A short-term mission trip is much more than the time spent serving on the field. It is a journey that begins with prayer and discernment, continues through intentional preparation and cross-cultural service, and extends beyond the team’s return home. The following steps provide a roadmap for walking through the short-term mission process from start to finish, helping teams prepare thoughtfully, serve faithfully alongside their hosts, and reflect on how God is at work in and through the experience.

1. Discern the opportunity
   • Pray and discern the purpose of the trip.
   • Connect with the Global Servant/international partner and identify the actual needs of the host ministry.
   • Clarify location, ministry activities, approximate dates, skills needed, and who the trip is intended for.
   • Establish a team leader and sending church/organization.
2. Build the team
   • Recruit team members who fit the purpose and needs of the opportunity.
   • Communicate expectations, estimated costs, fundraising needs, travel requirements, and preparation commitments.
   • Confirm the final team roster.
3. Register the team with IM
   • Once the team is established, the team leader submits the STM Team Information Form. It includes trip details, host/partner information, team member information, sending church/organization information, an emergency contact, and choices regarding orientation and debriefing.
   • Timing matters: We encourage volunteers to reach out to the MET to begin the registration process at least four months before departure, but no less than two months before, and all registration requirements must be completed 30 days before departure.

4. Each team member completes their registration

5. Prepare the team for service
   • Registration gets people cleared to go, but orientation prepares them to go well.
   • Pre-field preparation can cover behavioral and relational posture, cross-cultural communication, conflict, challenging stereotypes, stress and culture shock, team relationships, safety/emergency considerations, trip logistics, etc.
   • The team should also communicate directly with the Global Servant/host about cultural expectations, ministry plans, schedules, appropriate dress, local conditions, and what the host actually needs from the team.

6. Finalize practical details
   • Before departure the team leader is encouraged to confirm flights and transportation, confirm passports and any required visas, review insurance information, confirm finances and team funds, review emergency procedures, confirm the ministry schedule with the host, pray together and commission/send the team.

7. Serve
   • Once on the field, the goal is to serve alongside the host well.
   • Encourage the team to follow the leadership of the Global Servant and local partners, remain flexible when plans change, practice cultural humility, prioritize relationships over tasks, check in as a team each day, address conflict or concerns early, pray and reflect together regularly

8. Return and debrief
   • The trip does not end when the plane returns. It is recommended that the team schedule an initial team debrief within about one week of returning. IM offers post-trip debriefing upon request.
   • During this debrief, you can discuss topics such as the following: Where did we see God at work? What surprised or challenged us? What assumptions changed? What did we learn from our hosts? What was difficult? How has God changed us? What do we need to process further? What should our response be now?

9. Follow through
   • We encourage you not only follow-up with your team members, but to follow- up with others.
     • Thank the Global Servant, partners, churches, donors, and prayer supporters.
     • Share stories responsibly and respectfully.
     • Complete any remaining expense/reporting items.
     • Consider evaluating the trip with the host rather than only evaluating it from the team’s perspective.
     • Determine whether there is an appropriate next step in the relationship with the global servant (i.e. another trip the following year, continual financial support, etc.).
     • Help participants connect what they experienced overseas to ongoing discipleship and mission at home.