Thanks for taking time to prepare for your mission trip to Florida. As you go through these sessions, follow along using you Pre-Trip Training Participant Guide and the set of GOSPEL Keys that were provided for you. If you haven’t yet received these resources, please contact the NEXT Worldwide office. We are looking forward to serving with you and to seeing how God works in and through you to accomplish His purposes.
SESSION #1
Start by watching this video to learn a little more about the vision of NEXT Worldwide and our hopes for what this mission trip will accomplish.
Pause now and spend a few minutes praying for the ministry that is already taking place in your ministry site. Pray for wisdom and encouragement for the church-planting partners. Pray for the people there that don’t yet know or understand the gospel. After you have prayed, watch the next video to learn a little more about what to expect on this trip.
Assignment:
- Memorize the key statements, key verses, and transition statements for the G & O Keys on pages 12-13 of your training guide before starting the next session.
- Continue raising support for your trip and completing your forms and paperwork for the trip.
- Check your online account balance and write thank you notes to any new supporters.
SESSION #2
In this session you will begin learning about cultural differences and how you can adapt to new cultures in order to have effective ministry. You will also continue learning how to use The GOSPEL Keys evangelism tool.
Taking the position of a learner is a huge step towards adapting to a new culture. With that in mind, pause now and spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to give you a humble heart that is ready to enter new cultures as a learner, and then watch the next video.
The gospel came to you on the way to someone else. Pause now and thank God for those who shared the gospel with you and for how it has transformed your life. Ask God to give you opportunities to share the gospel with others now and on your trip. When you are finished praying, watch the next video which will continue your training on using The GOSPEL Keys.
Assignment:
- Memorize the key statements, key verses, and transition statements for the S & P Keys on pages 20-21 of your training guide before starting the next session.
- Practice sharing the G & O Keys at least two times with someone else before starting the next session.
- Continue raising support for your trip and completing your forms and paperwork for the trip.
- Check your online account balance and write thank you notes to any new supporters.
SESSION #3
In addition to learning the next two GOSPEL Keys, in this session you will learn some tips for evangelism, and you will learn about different sets of values that are sometimes at work in other cultures. First, let’s learn from some former trip participants about their experiences sharing the gospel with others.
Different cultures are so fascinating! On page 46 of your training guide you will find a list of common stereotypes people around the world have. Take a few minutes to read over those and then answer the questions at the bottom of page 46, and then read the tips for adapting to new cultures on page 47. When you are finished, spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to give you wisdom as you seek to understand and interact with those who are different than you. After you have prayed, watch the final video of this session about the next two GOSPEL Keys.
Assignment:
- Memorize the key statements, key verses, and transition statements for the E & L Keys on pages 24-26 of your training guide before starting the next session.
- Practice sharing the G,O,S, & P Keys at least two times with someone else before starting the next session.
- Spend some time researching the culture of Florida using the questions and websites listed on page 48 of your training guide.
- Continue raising support for your trip and completing your forms and paperwork for the trip.
- Check your online account balance and write thank you notes to any new supporters.
SESSION #4
We will start this session by learning the final two GOSPEL Keys. Then we will learn more about how the gospel is affected by culture and about some of the primary spiritual beliefs of the people around the world.
On pages 49-54 of your training guide there is an article that dives deeper into the spiritual beliefs of people groups around the world. Take a few minutes now to read that article and make some notes on things that will be important to keep in mind as you share with people at your ministry site. Once you are finished, watch the final video of this session about gospel-centered conversations.
Assignment:
- Practice sharing the GOSPEL Keys at least two times with someone else before starting the final session. Share at least once with someone who doesn’t know Christ.
- Continue studying about the primary spiritual beliefs of the people in Florida. Check out Dare2Share Ministries page on worldviews. This is a great resource with videos showing you how to share your faith with people from different backgrounds.
- Begin learning the key language phrases in Spanish that are found on pages 91-92 of your training guide.
- Check your online account balance and write thank you notes to any new supporters.
SESSION #5
In our final training session, you will learn to share your personal story along with the GOSPEL Keys, and you will learn about working with translators. First, take a look at this video about sharing your story.
Pause now and pray for the individuals who will be translating for you in Florida. Pray for their spiritual growth. Pray for their understanding as they translate, and pray for boldness and clarity as you share the gospel together. After praying watch the final video of your pre-trip training.
Congratulations! You have completed pre-trip training. Don’t forget to keep practicing the GOSPEL Keys between now and your trip departure.
Assignment:
- Keep practicing!
- Keep praying!
- Keep writing thank you notes!
- Contact your trip leader if you have any questions or need anything prior to your trip.