Member Guide
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
WecelebratewithyouasyoutakethefaithsteptojointhisGlobalTeam!Ouraimisforeachandevery GlobalTeamtobeusedbyGodandthisteamisnoexception.We’rebelievingforanincredible experiencethatglori esJesusandbuildshischurch!
GLOBAL TEAM PORTAL
Eachteammemberhasaportaltomanageteaminfo,tasks,andresources.Besuretocheckyourportal weeklyforupdatesandtocompletetherequiredtasks.YoucanaccessyourGlobalTeamportalat wwwmanagedmissionscom
Whatyou’llfindinyourGlobalTeamportal: Information
o Tripdetails
o Deadlines: payments,required forms,passport(if required)
o Finances: paymentamounts, contributionmanagement
o Teammeetinginfo
o Helpfuldocuments&resources
TEAM MEETINGS
TaskstoComplete
o PublicPro le: createyourpublic pro letoallowsupporterstomake contributionstoyourtrip
o Completerequiredforms
o Makepayments
o Emailyourteamleaderandteam manager
Allteammeetingsareimportantfortheunityandcontinuityoftheteam. Importantinformationwill begivenoutatthemeetingsandministryplanningwillbediscussed Pleasemakeeachmeetingahigh priority.Pleasenotifyyourteamleaderifyouareunabletoattendateammeeting.
PASSPORT
-ValidpassportsareonlyrequiredforinternationalteamsPleaseuploadacoloredcopyofyourpassport Avalidpassportmusthavethefollowing:
o Sixmonthsremainingpriortoexpirationafterdateofreturn
o Signatureaboveyourpicture
o Atleastthreeblankvisapagesleftinyourpassportonthedateofdeparture Visittravel.state.govformoreinformationonapplyingfororrenewingapassport.
PAYMENT DETAILS
Pleasedoyourverybesttoadheretothepaymentschedule.Eachteammember’saccountneedstobe fundedinordertopurchaseairlinetickets,makereservationdeposits,andpurchasetravelinsurance priortodeparture.DetailsregardingyourpaymentschedulecanbefoundinyourGlobalTeamportal. Alldeposits/payments/contributionsarenon-refundableandnon-transferable Toviewpayment deadlines,detailsandcontributions,pleasevisityourGlobalTeamportal.
ONLINE
Payments/contributionscanbemadeonlineinyourGlobalTeamportalbyclickingon‘PayForMy Trip’ontherightsidebarofthemainteampage.
CASH/CHECK
AllpaymentsandcontributionsshouldbemadeouttoRiverValleyChurchandsentto: RiverValleyChurch–11400RuppDr Burnsville,MN55337
Thememolineofyourcheckshouldsay:YourName-GlobalTeam(location&month)
FUNDRAISING
PERSONALSACRIFICE
Throughyourjoboryourowngiving,Godwillhonorthesacri cesyoumakeforthisopportunity.
PERSONALSUPPORTLETTERS
Makingprayerfulandpersonalrequestsaswellassendingoutsupportletterstofriendsandfamilyare themoste ectivewaystofundraise.AsamplesupportlettercanbefoundinyourGlobalTeamportal orclickHERE Itisimportanttobeproactiveinsendingsupportlettersearlyon
CREATEYOURPUBLICPROFILE
Besuretocreateyourpersonalpublicpro leinyourGlobalTeamportal.Creatingyourpublicpro le willallowyoutoreceivedonationsfromsupportersbygeneratingyourownpersonalURLwhere supporterscanviewdetailsaboutandmakecontributionstowardyourtrip.InyourGlobalTeam portal,clickon‘PublicPro le’ontheleftsidebarandfollowthestepstocreateit.
MARKETINGMATERIAL
WeaskthatyoudonotpubliclypostorusetheRiverValleyChurchnameorlogoonanypersonal marketingmaterial.
PleaseseetheFundraisingIdeasdocumentinyourGlobalTeamportalformoreideas!
TEAM ATTITUDE
FLEXIBILITY - [Philippians4:13]
BereadytoFLEX!Sometimestheonlyconstantischange,sobereadyto ex! Planswillchange-be patientandadaptable!
EXPECTANCY - [Philippians4:6]
EveryGlobalTeamisdi erent,buteachoneisanadventurewhichincludesalotofunknowns.Ifyou havebeenonaGlobalTeambefore,wearesogladyouaregoingagain!Pleaserememberthatevery timewego,Godwantstodosomethingnewandit’sbesttonotcomparetopreviousexperiences
SERVANTHOOD - [Romans12:10]
Yourprimaryroleonthistripistoserve everyoneyoumeet Thisopportunityisnotaboutyouand youragenda;itisaboutGodandHismission
COMMITMENT - [Colossians3:23]
Pleaserespectteamstandardsofdress,mannersandpromptness Yourteamleadermaygiveyou culture-speci cinstructionsregardingdressandmanners.
