Missions Trip Information

OVERVIEW

If you are interested in participating in a short-term missions trip with New Life Church, please read the following:

1. Every applicant applying for a short-term missions trip must fill out an application and complete each individual section. This includes spouses and children 12 and older.
2. Application can be filled out HERE. (Check out this video on the entire process)
3. Acceptance to go on a trip is not guaranteed. Acceptance to a trip is dependent on multiple factors including trip capacity, skillsets, ministry gifts, and experience, etc. Priority will be given to New Life Church members. As part of the application process, short-term trip leaders may choose to hold informational interviews with the applicants. Non-refundable application fee is due at the time you apply.
4. A background check may be performed on applicants applying to a short-term missions trip.
5. Upon approval of the application, the short-term trip leader will provide further information about the next preparation steps. NOTE: DO NOT solicit any funds for support and/or make any commitments on behalf of New Life Church without prior approval.
6. Applicants must be at least 12 years of age unless otherwise noted for a specific trip. All applicants 18 years and under must receive parental approval.
7. Team members are expected to attend all mandatory team training meetings.
8. Short-term missions trips can be rewarding and life-changing; however, they can also be stressful.  Please consider factors in your personal life at this time that may distract and prohibit you from fully committing to the mission of the trip and adapting to unusual conditions.
9. If you have physical limitations, please apply for a trip which you are physically able to participate. Some trips may be prohibitive for certain physical conditions. Please discuss with the team leader if you have concerns.
10. Team members assume responsibility for their personal belongings on the trip. New Life Church will not reimburse team members for items that are lost, stolen, or confiscated during the trip.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

• Donations can be collected in the form of cash, check, and electronic.
• Cash – In order for donors to receive a tax credit, the appropriate information as indicated on the Cash Donation Slips should be collected at the time of the donation is received.
• Checks – In order to comply with the IRS, all checks should be made payable to New Life Church and the memo line should be blank.
• Electronic – funds should ONLY be collected through the trip participant’s Focus Missions profile.
  • NOTE: The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) payment or crowdfunding methods should NOT be used for fundraising or direct contributions. These include but are not limited to: Apple Pay Cash, GoFundMe, Facebook Fundraiser, Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, Google Wallet, SnapCash, Facebook Messenger, Circle, ClearXchange, Dwolla, Popmoney.

TRIP COSTS

Each team budget will contain a number of major category expenses. Examples may include airfare; vehicle rental; housing costs; food and drink; ministry materials; gifts for hosts; and etc.

Every effort is made to minimize costs without jeopardizing the quality, effectiveness, or safety of the ministry. We work with travel agents who specialize in working with short-term missions groups. These travel agents can find discounted rates for ministry work and are able to provide help working with foreign governments, international banking, passports, and visas. The travel agents also provide invaluable help  dealing with emergency changes in travel itineraries approved by the short-term trip leader.

SEPARATE ITINERARIES

Separate itineraries arranged by the individual short-term participants are not allowed. Travel arrangements go much smoother if everyone has the same itinerary. Separate itineraries make planning more complicated and more difficult to arrange group discounts. Separate itineraries also disrupt team bonding and unity.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

• A $30 non-refundable application fee is required.
• Make checks payable to New Life Church.
• The $30 application fee will go towards the total cost of your trip in the form of travel insurance.

TEAM MEMBER CONTRIBUTION

It is encouraged that each short-term team participant should contribute at least 10% out of his/her own personal finances toward the cost of the trip. This includes the $30 deposit (submitted at the time of application).

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

A typical schedule of payments:

• Deposit of 10%
• Payment 1 of 60%
• Payment 2 of 20%
• Payment 3 of 10%

The trip leader will have more information or adjusted schedule based on the cost of the trip.

CANCELLATION

All missions trip donations are made to New Life Church and have been given to New Life Church in order to accomplish the mission and work of the church.

• Trip
  • In the event, a trip has been canceled due to lack of team fundraising, safety concerns of participants, natural disasters, or other unforeseen events, monies donated are non-refundable and will be used for other missions or outreach ministries for the work of the church.

• Participant
  • In the event, the participant cannot go on the missions trip for any reason, they will be responsible for the reimbursement to New Life Church for any fees incurred as a result of cancellation (e.g., purchased airline tickets).
  • In the event, the participant cannot go on the missions trip for any reason, donations made by the participant or anyone on their behalf are non-refundable. All materials, including airline and other travel tickets, that have been purchased with donated funds cannot be transferred outside of the trip.

For more information about why donations are non-refundable, please see this letter from our General Counsel.