The following mandates are meant to further the usefulness and safety of your mission trip. As an FBC Missions Team Member you are expected to:
1. Go as a servant disciple of Jesus Christ and adopt that attitude when dealing with the team members and the people you meet during the trip. Act as a servant-disciple of the local pastor or missionary. Respect the advice you are given concerning attire, eating and drinking, and other such traditions that will help you assimilate into the local community.
2. Maintain a positive attitude and take precautions against being critical. Speak the truth in love. Never criticize the missionaries. Do not complain as complaining only makes more people unhappy. Take it to God.
3. Adopt an attitude of flexibility and understand that not everything will go as planned
4. Make sure that your outward appearance projects the image of Christ to the host culture. You may need to consult the missionaries to determine appropriate attire. Adhere to the dress code established for your trip. Come home the same way you left. This includes body piercing, tattoos, etc.
5. “Avoid the appearance of evil” as Paul tells us. Abstain from tobacco, alcoholic beverages, bars, discos, nightclubs or anything else that distracts people’s attention from God. The same principle holds for unmarried men and women sharing housing while traveling. Married participants are expected to be faithful to their spouses as Christ is faithful to His church.
6. Do not become romantically attached to anyone during the mission trip. Non-married couples in a dating relationship will not be allowed on the team.
7. Refrain from any behavior or activity that would hinder your ministry, the team’s ministry or the ministry of the host.
8. Abstain from making derogatory comments or getting involved in arguments regarding people, politics, sports, religion, race, or traditions. Refrain from meddling, complaining, obscene language or insensitive humor.
9. Be liable for yourself. If you break or damage something, you are responsible for restitution. If you get a traffic citation, you are responsible for paying it.
10. Refrain from giving gifts such as money, clothes, jewelry, electronics, etc. If you feel compelled to give a gift, consult first with the team leader(s) and/or host before you promise to give the gift. Agree to let him/her make the final decision and abide by the decision.
11. Accept and submit to the leadership role and the authority of the team leaders(s). Abide by his/her decisions as they concern this mission trip.
12. Ensure the team leader(s) knows your location at all times. Do not wander off alone (or with others) without the leader(s) knowledge and approval.
13. Not make commitments to the team without consulting the team leader(s). Team members should not commit time or funds unless they have discussed it with the team leader(s) and received permission.
14. Attend all team meetings including prior to departure, during the mission trip and after you return, including the STM trip report to FBC. Excessive non-participation will be cause for dismissal.
15. Attend daily team worship. It should be the first activity every day. Treat it as a special time, not an obligation. Come to the team devotional dressed and ready to begin the day.