The Center for Short Term Missions
Trip Registration Form

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Please read the following important policies relating to your potential trip. 
This section is lengthy but informative.

TRIP OBJECTIVES: In planning this trip with you, we hope to minister to you and others by: Developing spiritual life skills in your group and/or yourself: By focusing each trip on the basics, spiritual disciplines that are necessary both on and off the field, we will help reinforce that which you are currently striving to instill in your life and/or in the lifes of your group members. In this way we serve each participant. Advancing the work of local ministries: By providing thoroughly equipped people resources, we will be able to offer encouragement and support for those missionaries already on the field. In this way we serve the world. Saving you time: By handling trip logistics, we will free you up to focus on your walk with the Lord and/or the discipleship of your group before, during, and after your trip. In this way we serve the local church. The following 3 objectives will be the primary focus of our ministry this summer. Everything we do in preparation for this trip as well as every aspect of the actual trip will focus on them, so it is vital that you and/or your team become very familiar with each objective. Yes, that means you and/or your team need to memorize them. Each participant will . . . Objective #1 EXPERIENCE AN INTERACTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. FOCUS: Our relationship with Jesus Objective #2 EXPERIENCE THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST IN ACTION. FOCUS: Our relationship with the church Objective #3 SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS WITH SOMEONE WHO IS LOST. FOCUS: Our relationship with the world We pray that as you and/or your group experience the power and character of God, radical decisions will be made and that lives will be changed forever. All resulting from you and/or your group taking at least one permanent, significant step towards their likeness to Jesus Christ for His glory. TRIP PREPARATION: Scripture is clear that Satan wants nothing more than to destroy any pursuit of building God’s Kingdom and any desires that a person has of becoming like Jesus Christ. It is for these reasons that our teams need to be prepared for the battle they will face. Please keep in mind that pre-trip preparation is NOT a necessary evil, nor is it a worthless time consumer. Spending time preparing for this missions experience is an excellent means of being involved in the process of developing MATURING DISCIPLES of Jesus Christ. And then, watching those disciples be a part of building God’s Kingdom. We pray that you will be able to develop a vision of the amazing things that the Lord can do in your and/or your group’s lives during this time. Below are just a few of the key benefits. Pre-trip preparation . . . Helps ensure that expectations are reasonable Helps minimize fear of the unknown Helps equip team members with necessary ministry skills Helps provide a safer environment in which to practice those skills Helps identify individual strengths/growth areas and the resulting group identity Helps accelerate the development of group unity by ensuring that participants are one in spirit and in purpose Helps emphasize the value of true Biblical fellowship as team members begin to see the importance of bearing one another’s burdens, praying for one another, spurring one another on, etc. Helps weed out various problems and tensions prior to the trip Helps team members develop more specific personal goals and prayer requests for the trip Helps give leaders a chance to connect with their group on a deeper level through planned (and unplanned) discussions about fears, concerns, hopes and dreams Helps supporters and church leadership see the level of your commitment Helps give parents more confidence in your ability to care for their children Helps to provide an arsenal established in scripture for the attacks they will face. Individuals and groups will be required to complete the preparation materials we provide. Please understand that while we endeavor to develop the most solid plans we can concerning your trip, events develop that are often beyond our control. Many times the Lord has diverted our attention from our intended path to accomplish far greater results. For this reason it is important for you to know that our plans are TENTATIVE and could change even minutes before they are scheduled to take place. We appreciate your grace and understanding with this. God did nothing less than His best in sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. As we serve Him, anything less than our best is a slap in His face. TRIP COST: The following three lists breakdown your cost. The first is a list of what your cost per person covers. The second list itemizes what you are responsible