GO Teams: Short-Term Missions
Join or host a GO Team, geared for adults or students to be sent on a short-term mission with FMI and a local church. On a team or as an individual, go for as little as a week or as long as a year.
Before you GO
Short-Term Missions Training
Foursquare Missions International (FMI) partners with local churches or districts to provide comprehensive training modules for short-term missions teams as outlined in the form below. Contact us to schedule a training event.
What to Expect at a STMT Event
Our primary training for STMT can be done in a full day and a half and we cover 8 modules of training:
Module 1 – History
History can be our greatest teacher. This Module gives a brief history of Foursquare Missions, Short Term Missions, and Short Term Missions within FMI.
Module 2 – Biblical Basis for Mission
The foundation of the Word of God is the only sure foundation. This answers the question of why we do what we do.
Module 3 – Global Trends in Missions
This module outlines current trends and statistics in missions today. What is the data telling the church and what adjustments need to be made in light of this information?
Module 4 – STM Leader and the Team Process
Short-term team leaders have a huge responsibility. This module helps potential team leaders think through the process, offering practical advice on how to lead the team through the before, during, and after of a short-term missions team.
Module 5 – Foursquare Missiology and STM
Our Biblical Global Strategy empowered by the Holy Spirit has allowed us to enjoy having a large global family. Understanding Foursquare missiology and what stage a nation is in should directly determine what kind of involvement and ministry a church would choose to have in that nation or culture.
Module 6 – Disaster Relief and STM
How we respond to natural disasters and man-made disasters can be a great open door for the gospel. This module gives insight to how Foursquare performs disaster relief and how churches can partner with Foursquare Disaster Relief in a way that leads to long term development and recovery.
Module 7 – Security/Health/and Safety for Short-Term Teams
Safety, security, prevention, and liability are all issues that need to be given careful attention in short-term missions. This module outlines policies that help keep teams physically safe, physically healthy, and technologically safe.
Module 8 – Cultural Intelligence
Understanding the culture and worldview of a people group and learning how to adjust to effectively communicate the love of Christ is essential in short-term missions. This module gives insight into cultural differences and how to operate with cultural intelligence.
Specialized Training Options
- We can also work together with groups of churches or districts to design customizable missions events that fit the specific needs or vision of missions in that area. Please contact us to discuss options.
- If you would like to bring in a specific trainer or have someone come and speak on a specific missions topic please contact us and we will help set that up.
- FMI can also help find missional guest speakers for a Sunday morning at your local church. Please contact us and we would love to help you.
Get Insured
FMI highly recommends purchasing trip insurance as most insurance carriers do not cover costs incurred outside the U.S. We offer affordable missions insurance through our partner, available at the link below.
Where to GO
2024 Short-term Trips
Dates and costs are subject to change and new opportunities are posted as they become available. To find out more, please contact us.
Difficulty Levels: Each GO Team trip is rated according to the level of difficulty on a scale from 1 to 3, based on the work or ministry required of the team and the conditions they will encounter.
- 3 = Difficult: Cultural conditions (food, language) will be difficult, a translator may be required, food provided may be completely unfamiliar, living conditions may include sleeping on the floor, no shower for days, no Internet accessibility, irregular or no electricity; the volunteer will be stretched far beyond their comfort zone. This is not a recommended trip for a first-time missions volunteer.
- 2 = Medium: Volunteers must be very flexible as the trip will not be predictable. Cultural conditions will be somewhat difficult, living conditions may be normal on some days, and difficult on others, translators may be needed and ministry conditions will likely be more difficult. Access to the Internet and electricity could be spotty at best.
- 1 = Easy: Difficulty level is low. The cultural and living conditions will be very easy. This trip is ideal for high school aged volunteers. Showers, electricity and Wi-Fi will be reliable. If a language barrier exists, it will not be difficult to bridge.
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Jamaica GO Team
Difficulty Level 2-3
Dates: August 3-12, 2024
Trip Cost: $900 plus airfare from your location to Montego Bay
About Trip: Our mission will be to partner with the Jamaica Foursquare Church in their camp program. Team members will be used as Devotional Leaders, Children’s Workers, Dorm Leaders, etc. At the end of the week, you will be given a day off to tour beautiful Jamaica and shop in Ocho Rios and 2 nights in Deja All Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay. There will be an opportunity to attend a Jamaican church service on Sunday.
Contact:
Team Leader: Cindy Berry
Email: iluvtopraisehim11@yahoo.com
Cell: 813.404.8353
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Malawi GO Team
Difficulty Level 2-3
Dates: September 28 – October 12, 2024
Trip Cost: $4,400 + $100 application fee. Expect to also pay $200-$400 for immunizations.
About Trip: We will be working together with the Malawian Foursquare Church to reach rural African villages with the marvelous gift of the Gospel. Ministry opportunities include: evangelism, videography, prayer + healing, medical clinics, water well dedications, children’s ministry, camp cook, and more.
