March 30, 2016
Participating in a mission trip is a great way to make a positive difference in today’s chaotic world. Before your ministry leaves on its next missions adventure, make sure you are organized and equipped for a safe trip.
Here are six ideas to consider before embarking on your next mission trip:
1. Recognize the risks. When embarking on a mission trip, your team is likely to be exposed to unfamiliar risks. Some may involve vehicle accidents, particularly if you’re in a foreign country. Many others are associated with your mission activities—sermons, handing out tracts, biblical dramas, worship or healing services, and other religious communications that can result in allegations of emotional injury.
2. Get Organized. Appoint a team leader who will attend to the details of your trip and take the initiative to associate your team with a legitimate relief organization.
3. Stop before you go. If you are driving, be sure to have your church vehicles inspected before you leave. Repairs can be costly and tough to come by in other countries.
4. Keep the doctor away. Make sure everyone going on the trip is in good health. Require an up-to-date shot record and a signed medical release form from every team member. Prepare your team for potential injuries and be sure to identify a hospital or emergency room nearest your mission site in case someone on your team is hurt in the field.
5. Protect your valuables. Leave duplicate copies of important documentation at home in case you lose yours while traveling or need a back-up copy for some unexpected reason. Also, notify credit card companies that you are leaving the country so they don’t get suspicious of unusual activity on your card. Suggest that other team members do the same.
6. Consider coverage. Consider Brotherhood Mutual’s Faith Ventures foreign travel insurance for the trip. Make sure all team members have health insurance and additional accident and sickness coverage. Also, check to make sure that all church employees participating in the trip are covered by the church’s workers’ compensation insurance.
The ability to inspire others to give is a blessing. Because fundraising can be both exciting and challenging, there are some important details to consider that can help your donors, and organization, have a smooth and successful experience.
Has your church or school ever been asked to loan or rent one of your vans or buses to another ministry? Rather than running the risk of loaning or renting your own vehicle, you could consider aiding them financially in renting or chartering a vehicle from a rental agency.
A periodic review of your insurance policy is a good way to make sure your ministry is protected for its most current needs, but it also may offer the opportunity to find some significant savings.
Having insurance coverage specifically designed for long-term international missions helps protect your people and organization from the financial impact caused by injuries, lawsuits, property damage, and more.
It’s a new year! Having the right policies in place can help you better achieve your mission in 2023.
It’s a new year! Having the right policies in place can help you better achieve your mission in 2023.
With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s wise for ministries to evaluate their fire safety plan. Whether your ministry is hosting a holiday party, prepping treats for charity, or running a community kitchen, make sure you’re well-prepared with these tips.
As school is back in session, it’s important to make sure your school is equipped with the correct safety procedures. Thinking about your school’s physical security as a series of layers can help you find gaps in your plan. Transportation and volunteers are just two important aspects of your school safety plan to think about.
Anyone who turns on the news, flips through a magazine, or browses the web can see that American society and culture are experiencing rapid transitions. Some ministries have valid concerns that issues surrounding societal shifts may expose them to negative publicity, governmental scrutiny, or litigation.
The questions become: when and how can ministries operate within their deeply held religious beliefs when they may conflict with others’ rights?
Cyber security is increasingly crucial in our technologically advanced world. Scammers use many schemes when attempting to steal your data, but you can outsmart them by understanding their methods.
Most ministry leaders don’t realize there is funding available to non-profit employers including churches, schools, colleges, and camps. This post includes some highlights about the credit and guidance on where to start to see if your ministry is eligible.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially started June 1, and weather experts say this season is likely to produce above-normal activity. Take action to prepare your ministry to withstand a hurricane now, so you’re not scrambling when a watch or warning is posted.
When severe storms strike, they can produce high winds and tornadoes. Damaging winds can wreak havoc on your ministry’s property and to buildings. A high wind event can crash debris through your windows, strip your siding, down trees on your parking lot, peel shingles off your roof, and fling back the flashing.
Thieves are taking advantage of soaring precious metal prices. Take steps to protect your ministry’s vehicles and property.
As temperatures plummet, the risk of freezing pipes jumps. Frozen pipes can cause costly messes that could also put your ministry on hold while you clean up.
A mid-November deadline in the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings may have you wondering what the organization’s bankruptcy filing means for your ministry if you ever hosted or chartered Boy Scout Troops.
Organizations that obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding through the CARES Act can have their loans forgiven, turning them into grants. To qualify, each borrower must file a forgiveness application with its PPP lender, proving that it followed the rules. If your church, school, college, or camp meets all the criteria, 100% of its loan can be forgiven.
Learn about the CARES Act and two loans for which ministries may be eligible, since Congress authorized additional funding April 23.
As concern over the dangers associated with the spread of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads, our agency and Brotherhood Mutual want to keep you informed and provide best practices for managing the spread of this and similar illnesses at your ministry.
The first Sunday in February is a big day for sports fans. In fact, many Americans view Super Bowl Sunday as a national holiday. Friends and families will gather this year to watch the big game, enjoy delicious snacks, and of course, critique the commercials that go along with game day.