to pay in addition to the per person fee. With some minor exceptions you pay for your expenses leading up to the start time of the trip and picking up after the conclusion of the trip. We handle most everything in-between. The third list details our additional services available to you. Cost for these additional services will be based the number of participants. The Per Person Fee Covers: Training Materials Devotional Kit Housing (from your arrival day to the day of your departure) Meals (from dinner at your arrival to breakfast on the departure) Cook Public Transportation/Parking Trip Staffing Administrative fees What you Need to Cover… Transportation to, during, and from the trip (this includes gas) Vehicle rental fees and extra insurance Meals prior to and after the conclusion of the trip Housing during your travel to and from the trip Travel insurance & papers Ministry supplies (like VBS materials) Any shots, notarization expenses, and doctor visits Additional Services we can Provide... Your Promotional Meeting Pre-trip site visit Pre-trip training meetings Trip leader training Prayer cards Display set-up Additional items like duffle bags, sweat-shirts, etc. Video for your Return Service TRIP FINANCIAL POLICY: Payment #1 For Groups-A $500 Registration Fee is due within 10 business days of the submission of this Registration Form. $250 of your $500 Registration Fee will be held as a Security Deposit. The Security Deposit will be used to cover any Payment Late Fees, any damages of your responsibility and/or a $50 Janitorial Fee if necessary. Your Payment Late Fee is $20 for every 5 business days any of your payments is late. You are responsible to pay for any fees exceeding your initial Security Deposit. Any unused portion of your Security Deposit will be mailed to you once your trip has concluded. You may pay the Registration Fee and all remaining fees by check. Please make check payable to The US Center for World Mission and mail to Box 558 SE Facility, PA. 19399, Atten: CSTM. Your trip will not be reserved until this fee is received. The initial $250 Registration Fee goes towards the overall cost of the trip and is non-refundable. For Individual Registrants-Your Registration Fee is $250 half of which is your Security Deposit. The guidelines listed above apply to Individual Registrants as well. Payment #2 For Groups-A deposit of $25/person comprising your team is due with your Participant Applications & all paper work. You will receive this paper work in the Confirmation Packet. This deposit is non-refundable and is due 120 days prior to your trip. For Individual Registrants-Payment #2 is half of the balance of your per person cost. The guidelines listed above apply to Individual Registrants as well. Payment #3 For Groups-50% of your balance is due 60 days prior to the start date of the trip. For Individual Registrants-The final balance of your per person cost is due 60 days prior to the start date of the trip. Payment #4 For Groups-The remainder of your balance is due 30 days prior to the start date of the trip. If you registered for your trip sometime within 120 days prior to the trip start date you will need to catch-up on your payments & paperwork with your first check. Please only send one check from your church or personal account for each payment. Do not send individual checks for each person or cash. Individuals or groups sent home for rules violation will loss 100% of their payment. Groups of 9 or less may need to pay a flat rate and a per person charge. TRIP CANCELLATION POLICY: The closer we get to the start date of your trip, the more money is disbursed on your behalf toward the trip expenses. For this reason, the following cancellation policy has been established. This policy applies to groups, each individual in a group and those attending a trip as an individual. Attention Group Leaders-Please make sure that each of the members of your team is made aware of this cancellation policy! Canceling 121+ days prior to the start date of your trip results in the loss of Payment #1, not including the Security Deposit portion. Canceling 61 to 120 days prior to the start date of your trip results in the loss of Payments #1 & 2. Canceling 31 to 60 days prior to the start date of your trip results in the loss Payments #1 & 2 plus half of payment #3 Canceling 4 to 30 days prior to the start date of your trip results in the loss of Payments #1, 2 & 3. Canceling from your trip start date to 3 days prior to your trip start date results in the loss of Payments #1, 2, 3 & 4. TRIP INSURANCE POLICY: If registering as a group, The USCWM will be requesting that your organization provide a Certificate of Insurance for proof of coverage. The USCWM will also be requesting that the USCWM be listed as an Additional Insured on your policy. Forms detailing these requests will be included in your Confirmation Packet. Coverage requirements and policy cancellation requirements will be spelled out