Contact:
Team Leader: Chris
Email: chriseggleston0@gmail.com
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Nicaragua Go Team
Difficulty Level 1-2
Dates: July 2-12, 2024
Trip Cost: $1,150 plus a $50 deposit and airfare from your location
About Trip: Children’s ministry, medical clinics, drama, evangelism, Bible distribution and construction. We will partner with the local Foursquare churches in Nicaragua to help grow their church and reach their communities.
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Panama Medical Team
Difficulty Level 3
Dates: July 18 – August 2, 2024
Trip Cost: $2,500
Space Availability: 15 people
About Trip: Departure city will be Las Vegas, NV. The mission of this team is to provide the love of Christ in and through medical services offered in Panama.
Contact:
Team Leader: Richard Farris
Email: rfarris@livinggracelv.org or Rfarris@foursquare.org
Phone: 702.493.4641
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Cultural Immersion Trips
Difficulty Level 1-2
Dates: TBD
Trip Cost: TBD
About Trip: Visit nations with few to no churches, with a Foursquare Missions worker as your guide. You will have the opportunity to meet Foursquare workers in pioneer situations, as well as learn about and explore the local culture. You will gain an appreciation of what it takes to bring the gospel to the least-reached parts of the world. Reach out for more information on the next planned trip, as many are in the works.
Contact:
Cheri Dunnigan, FMI short-term missions coordinator
Email: cdunnigan@foursquare.org
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Pastors and Leaders Trip
Difficulty Level: 1-3
Dates: Many dates are in the planning stages. Please inquire
Trip Cost: TBD
Space Availability: 3-5 people max
About Trip: Pastors and leaders, we’re excited to connect you with global missions! Whether you’re new to missions or looking to expand your connections, our team will facilitate introductions to global associate directors, missionaries, national leaders, and international pastors. FMI is dedicated to organizing trips to Foursquare works around the world. This opportunity allows pastors and leaders to experience the field firsthand and primarily focuses on pastor and leadership training. If you’re a pastor or missional leader eager to network with peers and serve in new fields, this opportunity is ideal for you.
Contact:
Cheri Dunnigan, FMI short-term missions coordinator
Email: cdunnigan@foursquare.org
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Have specific questions? Contact our FMI team, and ask for short-term missions team coordinator Cheri Dunnigan.
Places That Have Requested and Need Short-Term GO Teams
So, you have your team. You know who’s going. You know what you can do. You are well-prepared and ready to minister in another culture in another country. But, where? We can help with that!
Below you will find a number of requests which have been made by the field. Consider these needs on the field and whether or not your church may be able to field a team that would meet these needs. If you would like more information on a particular short-term mission trip, please use our Contact Form and select “GO: Short-Term” to let us know.
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Cote d’Ivoire
Construction teams needed. Helping a national work that is serving and sending out missionaries to a number of neighboring countries build and establish their headquarters. They also need classrooms for a new Bible school on their main campus. Partner with leaders on the field and help financially in units of $10,000 to see these projects completed.
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El Salvador
Teams will work with Hope Chapel San Salvador for developing the church plant and will partner with other Foursquare churches in El Salvador. There are currently 14 Foursquare churches in El Salvador, the small Central American country nestled between Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The ideal team is between 6 to 10 people. Larger teams are possible but require additional vehicles and workers to accommodate them. Having bilingual (Spanish and English) team members is extremely helpful.
Teams are available to visit year-round, however, the heat is milder from November through February and the rain is usually. not a factor during this time. June through October is the rainiest season and could affect outreaches and construction teams. Teams typically stay for between 10-14 days. Minsitry costs vary depending on the focus of the team. A 10-day trip will cost apporximately $750 per person plus airfare.
For more information contact Jared Mueller at: jmueller@foursquare.org
Ministry Teams: Teams will partner with Hope Chapel San Salvador and local missionaries to minister within the church and develop outreaches. Depending on the team’s skillsets there are opportunities for children and youth outreaches, evangelism, preaching, ministry workshops, and partnering with retreats or camps. Medical teams are possible but dependent upon team members with experience. There are currently three newly planted Foursquare churches in El Salvador as well as other areas in development. Reaching these areas with focused outreaches can help significantly with the labor in planting new works.
Rural and Urban Teams: El Salvador is very small, so teams are able to work in both the primary cities as well as the rural churches offering a variety of ministry opportunities and environments.
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Ireland
Help host a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for kids. We are looking for a team of about 10 people to come to Cork, Ireland, and support local churches and ministries with VBS outreaches into communities. Because this mission is mainly to children, it must take place during the summer months of June-August while kids are out of school. Ground costs are roughly $90/person, each day.
