MODULE 4 - Section 4
Developing Partners During the In-Community Phase
10 Minutes to complete section and related assignments
In this section, you will learn:
The in-community phase is an opportunity to develop meaningful partnerships with short-term teams.
Presence is the key attribute to leverage during this phase.
To make the most of the physical presence of the team, focus on executing plans with excellence, creating new connections, and mobilizing participants.
Some practices that can help execute with excellence include a prayer/vision walk, double-checking logistics, and regular debriefing.
To create new connections, get to know each team member, create opportunities for the team to meet locals, and write to leaders of the goer-group back home.
Introduction
The time when a short-term team is serving with you in your community provides an even greater opportunity to move a goer-group toward meaningful, ongoing partnership. The team is there with you. This is a rare space within the relationship and gives them the valuable ability to tangibly see, hear and connect with the community. Their attention is undivided.
This is why the key attribute to leverage during the in-community phase is Presence.
The team is now able to see first-hand more of how God is moving, the tremendous local assets and profound needs, and the opportunity for others to join in. Relationship-building is face-to-face and in person. The vision is not only becoming real, but also personal. They become part of the few who have the very best chance to understand why this work is so important. They are starting to “get it.” This is the critical time to make the most of their physical presence in and with your community.
Execute - Execute with excellence
Remember from Module 1 the 5 characteristics of a healthy STT Coordinator: Administrate, Communicate, Develop, Host, Lead.
Connect - Create new connections between the goer-group and your community
Mobilize - Turn STT participants into ongoing advocates
1. Execute
You’ve prepared well before the team arrived. Now effectively executing your plans will build trust with the goer-group and make longer-term partnership a more likely outcome. Here’s a few practices that can help you execute with excellence.
Include a prayer/vision walk of your community where the team is asked to notice assets/resources as well as needs. Highlight ways God is at work, progress that has been made, and obstacles that remain.
Each day, double-check the logistical details for the next day (e.g. transportation, lodging, meals, translation, project details, etc.) to ensure you can maximize the impact of the STT.
Each evening, meet with the team leader to discuss plans for the next day, consider how each team member is doing, and make adjustments necessary to balance the need for work, rest and regular debriefing.
2. Connect
The connections that are made during this in-community time are a vital part of the path to partnership for a goer-group. It’s best to think of these connections in 3 ways: (1) your relationship with each STT member; (2) the relationships built between the STT participants and your team/ locals; and (3) the connections fostered between your community and the goer-group back home.
Be intentional about getting to know each STT member, even if just for a few minutes. As you do, be discerning about potential for future involvement. Did they come well-prepared? Do they have the attitude of a learner? What are they finding most impactful? What are they most interested in or passionate about?
Create opportunities for STT participants to meet others on your team as well as locals.
Have locals share their story.
Make sure there’s time for your Catalyst to share the vision with the STT and for the STT to get to know your Catalyst. The team’s orientation is often a great place to do this.
If the STT includes a staff leader from the goer-group/fellowship, be sure to include time for that leader to meet with your Catalyst and perhaps other local leaders.
In the middle of the trip, write to leaders of the goer-group back home. Include photos and/or a video. If a video is used, be sure to include the STT leader in the video as well as the worker on your team who is supported by that goer-group (if applicable). In the email or video, highlight something humorous from the time the group has been there, a success accomplished, an invitation to prayer and a word of thanks for the investment made. Encourage the goer-group leader to share the email or video with others back home.
3. Mobilize
Your objective to mobilize others through this short-term experience will primarily be accomplished in this phase while they are still there with you. At this point, there’s much that each team member has experienced. They are likely trying to figure out what to do with it. An end-of-team debrief is an ideal place to provide time for personal reflection that includes consideration of what next steps of mission involvement God may be inviting each one to take.
The Short-Term Teams Dept. will provide the team with an on-field debrief, but, as mentioned in Module 3, you are encouraged to have a role during this time, sharing tangible, next steps the team can take to stay engaged with the community.
Here are some ways you can help team members glean important fruit from their time as they consider next steps:
A couple of days before the final debrief, ask the team leader to begin thinking of ways God could use the goer-group to have more impact in the community. Ask them to list a few things individuals and teams could do by coming to the community as well as while remaining at home. Ideally, such ideas should include use of skills, prayer and funding. During the final debrief, have him/her read those ideas simply as a prompt for others to consider what could be possible.
During the debrief, make sure team members are clear on the highest priority projects, open team member roles and most urgent funding needs.
Tell stories of how past STT participants have played a valuable role after the short-term experience by giving, praying, lending their expertise, serving as advocates or coming back for a longer period of service.
Invite team members to indicate interest in receiving regular communication, being more intentional with prayer, helping fund a particular need, or serving in some way. Use a paper or digital form to collect their interest so you can follow up.
During the week and during the final debrief make your own private list of specific individuals that should be followed up more personally. For each one, identify the right next step…such as a follow-up conversation about being an advocate, or connecting with mobilization, or having your Catalyst make a follow-up call.
