From Mission Trip to Community Development

• “As my Father sent me, so send I you.”
• Mission trips can be fun and hard work.  For more influence and growth, we can move beyond a one-time experience toward community development.

• Pray for guidance to be the presence of Christ on the trip – with other church members and with others.
• Learn about the people we will visit.  What are the issues they confront?  What can I bring to their lives?  What can I learn from them?

• Pray and be open to new spiritual growth.  Interact as a fellow child of God.  Meet people through establishing individual and family relationships.  Work on projects and programs together with the people who live there.
• Point of view:  Learn to look through another’s eyes.  Who has assets?  Look for the assets of the people in the community and help them recognize what they have to offer.
• Realize that we are getting and giving with the people in the community.  Be open to receiving gifts of learning from them.

• Pray for continuing guidance from Jesus.
• What did we learn from the experience?  What did we learn from the people?  How can we share this learning with the church?
• Maintain relationships with the people for future involvement.
• Use the experience to work in the neighborhoods close to church.