2024 International Mission Trip Hub

Details:

Who is the 2024 International Student Mission Trip for? All 8th through 12th-grade students will be eligible to apply.
When will it be? May 27-June 7
Where are we going? Nairobi, Kenya

Fundraising Requirements:

We’ve got a whole page with all the details you need for Fundraising! We’re in the middle of our Student Missions Auction. Click here for more info:

Fundraising Information

Mission Trip Interviews

All students need to sign up for their interview slot to present their mission trip requirements, what they have learned, and check in with our staff. Interviews will be from April 21-25. Please visit the Signup Genius and choose a time that will work for you. Interviews will take approximately 15 minutes. Students should bring their handbook and any other notebooks, books or documents they have tracked requirements in to share at their interview.

GoMethod

GoMethod is where all of our communications to students and parents will come from. (Parents will receive the same emails as their students to help them stay up to date with discussions, requirements and other important updates and information.)

To log back in to GoMethod, click here: https://bhbc.gomethod.app/login

If you are having trouble logging in, please be sure to click the link above to get started, just googling “gomethod login” will not take you to our church’s GoMethod. If you have forgotten your password, pleaes try resetting it before asking for help. If you still can’t log in, contact Maria at mthomas@burnthickory.com.

Radiate WRSHP Teams:

What is Radiate WRSHP Teams?

Our goal for Radiate Worship Teams is to engage, equip, and encourage students to make an impact in our church, community, and beyond through Christ-centered worship. We will use all the elements of worship and production that we use every Sunday morning (worship leading, worship choir, band, sound, and lights) to reach others for Jesus. We will also use this time to prepare for our International Mission Trip with specific evangelism training. We will meet on Sundays from 5:30-7:00 PM. Watch the Burnt Hickory Worship Instagram for details, announcements, or changes. Begins September 10th.

Additional places for students to serve that go beyond attendance to demonstrate leadership skills are:

Leading in Childhood 4/5^th grade worship on Sunday mornings
Serving in Production on Wednesday nights or Sunday mornings

Contact Carey Amos at camos@burnthickory.com or Janet Allison at jallison@burnthickory.com or Worship@burnthickory.com for more information.

Planning Center:

All information regarding Radiate WRSHP Teams, including the music downloads is available on Planning Center. Each student will have a Planning Center account and information is sent out regularly from Janet & Carey. If you have questions about Planning Center, please contact Janet at jallison@burnthickory.com.

Requirements:

Requirements start on November 5th, but you’re strongly encouraged to jump in now to get a head start and form some good habits.

Complete the application and pay the deposit by 11/5/2023
Read & Journal through the New Testament (Pro Tip: Join a D-Group! That’s what they’ll be working through together this year!)
Take sermon notes on Sunday Morning and at MDWK
75% Attendance in LifeGroups
75% Attendance in WRSHP Teams (Pro Tip: Don’t wait until November to start! Jump in now and be better equipped for the trip! See below for dates.)
75% Attendance at Radiate MDWK
Memorize:
Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
2 Corinthians 5:7
Galatians 2:20
Romans 6:14
Share the Gospel with 8 people
Bring 7 people to either LifeGroups or MDWK

Meetings & Important Dates:

Additional Meetings/Training Dates:

2/25: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
3/3: Auction Fundraising Meeting | Following the morning service
3/3: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
3/10: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
3/17: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
3/24: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
4/7: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
4/14: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
4/21: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
4/28: Parent & Student Info Meeting | 5-5:30 for students, 5-6 PM for parents.
4/28: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
5/5: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
5/12: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM
5/19: Radiate WRSHP Teams | 5:30-7:00 PM

Passport: Start the process NOW!

You will need a passport to travel internationally. A routine processing time for a passport is 1-3 months right now. If your student already has a passport, check the expiration date. It must not expire before December 10, 2025. If it does, you will need to go ahead and renew the passport. There must be 6 months of remaining time after our return date on a passport. There must also be 2 blank pages in the back of a passport.

There are several locations to get your passport. The main post offices in Acworth, Marietta, Cartersville and Dallas all take passport applications. Please call and make an appointment before going because they are required. You will also need to take a passport photo with you (can be made at CVS, Walgreens, etc); although some of the Post Offices will also take the photo for you.

You may also submit your application online before you go to the Post Office. If your student is under 16 years of age, both parents will need to go to the Post Office for the passport appointment. If both parents can’t go, you must submit Form DS-3053 (must be notarized). Visit this site for what to do if your student is under age 16. http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html.

Why go on the mission trip?

The purpose in going on a mission trip is to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service to others. You will do this as you minister through preaching, teaching, singing, and as you care for people, both Christians and non-Christians, who live in Kenya. You will be partners in ministry with them as you build relationships and do hands-on ministry. You will be ministered to as much as, and most likely more than, you minister to the people of Kenya. This is not about accomplishing every single thing you had planned for this trip, but rather it is about establishing relationships with people in the name of Jesus Christ so that your own relationship with Him will be strengthened. It is through service to others that you come to know the character of Christ.

Remember that you are representing not only Jesus Christ but you are living out a testimony of what He means to you. If you are not prepared for your ministry opportunities, it will reflect negatively on your commitment to Him. It’s not enough to go. You must spend the next few months preparing yourselves to be “ambassadors for Christ” so that the people of Kenya will see how important He is to you by your preparation and excellence when you stand before them representing Him. The primary effort first and foremost is a spiritual one, both for yourself and those you minister to.

