Serving on a Short-Term Mission Team is an extraordinary call to answer.

This journey will be one of service to God and personal spiritual growth. You’ll experience excitement and stress, fun and frustration, joy and satisfaction. Your life will be changed in ways from the simple and unexpected to the more profound. Even though the trips are short, they can have a long-term impact on those they serve and those who are serving. Through a short-term team mission trip:

• Your team will experience firsthand what it means to serve in another culture and learn the challenges of communicating the Gospel and of ministry in that culture.
• Your team will encourage those who serve in the country you visit by your presence. The missionaries, missionary spouses, children, and nationals who serve in that country all need your prayers and encouragement as they minister and share the Good News of Jesus.
• Your team will also discover how you and your congregation can lend aid and support to the ongoing ministry in that country.
• Finally, your team will learn how God’s heart aches for the lost, for your heart will also ache for those who do not yet know Jesus. Hopefully, this ache will motivate you to engage your congregation more courageously in connecting people to Jesus.

This training is an important step in this journey. It will provide answers about what to expect and tools for your success. It will also allow you to meet and work with your team before you travel, live, and work together. This is an important step in building a strong, effective team.

The training is divided into seven sections. Sections one through six are designed to be completed before the team departs for the field, and the seventh section to be completed after the team returns. The team leader can lead the team through the training or select a person from the team to act as the training facilitator.

You can view the videos (available anywhere you have an Internet connection) individually or in a group setting.  You should also print a Facilitator Guide as well as Participant Guides for each member before beginning the training. In addition, you are encouraged to print copies of the Personal Devotion Journal for each team member.

It is the prayer of LCMS World Mission that God will bless you during this training and as your team serves in His Kingdom.