Principles for a Successful Mission Trip

As part of a series entitled “Planning & Preparing for Short-Term Mission”, YWAM San Diego/Baja will be updating and adding several short blogs with valuable information regarding experiences with Mission Adventures.  This is the first installment.  We hope you enjoy.

Teamwork is one of the most valuable skills each mission team will have the opportunity to develop. The following four principles will help each group enhance their teamwork skills and make their mission trip a success. We recommend each team leader read the principles with the group and challenge the group to think about how they can apply the principles to both the team and to their individual lives.

Four Principles:

1.  Submitting to Leadership
People have been appointed as leaders of each team. Some may feel more qualified than the chosen leader. In several cases, a team member may be older and more experienced in leadership. Each team member must make an earnest effort to support, respect, and follow his/her team leader. The team members should pray for the team leader every day as the team leader will confront many decisions (many decisions unknown to the rest of the team).

2.  Maintaining an Attitude of Servanthood
Projects work well when each group member maintains an attitude of serving. It is always good to keep in mind that, “We must look out for the interest of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). The team leader and team members are servants as they encourage, support, and affirm each other. A great question to ask in all situations is, “What is left to do? How can I help complete the remaining tasks?”
 
3.  Forgiving and Letting Go
It is impossible to live with people day after day without someone getting offended. Each person must make a commitment to forgive and work out problems that arise. Remember, if a brother or sister is mad at one another, each must go and make things right (Matt. 7:23, 18:15, James 5:6, 19-20). Above all, forgive as Christ has forgiven.

4.  Praying
If team members are to experience a successful trip and spiritual unity, they must pray in small group prayer, individual prayer, and whole team prayer. Many problems would be solved much quicker if prayer were the first weapon of defense. Unfortunately, prayer is often an afterthought. YWAM’s goal for each team is to have prayer become the team’s highest priority. A famous preacher once said, “Prayer works so well in a crisis, it’s a wonder we don’t implement it on a regular basis.”

Written & Complied by Sean Lambert, Andy Ortega, Amber Stamos, Sheril Brasher & Ema Tuvoukula as part of the Mission Adventures Outreach Training Manual from YWAM San Diego/Baja.