MODULE 3

Hosting a Short-Term Team (On-Field)

Introduction

The time a short-term team is in-community is brief, but it holds tremendous potential. Leverage the power of a short-term team with confidence as you build a structure and flow for their time coming alongside the vulnerable.

Your skilled preparations, from orientation and debriefs to community engagement projects, local relationships, and more, will have your short-term team poised to engage impactfully and in a healthy way.

In this Module you will learn about:

  • Planning lodging, transportation, and meals
  • Creating team orientation and debrief spaces
  • Envisioning STT community engagement that matters
  • Developing local partnerships thought STTs
  • How to create a team schedule
  • Putting it all into practice

On-Field Role Breakdown

    • Connects with Host-Community Coordinator to check that the team has arrived safely

    • Responds to in-community emergencies as needed

    • If the team is flying, ensures they are received at the airport

    • Communicates with STT Dept that the team has arrived safely

    • Holds team orientation within 24 hours of the team’s arrival

    • Creates space for the team to engage in daily team time (i.e. devotions, daily debrief) and joins as able

    • Executes team schedule

    • Checks in with the team leader/team to see how they are doing throughout the week and adjusts plans as needed

    • Leverages “Storyteller” perspective throughout the team’s visit (from Module 1)

    • Continually points the team to where God is moving throughout the week

    • Ensures end-of-week debrief occurs, including thanking the team and sharing tangible next-step opportunities they can take as a partnership organization or as individuals. Allows team to engage in their own team processing time as well.

    • I applicable, ensures team arrives safely at the airport for departure

    • Tracks funds as they are spent for the team and collects receipts

    • Leads team through travel on both ends of the visit

    • Partakes in team activities and encourages a teachable, learner posture

    • Ensures team is engaging in daily devotions and debriefing

    • Continually points the team to where God is moving throughout the week

    • Reinforces team training and team self-awareness throughout the week

    • Helps team adapt to changes as needed

    • Mobilizes team to be encouragers in their interactions

    • Checks with the community coordinator to see how they are doing

    • Leads or takes part in final team debrief

    • Encourages team members to take tangible next steps with the community

Section 1

Transportation, Lodging, & Meals

Section 2

Local Relationships

Section 3

Orientation & Debriefs

Section 4

Projects, Activities, & Rest

Section 5

Creating a Schedule

Section 6

Case Studies: Success & Challenges

Module Review

Hosting a Short-Term Team

Review the topics you learned in this module, and give feedback on what you learned

On Field

Resources

End of Module 3: Hosting a Short Term Team