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Japan
Evangelism teams needed. There is an open door, right now in Japan, for specific ministry, and we need teams with teaching gifts. We are looking for evangelism teams to host Vacation Bible Schools (VBS), evangelism for children, youth camps, and English camps. We are also looking for Spanish-speaking teams to minster to a large, unreached Spanish population in Japan. Ground costs are roughly $90/person, each day.
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Kenya
Business as Mission / business training and pastors for leadership development. There is a huge need to help train and mentor our pastors and nationals on ways to save and make money to fund ministry. Most pastors are working bi-vocationally to support their families and churches. We need specialized teams, with business and training experience, to come and serve along with our leaders. We also need pastors to come and teach leadership development and seminary-style biblical teachings to our national pastors who are so eager to learn more.
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Liberia
Construction teams needed. Help build a number of new Foursquare churches, or repair storm-damaged roofs with projects that range from $5,000-$15,000. This would be a tremendous cost for this National Church, that has a zeal for church growth and development after having lived through many challenging years of war and Ebola virus. Now, they are rising anew and looking for partners.
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Middle East (Arab Region)
Teams needed for refugee care, Bible teaching for all ages, church development, basic work projects, business as mission (BAM), East/West music exchange, biblical history tours, and/or sports ministry. Ideal team size is 2 to 8 people. Basic training in cross-cultural ministry is recommended. Teams would most be needed from March through November (dates to be approved). Ground costs vary, upon location; please inquire.
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Taiwan
Evangelism Teams Needed. Great opportunities exist for small teams of 2-5 people to minister, especially in helping with some urban church plants. Ground costs around $90/person, each day.
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United States
Cross-Cultural Ministry Team Needed.The International Hope Center (ihopecenter.com), a Foursquare ministry, hosts church teams to Hamtramck, Michigan, one of the most diverse cities in America. In Hamtramck’s 2.2 square miles, you will find 23 languages spoken, over seven mosques, a Hindu temple, Buddhist garden, and Eastern and Western churches. Teams will receive training in cross-cultural and urban training, exposure to the many cultures of Hamtramck, and hands-on ministry that may include ESL, neighborhood park outreaches, kids and youth outreaches, ministry to at-risk girls, community gardens and much more. Costs: $35/day, per person, for housing and program fees, meals extra.
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Zimbabwe
Agricultural Projects + Discipleship Training Teams Needed. Zimbabwe needs teams to come and work with local teams in establishing/initiating local agricultural projects (building goat & chicken pens) Provide training in specific areas of support from communication, and planning to accounting systems and procedures. These teams can be instrumental in creating long-term partnerships between local churches and Foursquare Zimbabwe.
A 10 – 12 day trip would cost about USD 1,500 plus airfare which is approximately USD 3,000.
Please email Jason Abelo at jabelo@foursquare.org for more information.
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If you would like more information on a particular short-term mission trip here, please use our Contact Form and select “GO: Short-Term.”
Intern Field Opportunities
This category includes missionary workers that desire a one-year learning experience on the field or those that desire a role as an intern or for a gap year before applying for a full role as a FMI missionary worker or mission team specialist. A missionary intern meets the following criteria:
- He or she has been a member of a Foursquare church for at least one year, or is a Foursquare licensed minister.
- He or she has made a commitment of a minimum of three months (renewable).
- He or she is sent out by a local Foursquare church, in partnership with FMI, as described in the sending agreement with the facilitating church.
To apply or ask questions, contact us through our Contact Form.
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Albania
- Couple needed to manage a restaurant outreach in Tirana, Albania; 12 months; $1,000-$1,500 to be raised.
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El Salvador
Children’s and Youth Ministry Development and Evangelism: In partnership with Hope Chapel San Salvador, a church plant in the capitol city of El Salvador, the intern will help develop children’s and youth ministry for the local church. This intern will also have the opportunity to develop evangelism and outreaches for small churches in both the rural and urban settings. Currently ministries exist such as homework clubs, English classes, training in basic finances, “Ninos de Esperanza” a Saturday ministry which reaches at-risk children, etc. The intern would creatively seek to partner with these ministries and have the opportunity to partner with churches who do not currently have a strong children’s ministry or evangelistic outreaches.
- 4-12 months
- Costs are approximately $2000 per month depending on differing accommodation options
- Conversational Spanish is necessary, fluent Spanish speaker preferred
- Experience working with children and youth in church settings as well as outreaches
- A heart to disciple
- aAdaptability to work in hot climates and differing cultures between urban and rural
- Creative abilities to develop materials
- Basic abilities with video, media and editing videos would be a bonus
- Preaching, worship leading, ministry skills
Development of Leader / Ministry Program: The work in El Salvador has one established institute as well as virtual opportunities with Foursquare Costa Rica and Panamá. However, we have not developed a cohesive plan for incorporating practical training and field work that translates into sending workers int he field (church plants, local churches), etc. We need to creatively meet the needs for leader training with the current demands and complications of life in the city. Utilizing the benefits of online classes, virtual cohorts and localized trainings the Foursquare Church in El Salvador is in need of coordinating these resources into a cohesive program that has a clear set of components desired, while maintaining flexibility for the different needs of our leaders, both rural and urban.
