Preparing for your missions trip

It is our desire that you be well prepared for your mission trip. Being well prepared will help you not only feel more confident as you share the Good News of Jesus Christ with people who desperately need to know Him, but you will actually discover that you are more effective in planting seeds, helping them to grow, and actually harvesting fruit for God’s Kingdom. You will also be more prepared, as 1 Peter 3:15 states, “to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you”. Since Evangelism, or Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is what you will principally be doing during your trip we want to share a powerful tool with you to be better prepared in that area.

Effective January 1, 2017, we are requesting that all teams coming on mission trips with Good News in Action successfully complete a study guide for Evangelism. The title of the book is “Share Jesus Without Fear” written by William Fay and Ralph Hodge. The book is very inexpensive and can be easily purchased through Amazon, Lifeway, Christianbooks.com, and Barnes and Nobles. We ask that the leader of the team, as well as every team member, successfully complete the entire course found in this book prior to their trip. The book consists of 4 group sessions that should be led by the leader of the team, meeting weekly with the entire team, interspersed with 3 weeks of individual daily devotional work. At the end of the book, there is a section where 36 of the most common objections to the gospel are addressed. The book presents the importance of first cultivating a heart that is willing and able to share the gospel, followed by a very simple and relational approach to witnessing that emphasizes the dependence on God’s Word and Power for the results. You will learn how to navigate through a gospel conversation that is very useful, as well as receiver, friendly. Hopefully, you will find that this resource not only will better prepare you for your mission trip but will also help you to share the gospel without fear at home as God gives you the opportunity.

The book is also available in Spanish in the event you have team members that are fluent in Spanish and would like to prepare themselves in Spanish since they will be sharing the gospel in Spanish during the trip. The book in Spanish is titled “Testifique De Cristo Sin Temor”, and is also available at the same locations as mentioned above for the English version.

Leaders and Team Members, Please take the time to go through this study, make it a priority prior to your trip. Be accountable to each other for the daily devotionals, memorize the scriptures, do the daily work. Commit yourself to Sharing Jesus Without Fear in every opportunity God gives you.

In advance, we thank you for taking the time to prepare yourself and your team for this very important mission trip. The Expansion of God’s Kingdom and the Transformation of Lives depend in part upon your ability to share the gospel effectively. Let’s be prepared to do our part to make sure a person understands God’s Plan and take away the enemy’s power to snatch away that which was sown in a person’s heart.

Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”

Being safe on your missions trip

Is safety a concern on a short term Good News in Action mission trip? Yes, many times it is. In fact, safety is a concern we all face every day no matter where we are, inside or outside the United States. There are so many factors that are beyond our control, we face safety risks no matter where we are and no matter what we are doing. A Good News in Action mission trip destination is no exception.

Please be assured that we, at Good News in Action, do everything that is within our power to make sure your mission trip will be a safe trip. We choose wisely where we accommodate our teams and wisely where we take the teams to do ministry. We daily guide our teams with instructions for their safety. It is very important to listen to and follow all safety instructions. We are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit if last-minute changes need to be made for any reason. We cover our trips and teams in prayer and trust that the Lord will watch over us and keep us safe always.

It is important to understand that we cannot personally guarantee absolute safety, but we can do all that is within our power to be wise and lead our teams as safely as possible. Please remember that perfect safety is an illusion everywhere and always. Instead of worrying about safety, it is our desire that all team members embrace biblical wisdom and God’s goodness as they consider their trip. Please thoughtfully consider the following six reflections as you plan to be a part of a mission team:

There is something much better than life.

We can’t think about risks in a Christian manner unless we are convinced the gospel is worth dying for. We must join the Psalmist and say, “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You” (Psalm 63:3). God’s people need to understand that in pursuit of gospel ends, the risks are always eminent but never pointless. Do you believe the gospel is worth dying for? This is a very important question to honestly answer before going on a mission trip.

