Summer
is finally upon us. Which
for a lot of youth groups means getting geared up for a missions
experience. Whether your group will serve outside of the country or
just down the street, your preparation (or lack of) can have a big
impact on your overall effectiveness. Ive done such trips as Africa,
A few hours away in FL or CA and even local places. These are thing
that I make sure I have covered with my students.
So.... Here are 10 tips to help you and
your group prepare for a meaningful time of service and a cool way to
go after their hearts.
- Learn about the culture before you go
Before you leave your church, do some
research on the culture you’ll be visiting. If serving Stateside,
learn about the area you’re going into, some of the local history,
and any current issues. If you’re going to be serving an
impoverished neighborhood, you and your students probably have areas
of common interest with the people you’ll be with. Just because a
person is “poor” does not mean that he doesn’t listen to music
or watch tv.
If you’re traveling overseas, learn
about the culture you’ll be serving. What do they eat? What do they
wear? What are some common sayings? Are there unique ways you show
respect?
- Love your neighbor as yourself
You will lead or co-lead a group that
has come to help and serve. Remember to lead with grace and respect.
Treating others as you want to be treated is not always about
avoiding “bad stuff.” Sometimes it is also about being respectful
in the way we offer help, both to those on your team and to those
you’ll serve. Be a servant in what you do.
- Be FAT: Faithful, Available, and Teachable
Come with a willingness to serve. And
encourage your students to do the same. Be totally in. Be willing to
learn what you need to do. Move your group out of their comfort zone.
Be the people who meet the needs that might otherwise go unmet.
- Avoid the “poor them” attitude
If you’re serving overseas, you might
have students seeing poverty in a developing country for the first
time. They may be shocked by what they see when they see. It should
hurt their heart. However, help your students keep from developing an
attitude of pity or hopelessness. Encourage students to share Christ
and His hope! This is what the poor (and everyone else) needs. Those
in need know they are in need. But their greatest need is their need
for faith, hope and salvation.
- Be all there!
This is an important one you can help
your students with. Remind them that there is a time to talk with
their friends, to text, or to Facebook. While they are serving is not
that time. Make some hard and fast rules here. Don’t let your
students stand on the side lines and experience by “watching.”
Get involved in every moment of this time you have.
- Follow the rules
If you and/or your group are given
specific instructions to minister in a certain way, follow the
guidelines. We may not understand why certain missions organizations
do what they do, but there is a reason why. Show respect by doing it
their way.
- You are not the Savior
As you see suffering, you and your
group will want to help. Compassion should move us to action. Jesus
is the only one who can sufficiently meet the needs of the needy. You
are not expected to save anyone. The problems you’ll witness may
seem so big that you don’t know what to do. You or your students
might be tempted to become overwhelmed. Remember, you are only
expected to do what you can do.
And, sometimes the people we serve may
not seem “thankful” for our help. This can sting because we’ve
come wanting to see them embrace Christ. Remember again that Jesus is
the one that will change the heart. Do what the Lord wants of you and
know that our blessings really come from being faithful.
- Be proactive!
If you see something that needs to be
done do it. And grab two or three students to come with you! Don’t
stand on the sidelines all the time waiting for someone to tell you
what to do. Some of the “jobs” are not glamorous. Washing dishes
or stacking chairs might seem boring, but it needs to be done. And if
you model this behavior, you will be amazed at how your students will
pick up on it.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep
We meet someone in poverty and the
story breaks our heart. So we tell them that we will buy them what
they need and send it along. Then we get home and forget while that
person waits for you to fill the need. Think before you act. Address
this in your students before you go on your trip.
- Take it all in
Encourage your students to be sponges!
Listen to the people you’ll serve. Don’t be afraid to tell them
you will pray for them. Keep a prayer journal. Seeing beyond our own
world changes us. Christ will use this time to draw you and your
students closer to Him. Let it happen.
What
tips would you share with others that you have found helpful in
preparing you for your mission experiences?
1 comment:
Great post, Tim! Excellent insight and ideas for students and parents. Keep up the great work!
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