in that form. The USCWM will also be requesting proof of insurance from each participant. Again, this request will be seen in the Confirmation Packet. Please keep in mind that the primary provision of insurance comes from your ministry and each individuals policy. TRIP EXPECTATIONS FOR EACH PARTICIPANT: Each team member must demonstrate a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Each team member must demonstrate a teachable spirit Each team member must demonstrate the ability and willingness to be adaptable Each team member must complete all pre-trip preparation Each team member must cooperate with the rules of the trip Each team member must be at least 12 years of age by the start date of the trip, excluding family trips TRIP DRESS CODE: All dress code decisions have risen out of a commitment to . . . 1. Modesty 2. Safety 3. Cultural Sensitivity As you select your clothing, please remember that . . . 1. The way we dress could hurt the testimony of Jesus Christ and it has the potential of distracting people from our message. 2. Immodest dress could increase the risk of danger or harm. 3. Sexual temptations affect us all, Christian or not. Please think carefully about how your clothing choices may affect those within the group from the opposite sex. Tell your girls, “Girls, this is an opportunity for you to serve your brothers as they strive and struggle to be pure. Your dads can be extremely helpful here. Why don’t you consider running your outfits by him? If he doesn’t think that other men would have a problem with your choices, then great! But, if there is even the slightest concern that a piece of clothing might cause another group member to stumble, then sub-mit to his wisdom and don’t even consider packing it.” The following pieces are not appropriate at any location. 1. Shorts that are more than 3 inches above the knee 2. Short skirts or dresses 3. Any sleeveless shirts (includes cut-offs, spaghetti straps, tank tops, etc.) 4. Shirts that are too short to stay tucked in (For your protection, all shirts must be tucked in at all times) 5. Extreme clothing: either skin-tight or excessively baggy 6. Clothing or pieces with inappropriate advertisements/messages 7. Two piece ladies bathing suits/bikini style bathing suits for men 8. Open-toed and/or open heeled shoes (i.e. flip flops, sandals, or clogs) may be worn ONLY while inside at the base. For your safety, they are not permitted at any of our work or ministry sites (including the church services that we will attend). TRIP MINISTRY FOCUS: It is important that each participant understand that our ministry during our trips is primarily relational in nature. Not wanting to interact with people, even casually, will not be an option. Work type projects may play a role on our trip but it, for the most part, is with the intention of developing a relationship. Relationships could be between the community and your participants and/or between the community and the host ministry we are working with. TRIP GROUP LEADERS & INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS COVENANT: I understand that compromising this covenant may result in the cancellation of my or my groups involvement with The CSTM’s STM’s Program or in the early dismissal of my group (or offending individual[s]) from our trip. My cancellation or any dismissal will affect the finances I have committed to The CSTM’s STM’s Program as dictated by the Cancellation Policy. I commit to maintaining my spiritual, personal, and professional obligations as best I can I commit to thoroughly review all the information sent to me by the CSTM I understand that every participant age 18 or over by the start date of the trip may need to complete a Background Check I support the vision and objectives of The CSTM’s STM Trips I commit to maintain the Dress Code established for this trip for myself or group I commit to The CSTM’s STM Financial Policy I commit to The CSTM’s STM Trip Cancellation Policy I commit to The CSTM’s STM Insurance Policy I commit to thoroughly prepare for taking my group through the preparation process I commit to taking my team through the interview process I commit to making sure that I or each participant from my group meets the Participant Expectations stated by The CSTM I commit to completing the preparation process with my group I commit to the full participation of each team member on this trip unless exception is given by The CSTM I commit to maintaining current and honest communication with The CSTM’s staff While understanding that I am responsible for my group, the final authority on the trip will be the Trip Leader from The CSTM Staff as directed by the Host Ministry Director.

I have read and ACCEPT the above policies.

I want to give the unused portion of my Security Deposit as a tax deductible

     donation to The US Center for World Mission.

I have read and DO NOT ACCEPT the above policies.  Please call me to discuss my

     questions.