MODULE 2 - Section 6
Create Your Community Guide
In this section, you will:
Create a Community Guide
Just as we are all continuing to learn the dynamics of the community we are living, even greater is the learning curve for a short-term team. They likely have little to no understanding beyond the surface level.
The short-term team is in need of a guide. Though you, as the host, are in many ways that guide, time and capacity won’t allow you to share all the information needed before they arrive. The Community Guide supplements your knowledge by giving the team informative, dignifying insights into the community in advance of arrival, setting them up for greater success in coming alongside the vulnerable. As a host, this resource also serves as a great way to welcome the team to the community and build excitement. Lastly, this process gives you the opportunity to step into the role of Storyteller (see Module 1) and invite team members to journey into the beautiful, deeper layers where God is already moving.
Let’s get started on this powerful resource.
Instructions
This is an editable template you can use to create your community guide for short-term teams. It covers a wide variety of topics. Please read through the guide carefully as instructions are provided in each section, as well as suggestions and/or required content. Content marked “For Team” should be left as-is. Have fun with this guide and bring your own style. Add pictures, etc. Making this an exciting document will bring your community to life.
Not every section will be appropriate or even necessary for each community. There may also be sections that you feel are necessary to add. Feel free to delete/edit as needed, unless a section is specifically required. After your changes, delete all suggested text and notes from the template.
To navigate the guide, use the table of contents by clicking on the name of the section you want to visit. Remember to update your Table of Contents if you add/remove sections from your guide. You can quickly update it by clicking the ‘refresh’ button. Click within the Table of Contents area. A circle with an arrow on the end will appear in the upper lefthand corner of the Table. Click that button and the Table of Contents will update based on the changes you have made within the document.
Once you have your final version, download it as a PDF (File -> Download As PDF) and distribute it to incoming teams at least four weeks prior to their arrival. Send a copy of your completed guide to the Short-Term Teams Department as well at stteams@onecollective.org. This will help us come alongside you as groups inquire about potential communities to serve in. If there are any major topics we've missed in the template, let us know that as well.
Highlighted Resource
Creating a Community Guide (Guide)
For Secure Contexts: Please note that this document contains the name of the organization and also references our work with use of the traditional word (m_y). You are welcome to change them as needed.
