We love taking people on their first serve trip! There’s never “the perfect time”, but if you are feeling a “nudge”, then you should probably follow it! We have a wide variety of ages on serve trips – from ages 5 to 85 with a wide variety of skills (the most important one being a willingness to serve, listen, and learn with an open mind). If you are still unsure, click on the “contact” listed on the trip you are interested in. They will be happy to answer any questions you have – either virtually or in-person!
Yes. If you have a willing heart and are open to a relationship with Jesus Christ, you are welcome to register for a Global Impact Ministries serve trip. All criteria and expectations that exist for Church of the Resurrection members apply to non-members, with the addition of a reference from a current or past pastor, from a Resurrection member, or from your employer.
No special skills or experience are required. Most trips have a variety of roles and responsibilities; even medical teams need support people. The ability to connect with members of our partner congregations or people in their communities (even with the help of a translator) is as important as any other skill you have. Every team member should expect to be in "learning mode," ready to do what is asked of them by the local partners. The goal is to come alongside, to learn and to provide genuine, loving support to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Serve teams that are prepared are more successful and have a richer experience than other serve teams. Successful serve trips depend upon the team cooperation and bonding which must begin before departure. We ask that all team members participate in all of the following trainings. If you live outside of the KC area, you can participate in the in-person trainings via Zoom.
Yes, you will be responsible for 100% of the additional expense (including additional airfare, ground costs, and extended travel insurance). Requests for an extension are considered on a case-by-case basis because of plane reservations, liability, etc.
In some instances, Church of the Resurrection offers optional extensions or excursions, such as a safari in Africa.
Individuals wishing to extend their stay beyond the scheduled dates of a serve trip will be responsible for arranging their own schedule, transportation and accommodations. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to contact our hosts or ministry partners directly for assistance in making personal arrangements. Please contact our Global Impact Ministries staff for further details.
Church of the Resurrection reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any Global Impact Ministries serve trip without notice. Each participant should consider purchasing cancellation insurance, which helps in recovering some of the cost of a cancelled trip. A trip would most likely be cancelled due to one of the following conditions:
If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.
There are risks involved in any form of travel, and Christian service is no exception. Every precaution is taken to provide safe travel, shelter, food and water for our serve teams beginning with information provided ahead of time and the required training. Participants are also encouraged to review information available online from the State Department regarding travel, as well as current physical and medical precautions.
In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus encourages us to count the cost of discipleship. And, in Philippians 2:1-18, the Apostle Paul offers his perspective on Christian service and sacrifice. In the end, each of us must decide for ourselves when to say, “Here I am, send me.”
Each team member is provided trip medical insurance only through the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. For more information about this policy, please contact the Global Impact Ministries team for further details.
Each trip is unique and the most important principle for any successful serving endeavor is flexibility. Nevertheless, a daily and/or weekly schedule is determined before each team departs, and your team leader will share the schedule with you during trip preparation meetings. Every effort is made to include an opportunity to worship with members of the host church, to participate in their regular activities, to play with children, to learn about community life, and to end each day with a team debriefing and devotion. When feasible, a cultural day is arranged to learn more about the country and its people.
The following costs are included in most Global Impact Ministries’ trips:
The following costs are not included in the price of a Global Impact Ministries’ trip:
We recognize that international travel requires a significant financial sacrifice. Church of the Resurrection does have a scholarship committee that will evaluate scholarship applications for need based scholarships, and all applications will remain anonymous. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please contact your team leader or Resurrection staff for details.
You will also need to fill out a scholarship application and reference forms. Completed forms need to be sent to the Global Impact Ministries staff at least 4 months in advance of the trip for International and 3 months for U.S. trips. The church attempts to operate trips as efficiently as possible to reduce the cost for all participants.
It is our recommendation that you always check with your personal physician to determine which immunizations or medications (malaria pills, for example) to take. Following are the basic immunizations to discuss with your doctor: Hepatitis A and B; Tetanus/Diphtheria Booster; Measles immunity; Polio booster; Typhoid vaccine; Rabies, if you are concerned about animal contact. You should also discuss malaria prevention (medications are country specific).
Medical information by geographic region is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specific information for each Global Impact Ministries location can be accessed in the Links section of your trip in Managed Missions.
The Travel and Immunization Clinic of Kansas City is located at 4550 W 109th St, Suite 170, Overland Park, KS 66211 and can offer pre-trip immunization services. Call 913-469-0011 to schedule an appointment or for more information.