MODULE 2 - Section 1
Initial Steps
5 Minutes to complete section and related assignments
In this section, you will learn:
How goer-groups start the process of sending a STT
What initial details must be agreed upon for the STT to become official
The requirements we ask all goer-groups to follow in order to send a STT through One Collective
Initial Steps
There are many different ways a short-term team can begin the process. Examples include:
A member of a field team invites one of their sending churches or other partners to form a team
A goer-group reaches out to One Collective via the website to express interest in sending a team
Global Partnerships connects a goer-group to a community for the purpose of forming a team
A returning goer-group reaches out to the STT Dept or to the host-community coordinator to begin planning their next team
If you and a goer-group connect directly, please reach out to the Short-Term Teams Department (stteams@onecollective.org) to let them know of the interested team. In addition to initiating the administrative process, they will help invest in the goer-group relationship, set healthy expectations for the team, and ensure the team comes trained and ready to engage in a way that supports long-term transformation.
One of these key initial steps is to determine if the team's engagement is a win-win-win for all involved. In addition to bringing decades of experience, the Short-Term Teams Department can support you by carrying all or part of the communication and administration, depending on your capacity. With the STT Department guiding the team with leadership coaching calls, an online portal and numerous resources, you can focus your energy on pre-community relationship building with them and the logistics and details related to the team’s visit in-community.
Team detailS Approval
For both the goer-group and the community, logistics are one of the two important items to see if a short-term team is going to work.
Before a team can go from idea to reality, there are three logistical details that the community and goer-group must discuss. It is also highly recommended before proceeding that they agree on the focus of the team.
Agree on dates that work for both (if necessary, approximate dates are OK)
Agree on the approximate number of team members (a range can work initially until recruiting is completed)
Cost of the short-term term team
The focus of the team during their visit
Team requirements & Goer Approval
Just as it is important to make sure things align logistically, the same is true relationally. The goal in vetting a team is to be sure the goals of a goer-group support the vision of the community. It is a good time to get to know the goer-group organization and team leader to share that vision of a short-term team with them.
Every team should embody a flexible listener-learner mindset and a desire to right-size their short-term efforts toward long-term transformation. As we seek to find like-minded goer-groups, below are our requirements:
Accept that as an organization we follow the ways of Jesus
Willing to learn more about healthy community development, especially as it applies to the short-term team process
Appoint a qualified Team Leader
Complete all required One Collective STT documentation
Engage team training
Understands the need to meet financial deadlines in a timely manner
Follow community parameters for a short-term team (i.e. min/max number of team members, team focus that compliments long-term transformation, etc.)
While not required, it is ideal if they embody potential for partnership
Team Details and Goer Approval are often happening simultaneously.
the vetting call:
To ensure that a goer-group is a good fit to serve and enter into a community, the STT Dept Director will seek out a vetting conversation with the group during/shortly after the team details are approved between the goer-group and community.
The Director will share One Collective’s approach to community development and share the team process, including the need for team training. The Director will also ensure that the goer-group is ready to embrace a flexible, teachable, listening posture throughout the process.
The Short-Term Teams Department will then confirm with the host-community that things are ready to proceed. Any concerns, or recommendations to not proceed will also be shared. The latter is rare, but it is important to set the stage well for a team from the beginning.
This vetting conversation is primarily for goer-groups that are new to One Collective or to the host-community. However, a host-community is welcome to ask the STT Department to have a conversation with a previous partner to have a similar conversation to set/reset expectations for the team process.
Team Registration
Once the team details are in place, the STT Dept creates the Team Registration Document (TRD) and sends it to the goer-group. The Team Registration Document contains all the agreed-upon team details, including trip dates, approximate number of team members, and per person and team total costs. It also includes deadlines for the team deposit, advance payment (if necessary), final payment, team recruiting, and team meetings start date. This document also outlines One Collective’s financial policies and sets expectations for things like background checks, training, airfare, etc. Now the team is officially registered and ready to begin the preparation process!