- 4-12 Months
- Costs are approximately $2000 per month depending on differing accommodation options
- Conversational Spanish necessary, fluent Spanish speaker preferred
- Christian education, and church structure
- Heart to disciple and experience in mentoring others
- Adaptability to work in hot climates and differing cultures between urban and rural
- Creative abilities to develop materials
- Basic abilities with video, media and editing videos would be a bonus
- Preaching, worship leading, ministry skills
For more information on these three intern opportunities please contact Jared Mueller at jmueller@foursquare.org
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France
- Construction workers and experienced roofers; Strasbourg, France. Costs vary; please inquire.
- Administrative support work (French required); 12 months; costs vary upon location, please inquire.
- Musician/leader for worship group; 12 months; costs vary upon location; please inquire.
- Theatre and Arts teacher; 12 months; costs vary upon location; please inquire.
- Ministry team members in Nice, France. French required or the desire to learn French; 12 months; costs vary; please inquire.
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Japan
- Tokyo, Osaka; youth workers; 12 months; $3,000 to be raised.
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Middle East
- Arab regions; Arab cultural and language immersion, humanitarian/refugee care, business as mission (BAM), trauma mediation, Bible teaching for all ages, church development, biblical history tours, organization/hosting of short-term teams, East/West music exchange, sports ministry, and/or college study abroad. Duration can include 2 months ($4,200 to be raised), 3 months ($5,000 to be raised), 1 year ($1,500/monthly to be raised), or 2 years ($1,500/monthly to be raised). All costs include travel, room and board, and Arabic language immersion.
- Seasoned/retired ministers, coaches and mentors needed. Can come for 2 weeks to over a year, anytime year-round (December-February limited). Expect to assist with (1) teaching and coaching FMI team members, interns, mission trip participants, expats, local Christians, refugees, and biblical pilgrims; (2) strategic church development; and/or (3) biblical study, Holy Land tours, and sabbatical opportunities. Costs: $1,500 (individual) or $2,000 (couple, or team of two) includes room and board, plus travel.
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Nambia
- Teacher helpers/teachers for a private school run by the headquarters church; 12 months; $600 to be raised.
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New Zealand
Missions Immersion 2024
Designed for young adults aged 19-29, this 10-month program invites young adults to dive deep into both personal discipleship and missions training! Each participant will have regular hands-on experience sharing Jesus and making disciples in cross-cultural settings. This program requires a high level of responsibility, as individuals will be living and working within the community while they live out their mission.
Highlights include:
- Personal Discipleship focus on Emotional Health
- A 2 Week Missions Trip to a Pacific Island
- Completion of Foursquare Missions: Career Missionary Training
- Disciple Making Movement Training and Hands-on Experience
- Hiking and Exploring the Nelson Tasman region of New Zealand
For more detailed information and application access, please visit:
www.harkinsonmission.com/missions-immersion.
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Poland
- Flexible intern for children’s ministry. This internship would require a minimum of a 3-month commitment and a person who is bilingual. The intern would assist with children during events and would accompany or stay with children who require travel to other locations. This could lead to a long-term commitment. Inquire for more details.
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United States of America
- Hamtramck, Michigan – Minister in urban environment with a nonprofit.
We are looking for interns to spend anywhere between one month to a year volunteering, learning and ministering with us. Interns will be involved in a variety of cross-cultural and urban ministry and will receive one-on-one mentoring. Costs are $900 for housing and interns fees, food and other personal expenses not included. For more information call Sarah at 844.442.8624 ext. 2, or email sarah@ihopecenter.com. - Hamtramck, Michigan – Earn college credit while in the internship program. Students can earn a full-year of college credit through our partnership with Northwest University. There is also an option to spend half the year of this program traveling and studying in Europe, North Africa and Israel. For more information, call Sarah at (844) 442-8624 ext 2, or email sarah@ihopecenter.com, or visit ihopecenter.com.
Recommended Resources
- Resource Manual – English | Español
- Team Leader Manual – English | Español
- Field Guide – English | Español
- Medical Consent Form
- Missions Giving Credit Form
- Across the Street and Around the World – Jeannie Marie
- Cultural Intelligence – David A. Livermore
- Disciples of All Nations – John L. Amstutz
- Foreign to Familiar – Sarah A. Lanier
- Missionary Methods – Roland Allen
- Sent Ones – John Overholt
- Serving With Eyes Wide Open – David Livermore
- Short-Term Missions Workbook – Tim Dearborn
Have Questions About GO Teams and
Short-Term Missions?
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