UNITY - [Ephesians4:2]
Theunityandloveyoushowforeachotherwillbeyourgreatestministrytool
OPTIMISM - [Romans15:13]
Youcan’tcontrolyourcircumstances,butyoucancontrolyourattitudesolookforthegoodinevery opportunity
ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS
TEAMLEADERS
Respect,listenandtrustthem.Theyhaveprayerfullybeenchosenastheleaderofyourteam.Please respectthemastheleaderevenifyouthinktheyarelessmatureorexperienced.Ifyouhaveasuggestion ordi erenceofopinion,pleaseasktotalkwiththemprivately.
TEAMMEMBERS
Considereachother'sneedsaheadofyourown.Addresscon ictsprivately.Listento,encourageand prayforoneanother
HOSTSANDPARTNERS
Onceyouarriveonlocation,themissionaryhostistheprimaryoversightoftheteam Theymakethe nalcallswhenitcomestosecurityandministry.Culturally,theyaretheexperts.Ifyouhave questions,pleasedonotmakeassumptions.Askyourteamleaderandtheywillaskthehost.
LOCALS
Youwillhavetheamazingopportunitytomeetandbuildrelationshipswithmanydi erentpeople. Leanintothoseinteractions!Atthesametime,somelocalsmayseeyouasawayoutorawayup.Please donotgiveoutyourpersonalinformationunlessapprovedbythehost Additionally,donotmake nancialcommitmentsorgivemoneydirectlytoalocalindividual
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
DIFFERENCES - [James4:6]
Otherculturesarejustdi erent,notwrong.Trynottooverreacttopeopleorsituationsthatyouare notaccustomedto.Askalotofquestionsandtrytounderstandthedi erence.
RECEIVINGATTENTION - [1Peter3:8]
Attimesyoumayfeellikeeveryoneislookingatyoulikeyouareacelebrity.Localswilltakeinterest andbewatching.Howyouconductyourselfcanhaveapositiveimpact.
BEPATIENT - [Ephesians4:2]
Bepatientwithyourselfbecausewhenyouexperienceallthedi erentemotional,physical,spiritual andculturaldynamicsofanewcultureyoumayrespondinwaysyouwouldnotnormallyrespond.
OVERCOMINGCULTURESHOCK - [Galatians5:22]
Cultureshockisanemotionalandphysicalresponsetothestressandstrainonefeelswhenforcedto meeteverydayneedsinunfamiliarways.Beawareofthedi erentdynamicsyouarefacing.Keepasense ofhumor Talkaboutissueswithateammemberinsteadoflettingthembuildupinsideofyou
EMERGENCY AND HEALTH INFO
Healthandsafetyareperhapstwoofthegreatestconcernsformostpeopletravelingtoplacestheyhave neverbeenbefore.RiverValleyChurchandthesta ofGlobalProjecttakebothveryseriously. YourTeamLeaderandin-countryhostwillbriefyouofanyconcernswhileyouareinthecountry.
ON-TRIPDOCUMENTS
Keepalltickets&documentation,donotthrowanythingaway.Yourteamleaderwillhaveaccesstoa digitalcopyofyourpassport,ticketsandanyothero cialdocuments.Iftheyarelostorstolen,these documentsarenoteasilyreissued Copiesanddocumentationwillhelpexpeditetheprocess
U.S.EMBASSY
YourteamleaderwillhaveinformationaboutthenearestUS EmbassyorConsulateforreferencein theeventamajorissueshouldoccur
STATESIDECONTACT
Youwillreceivecontactinformationtogivetoyourfamilyand/orlegalguardian Youwillnotreceive contactinformationforthein-countryhost.
MEDICAL/IMMUNIZATIONS
Yourteamleaderwillnotifyyouofanyvaccinationsorimmunizationsrequiredforentry Please contactyourfamilydoctororgotoalocaltravelclinicforallothermedicalrecommendations.For moreinformation,pleasegotowww.cdc.gov.
TRAVELINSURANCE
Emergencytravel/healthinsuranceisprovidedforallinternationalteams.
PREPARING YOUR TESTIMONY
Whetherpubliclyorone-on-one,bepreparedtosharewhyyoufollowJesusandhowhehas transformedyourlife.Hereareafewthingstoremember:
o Writeitout
o Beyourself
o Preparea30-secondanda3-minuteversion
o TrytoincludeaScriptureverse
o FocusonwhoyouwerebeforeJesusandhowyourlifeisnowdi erent
TRAVEL DETAILS
FOOD&DRINK
Itisimportanttostayhydratedwhiletraveling.Waterwillhelpreducefatigue,nausea,and dehydration.Allmealswillbeprovidedaspartofyourglobalteam.Mealscouldtakeplacein restaurantsorbeprovidedbyourpartners-pleasebe exible
ACCOMMODATIONSANDTRANSPORTATION
Bepreparedtosleepinawkwardplacesandrideabnormalmodesoftransportation.
