READ THIS FIRST!
Columbia, SC: June 4 - June 10, 2023: You must have completed 9th grade by summer 2023 to apply. Space is limited. We’re going to do our best, but applicants may be accepted on a first come, first served basis. This trip is work, before, during, and after. It will be fun and it will be adventure, but it will be work. You’re going to have to read, plan, study, prepare, and be present. You will be part of a group responsible for planning, organizing, and directing mercy ministry opportunities, work projects, and other endeavors. If you are not willing or able to invest the time please do not apply. If you are not preparing adequately or meeting your responsibilities we reserve the right to not take you on this trip any time prior to June 4. Note that this year we cannot refund your money, so do your pre-trip work.
SOME IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. We are partnering with Next Step Ministries for our mission trip. Next Step works around the States and the globe in long-term relationships with local communities to bring the Gospel in word and deed to people who need to hear the Good News. Next Step staff will help lead our mission trip this summer.
2. Unlike on previous mission trips, we will be serving as a team alongside other teams from other churches. This means that while we're be working together during the day as a Hope team, we will be sharing our sleeping space, some meals and evening worship time with other youth groups. There will be time after the Next Step programming concludes each evening for our group to debrief by ourselves. Three important notes: 1) there is air conditioning at the church where we'll be staying and 2) you must bring an air mattress and your own bedding since we'll be sleeping on the floor and 3) we will have free time on Friday to explore the city.
3. There are a variety of service opportunities available to us in Columbia which will largely be dictated by 1) the size of our team and 2) the needs of the community when we arrive. This could include home repair work projects, summer VBS type programming and/or mercy ministry projects like working with the local homeless population.
Our goals for this trip, in order of priority, are as follows:
1. Be safe. (Rule #1, slightly modified: Don’t die…except to self. Galatians 5:24.)
2. Serve others in a manner glorifying and honoring to God, and representative of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. Learn to live, work, and minister together as a community of believers.
4. Make you a stronger disciple of Jesus (if we do #1, #2 & #3, we will do this one too!)
With that said, this ain’t no beauty contest. We are sure you have gotten good at filling out applications in a manner that paints you in the best light possible. We all have. As you complete this application, keep it real. Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear. Tell us what is.
Please answer the following. Return completed applications to Bryan Lees NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2023. Incomplete applications will be returned. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due Sunday April 2, 2023. Bryan will give you a Mission Trip Journal when he receives your deposit. The total cost of the mission trip is $400. Your family will receive a half-off sibling discount if you have a sibling going on a Hope Summer Youth Trip or to Ligonier for OTE. Scholarships are available upon request. Money should NEVER be the reason why you can't go on a youth trip!
