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1. 10 STEPS FOR
BUILDING A
SHORT-TERM
MISSIONS TRIP
NICK BARKER
SPIRITUAL LIFE DIRECTOR
SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

2. 0. Pre-Planning
Whiteboard Session
- Every task (big or small)
- Every foreseeable concern
- Create timeline

3. 1. Consider a Trip Planning
Software
(9-12 months out)

5. 2. Trip Selection
(9-12 months out)
-Established Missions Partners
-Missionaries that love our
students
-Helpful & meaningful work
-Safe locations
-Long-term partnership

6. 2024 TRIPS
MOLOKAI (YOUNG LIFE)
PHOENIX (BARRIO NUEVO)
COSTA RICA (JOSHUA EXPEDITIONS) - TWO TEAMS
BELIZE (GALES POINT GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP)
LOUISIANA (ADVENTURES)
ALABAMA (BASEBALL COUNTRY)
FLORIDA (ADVENTURES)
CUBA (ADVENTURES)
PUERTO RICO (ADVENTURES)

7. 3. Team Selection
(5-6 months out)
-Leadership
-Student maturity (spiritual, social,
emotional, physical).
-Relational dynamics
-Strategic team members

8. 4. Funding
(5-6 months out)
- Individual support raising /
letters
- Sending church/organization
- Significant supporters

9. 5. Accommodations
(4-5 months out)
- Airfare
- Ground Transportation
- Housing
- Meals
- Insurance

10. 6. Paperwork &
Documentation
(4-5 months out)
- Passport
- Visas
- Vaccines
- Release forms (sending
organization, missions
organization)
- International Travel Affidavit

11. 7. Build Community
Support
(3 months out)
- Church/organization leadership
- Older generation
- Younger generation

12. 8. Team Training
(1-3 months out)
- Spiritual
- Relational
- Physical
- Emotional
- Trip Safety
- Helping, not hurting

13. 9. Prepare for
Pressure Points
(1 month out)
- Airport security / layovers
- Ground transportation
- Jet lag
- Relational tensions
- No sarcasm allowed on trip
- Meal timing
- Safe foods / water
- Change of plans

14. 10. Communication
(<1 month out)
- Team group chat
- Daily updates for sending
community, parents, and
supporters.
- If posting on social media,
never tag your location.

15. 11. Post Trip
- Exit interviews with team members.
- Reporting back to sending
organization.
- Presenting / sharing.
- Follow up support letter.
- Reflection questions for team.