But what if…?

What is holding you back from giving your yes to God? Here are some concerns we have heard from parents and students along with some truth in scripture that we would encourage you to pray through as a family:

Will I be safe? 2 Timothy 1:7
What if it costs too much? Matthew 6:31-33
What if my friends don’t come? Hebrews 4:15-16
Or what if that person that I don’t get along with does come? Philippians 2:1-4
I’m really shy. I don’t do well talking to strangers. Ephesians 6:19-20
I’m not sure I’ll be able to complete the requirements…it seems like a lot. Colossians 2:23-24
I hate to sing and you say I’m going to have to sing. Psalm 150:6
I’m just in it for the adventure. James 4:3
I don’t want my child to be far away from me where I can’t help them. Matthew 10:29-31
My child isn’t mature enough. 1 Timothy 4:12

Student: If you are called to go on this trip, and you’ve prayed about it and want to say yes, you may still be tempted to let your fears and doubts take over and cause you to make your decision based on your circumstances. We want to encourage you to make this decision with God and not because of the distractions of your world.

Parents and Guardians: We know you may have questions about your student’s emotional and physical well-being, safety, financial obligations, and commitment required of your whole family. We see you; we’re parents too! If, after our parent meeting you still have unanswered or unassured questions or concerns leading to assumptions in your mind, we invite you to come have a conversation with Chip, Eli, Katie, or Maria. We care about your student and want to support you in making a fully informed decision.

Application Process for Students on GoMethod:

The student application is an online process to be completed BY THE STUDENT. Parents, please do not fill this out for your student. We want them to answer these questions, to share their testimony and to take on this responsibility. It allows them the opportunity to tell us about who they are and why they want to go. While it may seem like a lot, please know that completing this themselves is a small act of preparing for the trip, where they will most definitely have many opportunities to share their testimony. (If you feel your student may need some help, feel free to sit with them or be available to them.)

Please read ALL of these instructions carefully before starting the application:

The trip cost that you will see is only a placeholder. This is NOT the final cost and it will be lower! We are working hard diligently behind the scenes with a pre-trip to build our budget and plan out all of our ministry opportunities, and even a little bit of fun for our students. We don’t have an accurate number to give you at this point, but we will very soon. Now is NOT the time to worry about trip costs or to start fundraising on your own. Mark your calendar for the Mission Trip Informational Meeting on October 15 where you’ll hear more about what to expect, cost, fundraising and everything else you’ll need to know.
Our church uses a platform called GoMethod to manage mission trips. If your student has attended a mission trip previously, you and your student already have a GoMethod profile to log into. If you can’t remember the password, please do a password reset and follow the instructions. If don’t already have an account, you’ll be prompted to create a new profile.
Students must have a different email address than the parent/guardian when setting up accounts because of system requirements. They should check this email address regularly. Do not put the PARENT EMAIL in the student’s profile. This is a great time to set up a gmail account for your student if they don’t have their own email account yet. Help them learn to be responsible for tracking information, dates and times.
Parent/Guardian info will be requested once the student gets started. Please do not fill out the application for your student! This will cause technical problems later on. If your student is already 18 they will not be required to enter guardian information due to the system defaults. Contact Maria (mthomas@burnthickory.com) after the application process is completed and she will be able to help you get set up.
We recognize this application may take a little while for the student to complete. It is meant to be thought about and answered carefully and is a small part of helping them be prepared for the trip. Do not wait until November 5th at 11:45 PM to start filling it out or fill it out for them.
If you or your student have technical issues with GoMethod, please contact Maria at mthomas@burnthickory.com for assistance. Maria is available during office hours and will also be available during WRSHP Teams rehearsals to help students.

All important information, announcements, forms, meeting dates, and requirements will be flowing through the GoMethod account. Please check it regularly to keep up with requirements and check the “Discussions” for answers to questions.

Application Closed

Contact Maria at mthomas@burnthickory.com if you have trouble with logging into the account, but please try resetting your password first.

Refund Policy

The deposit is non-refundable once a student/chaperone signs up and commits to the mission trip.
Once flights are purchased, the student/chaperone will be responsible for the cost of the ticket.
In case of an illness or family emergency, if a student/chaperone can no longer attend the mission trip, the fundraising dollars do not go toward a future BHBC trip. Fundraising is applied only to current student mission trips within the years that the fundraising takes place. Money paid to the student/chaperone account may be applied to a future mission trip or refunded based on a case by case discussion with our staff.

Chaperone Application

If you are interested in being a trip chaperone, the process is a little different. We have an online form that you will need to fill out. You will not apply on GoMethod. This is due by November 5, just like the student form. This does not ensure you are going on the trip. All chaperone applicants will interview with a committee and that committee will select chaperones for our trip. Once selections are made a deposit will be required and chaperones will be added to GoMethod by invitation. Chaperones will be responsible to cover half the cost of the trip.

Please consider prayerfully if this is something God is calling you to do. Our chaperones come alongside all of our students to support them, equip them, and help them navigate situations that will be way outside of their comfort zone. They participate in training sessions, WRSHP Teams, volunteer in fundraisers, and are encouraged to complete all of the same requirements our students are required to complete.

Application Closed