be sure to bring it with you every time you connect with your team. During these meetings, you will be bonding with your teammates, learning how to communicate cross-culturally, and hopefully, deepening your trust and dependency on Jesus.In-between meetings, you will have Self-Study material to complete. On the field, your Team Member Guide will serve as your daily devotional and journal. You will also utilize this material as you debrief and return home.Your Team Member Guide will become a remembrance for you. Years later, you will look back and remember what God did in your life through this mission trip!

Get Ready!We guarantee that if you are willing to step out of your “comfort zone” and serve others when opportunities arise on your trip, God will use you in ways you could never imagine. Get ready to have your faith ignited as the Holy Spirit works through you to impact other people!

1“We must be global Christians with a global vision

because our God is a global God.” John R. Stott

Team Meeting

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Team M

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Team MeetingIntroduction

Welcome and Prayer

Getting FocusedRead the Bible verse provided by your team leader.

How do these verses apply to us?

8 Mission Launch Team Training: International Member Guide

Meet the Team Name

Basic family information

Why I joined the team

Icebreaker

My Team Members1. _________________________________

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Team M

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Vision for the MissionVideoNotes:

Read: Matthew 28:18-20

Who’s authority do we have?

What is the mission that God has given us?

Who is being discipled on this trip?

1“Missions is more than a matter of obeying a

command, it is the result of an encounter with Christ. To meet Christ, means to become caught up

in a mission to the world.”David Bosch

Self-Study

1


Self-Study 1

Self-StudyIntroductionWelcome to the adventure of short-term missions! God wants to do great things in and through you. Undoubtedly, your willingness to prepare will directly correlate to how effective your team will be “on the field.” Your team is counting on you!In these Self Studies, you will be reading information pertinent to the trip and work-ing through some questions to help you prepare. Each of these studies will take about 30 minutes to complete, so please set aside time in your schedule.Have you been on a short-term trip in the past? Great! We want to challenge you to dig deeper, take your experience up a notch, and try out the optional “Veteran Challenges.” These are designed to help you grow deeper in your faith and become even more of an asset to your team.

Before Your Next Team MeetingPlease complete these items for your next meeting. Your team leader will be asking if these items are completed.

� Complete trip application � Pay deposit � Apply for passport, if needed � Complete visa application, if appropriate � Work through the “Support Raising” section and begin sending support

letters � Read and complete Self-Study One in Team Member Guide (if you are a

returning team member, consider the “Veteran Challenge”) � Pray and contact your team leader regarding your desire to serve in a sub-

leader role � Pray for your team

Debrief ing Meeting

“If all of your concern is about your own life, your job, your clothes, your children’s good clothes, healthy bodies, a good education, a good job and marriage, then your concerns are no different from someone

who is lost in Bhutan, Myanmar, or India.”K.P. Yohannan

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.Psalm 126:3


Debriefing

Debrief ing MeetingIntroductionWelcome and Prayer

Thoughts and EmotionsDebriefing and re-entry is a process, not a one-time activity. You have experienced something incredible and “beyond-the-norm” for most people. Taking the time now to apply this unique event is essential in order to receive the greatest impact from your trip and be further transformed into the person that God wants you to be. We are now near the end of the “Trip” section of this mission. Remember however, that this adventure is not all over when you arrive back in your hometown. Like a plant, you were uprooted from your familiar life routine to go on this trip. Now it’s time to “uproot” again and return back home. A major part of your mission experi-ence is about to begin and this is where it can get really exciting for you personally!Quite possibly, there are a variety of thoughts and emotions going through your mind at this point on the trip. You’ve met new friends, you’ve experienced new things, you’ve seen God use you to affect other people’s lives, and you’ve come together as a team with people you really didn’t know well before you left. At the same time, you are probably looking forward to the comforts and familiarity of home! More than likely, you’ve started to envision seeing your loved ones again.

Memorable MomentsShare one memorable moment.

eric and carol hanson - mission excell

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