Church Plants and Volunteer Mission Teams, Part 2

Mission Trips can be powerful tools for the growth of individuals and churches. As a church planter, I consider every mission team a force multiplier, multiplying the impact of our church’s outreach in the community. Yesterday I wrote about five rules of thumb for church planters. Today, we turn to the sending church. Here are seven key things to know if your church is taking a trip to help a church plant:  

1. It’s not about you.

Every Mission Trip should be about the people that will be served by your church. But sometimes when our expectations are unmet or we see things or are asked to do things out of our comfort zone, things turn inward. Train your team to expect to be uncomfortable and no matter what happens make the trip about the community, church, and people you’re serving. Love the Navy Seal axiom that applies well to Mission Trip Preparation: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” 

2. The Planter is caring for you PLUS trying to pastor a church.

The church planter is concerned about you, but he also has a job or two. He may need to make a hospital visit, prepare for Sunday’s sermon, lead a small group Bible Study, etc. As much as he may want it to be, his full-time job will not be to be at your beck and call. If you need that, explain that ahead of time so arrangements can be made.

3. The people at their church are probably new to this.

One of the most frequently asked questions from mission teams: “Where are the people from your church? Why aren’t they helping?” Well, most likely if it’s during the week, they’re at work. Just like you do not hang out at the church and help the pastor most of the time when you’re at home. Also, in most church plants, the people are new to faith and new to missions. The planter as disciple maker is moving them on a path toward engagement with faith and servanthood. Your presence will help as they see you taking a week or weekend to give of yourself. But don’t have unrealistic expectations and don’t be too critical if some of the people from the mission church seem immature in the faith. They probably are. And that actually means the church planter is doing a good job.

4. They love their community. Don’t trash it.

When you go on a mission trip, the community will be different from yours. There may be some things that seem strange to you. There may be some things that seem wrong to you. Hopefully, that’s why you’re there, to improve the community through the gospel and with your unselfish presence. Talking bad about what you see may put the planter on the defensive or hurt those you’re serving. Train your team to leave the community better than when you arrived through encouragement and servanthood.

5. Money is very tight. Bring some.

If you’re taking on projects that you know will cost a lot of money, consider footing the bill. Money is always tight for the church planter family and the new church. Ask them what they can afford to cover during the week ahead of time. Also, consider a love offering if they’ve provided housing for your team. Ask them if they took a day off work to help you around the community and consider covering that cost. And one of the best things your group could do for a lot of church plants is give the planter a date night with his wife.

6. Try to blend in.

If you made T-shirts for your team, wear them on your day off in the community or on the way home. Remember, it’s not about you. You are serving as an extension of the church plant. The church plant will be better off if after your mission trip, the community is saying, “That new church in the community served us” rather than “A big church from ____ came here and volunteered in our community.”

7. Commit 3-5 years.

The mission teams who have had the greatest impact on our community, new church, and family are those who make return trips. Return trips will allow your church to see the annual progress of the new church as they return each year. Anticipation will build naturally for each trip. A visit from the church planter to speak at your church could create a powerful relationship. You could even work it out with a church planter to help them develop one particular area of church life that your church is very strong in – i.e. VBS, Kids Ministry, Evangelism, etc. In that way, you’re reproducing yourself in another community with each trip.

I’m excited to see the huge swell of support for church plants and more churches taking in-country trips to help new churches. Use these 7 need-to-know things to train your team for maximum impact.

If you are a church planter or a church that has taken a trip, what else would you add to this list?

Our church plant, Bridge Church, got to help a church plant in San Antonio last summer.