MONEY
Yourtripexpensesarecoveredbutyoumaywanttobringalittlepersonalspendingmoneyfor souvenirs,extrafood,oro erings ATMwithdrawalsareoftenthebestmethodforspendingmoney Contactyourbankonrestrictionsandremembertoprotectyourmoneyandpassportatalltimes
STAYTOGETHER
Nevergoo byyourself!Alwaysstickwithapartnerandmakesurethatyoureceiveapprovalfrom yourteamleaderbeforeyougosomewhere.Planschangeatamoment’snoticesoitiscriticalthatthe teamleaderknowswhereeveryoneis.
BEONTIME
Donotbelate!Whentheteamleaderorhostgivesyouatimetomeet,donotmaketheteamwaitfor you.Waitingonateammemberisthelastthingthatshouldcauseadelay.
AIRPORTS
Donotjokeaboutsecurityissues.Especiallyaroundcustomsandbordercontrol.
JETLAG
Thisconditioniscausedbyaninterruptionofyourbody’sdailybiologicalrhythmswhenyoutravelto adi erenttimezone.Fatigue,insomnia,nausea,lossofappetite,anddehydrationareallcommon symptoms.While ying,drinkwaterregularlyandlimitca eine.
FREQUENTFLYERDETAILS
Registrationforfrequent yerprogramsisoptionalanduptoyou.Pleasenotethatfrequent yer credittypicallymustberegisteredwithin30daysofreturn.
SAMPLE PACKING LIST
Youpackit,youcarryit-sopacklight!Pleasetrytolimityourselftoonecheckedluggage(under44 lbs.)andonecarry-onitem( tsairlinedimensions).Youmaybeaskedtoreserveanotherbag exclusivelyforteamsupplies.
CARRY-ONTIP
Packmedication,essentialtoiletries,achangeofclothes,snacks,andreading/listeningmaterialinyour carry-onbag.Ifyourcheckedbagislost,youmayonlyhaveyourcarry-onforawhile.
ESSENTIALS
Passport
Bible/Journal
Smallbag,backpack,purse,ormoneybelt
Toothbrushandtoothpaste/Comborbrush
Deodorant/Smallbottleofshampoo/conditioner
Soap/Washcloth/Alittlelaundrydetergent
Shavingcream/Razor
Feminineproducts
MEDICAL
Bandages/Antibioticcream
Ibuprofen/Antihistamine/PeptoorImodium/Dramamine
Prescribedmedicines/Vitamins
Handsanitizer/Disinfectantwipes
CLOTHING
Nicechurchout t
Twocomfortablepairsofshoes
Lightjacket
Socks/Undergarments/Swimsuit
MISCELLANEOUSITEMS
Camera/Tablet/Headphones
Poweradaptor
Small ashlightwithsparebatteries
Sunglasses/Sunscreen/Bugspray
Snacks
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION | SOAP
SOAPisRiverValley’schurch-wideBiblereadingplan. SOAPisanacronymthatstandsfor: Scripture,Observation,Application,Prayer.Asawaytoprepareyourheartandbuildunityasateam, weencourageyoutocommittousingtheSOAPdailydevotionalprocessnowthroughyourGlobal Teamandbeyond! Moreinformationcanbefoundhere:https://rivervalleyorg/soap/
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION | PRAYER FOUNDATION
Prayermustbethefoundationoftheentiretrip.Theeternalandspiritualsuccessofeachtripdepends ontheteam’sfaithfulnesstopray.
PERSONAL
Eachteammemberneedstocommittodailyprayer.Prayerwillenlargeandpurifytheheartinways thatcan’tbeaccomplishedanyotherway.
SCRIPTURES
Matthew24:14//Luke10:2//Acts1:8//Romans10:13-15
SPIRITUALBATTLE
Thereisnodoubtthattheenemywilldoeverythinghecantopreventheartsandlivesfrombeing changed,butthepowerofprayerisgreaterthananythingthatmaychallengeus.
PARTNER
Eachteammemberisencouragedto ndaprayerpartnerandregularlyprayforoneanother.
TRIP
Prayfortravel,healthandsafety,spiritualissues,teamunity,ministryopportunities,aswellasthehosts andthelocalsyou’llmeet.
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION | FASTING
Fastingdoesnothavetobejustfromfood,althoughformostthatisthebiggestsacri ce.Pickaday,a meal,orsomethingspeci cthatyouaregoingtosacri ceandusethattimetoprayfortheteamand thetrip
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION | DEVOTIONS
DAILYDEVOTIONS
ThisisessentialonaGlobalTeam.EverythingweaimtodoisthroughJesus.Teamdevotionswillbe doneasmuchaspossiblebuttryto ndalittletimeeachdaytospendwithjustyouandGod.
JOURNALING
Evenifyoudon’tnormallyjournal,thisishighlyrecommended.Youwanttorememberthepeopleyou meet,placesyougo,andthethingsGodisteachingyou.It’sveryhardtorememberitallifyoudon’t writeitdown!
QUESTIONS
PleasedirectquestionstoyourGlobalTeamManagerorGlobalTeamLeader
