IMTI Team Leader training overview

Leading a volunteer team overseas offers you a double reward: seeing God at work through your team members as well as your project. A successful trip, of course, depends on being fully prepared. This 14-hour seminar will provide plenty of how-tos, including how to recruit prayer supporters, research your project site overseas, build your team, finance your trip, train team members, secure travel and proper ID, and plan a daily schedule.

You’ll also discover how to maintain basic health needs and security (particularly if your team is traveling where the gospel is not openly shared). Some of the most important work of all awaits your return. Learn how presenting your missions experience to your church can play a key role in recruiting new and repeat volunteers.

See IMTI Team Leader training calendar

Training Outline

• Welcome and overview—a brief history of the Team Leader training, plus what it means to be a pioneer with realistic expectations
• Being an effective team leader—lots of checklists are examined, along with tips on how to build your prayer base.
• Your mission—approaches to obtaining country or people group information. Health and safety issues also are covered.
• Building your team—how to select a team and gain medical information and references
• Meeting expenses—figuring group and individual costs, and truths for meeting those expenses
• Training your team—compares cross-cultural values with American values and looks at team dynamics
• Getting there—booking flights and lodging; obtaining passports and visas; packing your bags
• The Bible and security—Biblical and practical guidelines for security and safety issues
• Cooperating with field strategy—mapping out a daily schedule and what to do if your project falls through
• Preparing to return home—preparing a trip report and evaluating your team
• Return and debrief—coping styles and stress upon re-entry; post-trip get-togethers and thanking supporters

Call IMB Volunteers in Missions Department, 1-800-888-VOLS (8657). Or send e-mail to vimd@imb.org.