Short-term Missionary Qualifications
· Applicants must be willing to step out in faith to serve God on a short-term mission and the ability to commit appropriate time, financial resources, and dedication to the experience.
· Applicants must have a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and a commitment to serve His Church.
· A desire for and pursuit of passionate worship, authentic fellowship, spiritual maturity, sacrificial outreach, and respectful evangelism must be apparent in the life of the applicant.
· If your trip will be working with children, all team members must undergo a background check (separate form required).
For any international trips, we would strongly recommend that you begin the passport process if you do not have a passport.
All passports MUST be valid for at least six months from the return date of the trip. If your passport will expire sooner than that, we recommend that you start the renewal process as soon as possible.
Lakeway Church Statement of Faith
What We Believe
1. About God
God is one. He is the living and true God who is everlasting and infinite in power, wisdom and goodness; the creator and sustainer of all things, both visible and invisible.
2. About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, both God and man, born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered, and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. He is our Savior, who will one day return to establish God’s eternal kingdom.
3. About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is one in being with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgement and comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful, guiding them into all truth.
4. About the Bible
The Scriptures are the sole source and criterion for the Christian faith, the inspired Word of God without error and the final authority in matters of Christian faith and life. In Scripture we are met by the living Christ, and experience His redeeming grace.
5. About Human Beings
We are made in the spiritual image of God and are the supreme object of God’s creation. All are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin” and are in need of redemption and salvation.
6. About Justification and Assurance
God reaches out to the repentant believer with justifying grace and accepting and pardoning love. The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe. The Holy Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
7. About Eternal Security
The true believer is secure in salvation for eternity. One’s salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by self-efforts or works.
8. About Eternity
People were created to exist forever, eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is in Hell. Eternal life with His is in the Kingdom of God.
The Short-Term Mission Trip experience begins well before the date of departure and does not end when one returns home. Therefore, as a part of the trip, you as a team member are expected to participate fully in the pre-trip gatherings, the activities while in the field, and the debriefing and post-trip meetings including trip reports to the body of The Lakeway Church. Pre-trip activities will begin approximately two months before the scheduled start date of the trip, and will require attendance at prayer and team meetings on a regular basis.
I understand that team members must be flexible, cooperative, and strive to maintain a positive attitude. I agree to cooperate at all times with the team leader concerning our trip - including daily assignments, food, lodging and transportation. I agree to stay with the team from beginning to end (including debrief), to at all times exhibit proper Christian behavior, to represent The Lakeway Church in a positive, Godly light, and to share my faith in an appropriate Christian manner.
I hereby authorize The Lakeway Church and its representatives to provide photographs, slides, video and/or audio tapes of myself participating in this short-term mission trip for possible publication in the church newsletter, postcards, video productions or other intra-church publications, for possible inclusion in area newspapers, magazines, brochures, flyers and the like and/or for use on the church website or local organizations' websites.
Personal Liability Waiver
In being accepted and allowed to participate in a Lakeway Church short-term mission trip, I assume responsibility for my actions. I release The Lakeway Church, its Elders, Employees, Staff, Ministers and Agents from liability, loss, injury or damage to my property or myself. Nothing contained herein shall excuse The Lakeway Church, its Elders, Employees, Staff, Ministers or Agents to act with reasonable care for my safety or the safety of my property. I hereby release The Lakeway Church, its Elders, Employees, Staff, Ministers and Agents and Sponsors of this activity from responsibility and liability for any injury or illness that I may sustain during this activity. In the event of an emergency, I hereby authorize an adult leader of this activity, as my agent, to consent on my behalf to medical treatment. In this regard, I consent to allow said adult to authorize medical, dental or surgical diagnosis, X-ray examination, and treatment including surgery and hospital care for me if needed and if advised and supervised by a licensed physician, surgeon or dentist. I understand that there is always an element of risk involved in travel and participating in religious work in other countries.
Trip costs range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on flight costs, in-country expenses, and work projects. More detailed information will be made available for each trip in the early planning stages.
By submitting this application and applying to be a part of a Lakeway Church Short-Term Mission Team, I certify that all of the above information is correct, and I make a commitment to:
- Complete the Consent to perform Criminal History Background check (if working with children).
- Go through the training process prior to departure and after I return from the trip.
- Conduct myself in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ while serving Him on the project.
- Submit to the team leader's and the host on-the-field's authority.
- Refrain from any behavior which may compromise my witness (i.e. abusive language, drug use, dating, etc.).
- Travel with the team to site and return with the team from site.
Also, if at any time while on the trip my behavior constitutes a problem, the team leader has the authority to ask me to return home. Any additional cost incurred as a result of this action will be at my own expense.