Jesus was clear that faithfulness to the gospel commission would imply suffering (John 15:20) and for some, death (Luke 21:16). We must be convinced that some personal sacrifice will take place if we are going to be faithful to fulfil the gospel commission. This will be true at home as well as on a mission trip.

We are not promised safety, anywhere.

Many Christians believe that if they are in the center of God’s will nothing bad will ever happen to them. Such a promise is found nowhere in the Bible. As Hebrews tells us, many believers faithfully committed to God’s will have faced “trials of mockings and scourgings.” Others will have faced “chains of imprisonment” and “they were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were slain with the sword” (Hebrews 11:36-37). God’s word is clear. He promises to use our life for His glory if we surrender it to Him and promises to bring us safely to heaven for our joy and His honor. God does not promise us safety anywhere in this fallen world.

Taking unnecessary risks is still stupid.

There is nothing especially godly about dying because of a dumb decision. And there’s nothing glorious about bringing on suffering through stupidity. Boldness should be tempered with wisdom. We do all that is within our power to make wise decisions for our teams and we trust that our teams will be wise with the instructions they have been given. All teams that go to all GNIA destinations have the benefit of working with long term, well-established leaders who know the language, the culture, and the most common risks. We ask that all team members be willing to rigorously follow all advice and direction they are given from their leaders both prior to going and once on the field. “….A wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15)

It’s okay to consider the opinions of your parents, spouse, adult children, siblings, and Christian leaders.

There is nothing wrong with taking into consideration the fears of those closest to you. It might even be a good opportunity to shine your light for Jesus and transmit to them something of what God is doing in your life as well as your faith in His care over you. Do your best to calm their fears with the information provided on this page or in any other way the Lord leads. If you feel it is in the best interest of your relationship and witness with that person or persons please don’t hesitate to delay your trip. But don’t allow the fears of others to rule your thoughts and heart. Remember fear paralyzes and is not of God. If the Lord has instructed you to go on a trip, be obedient, and do it by faith. Your obedience just might be the powerful tool God will use in the life of that person to draw them closer to Him. “…….In the abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 11:14)

Bible-informed risk/benefit analysis is not ungodly.

Granted, not all risks are worth taking………but with that said, also understand that there are some risks that are worth taking. Please be assured that all GNIA mission trips are designed to reach as many people for Christ as possible. The temporal risks far outweigh the eternal benefits. Every day you will be sharing the gospel with all those you encounter. The trip will be extremely useful for the Expansion of God’s Kingdom and the Transformation of lives. It is not uncommon to see hundreds of people make professions of faith in a one-week trip. And that is not the only benefit. It is amazing what the Lord will do in the life of each team member during the week. He will teach and grow each person in a way only He can do. We guarantee that each team member will go home radically different and changed for God’s glory. The trip will be extremely useful for the gospel work in you, around you, through you, and in all the lives you touch. The benefits far outweigh the risks. Remember, the benefits are eternal. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

Places around the globe in conflict are in conflict for a reason.

It is important to realize that places that experience conflict (such as danger and violence) are like that for a reason. It is a result of the sin people have in their un-regenerated hearts. Jesus taught that the world is a sinful and violent place. He challenged His disciples to not live in fear but rather to trust Him, to find peace in Him and to realize that although there will be tribulation in this life, to be of good cheer because He has already overcome the world. (John 16:33) There is no greater objective in life than to spread that message to others who do not yet know Christ so that they might find peace and joy also as they live their lives and know that one day they will also share in Jesus great victory. It is a tremendous thing to see a person genuinely turn to Christ and to choose to live a life that honors God rather than this world. Remember, blessed are the peacemakers. What better way to make peace? We have been given the message and ministry of reconciliation, it is our job to put it to good use. One person at a time, you can make a difference in this world as you share that message and more importantly, you can make a difference for eternity.

We hope to see you soon on a Good News in Action mission trip!