Level 2: Mission Trip Director
Issued by
FOCUS
Upon completion of a successful domestic or international mission trip through FOCUS, earners have recruited, organized, and directed trips for 1-3 weeks in impoverished areas. Mission Trip Directors are the lead organizer of a mission trip, working with a FOCUS Missions Coach and Mission Trip Leaders (Level 1) to coordinate and execute a successful mission trip. This is an optional leadership role that FOCUS staff can take on to further their professional development and leadership.
- Type Experience
- Level Intermediate
- Time Months
Skills
- Ability To Follow Instructions
- Adaptability & Flexibility
- Budget Development
- Coach And Motivate Others
- Collaborative
- Cultural Competency Training
- Delegation And Empowerment
- Diplomacy
- Fundraise Coaching
- Fundraising
- Initiative
- Organizational And Managerial Responsibilities
- Recruit Participants
- Self Motivated
- Task Completion
- Team Player
- Travel Planning
Earning Criteria
-
To qualify as a Mission Trip Director, the earner must have previously served on a FOCUS Mission Trip team as a Leader (Level 1) and must have received a recommendation by their previous trip's Director.
-
Mission Trip Director is responsible for setting goals with members of their team to recruit participants for the mission trip, with at least one participant coming from their campus.
-
Mission Trip Director coaches teammates and participants to fundraise the entire cost of their trip through personal invitations. Each trip participant is required to meet minimum standards of fundraising before allowance onto the trip. Director helps establish the trip's budget and is responsible for expenses throughout the duration of the trip.
-
Mission Trip Director sets and facilitates weekly team meetings for six to nine months before the trip to check-in on recruitment, student fundraising, and other logistical tasks.
-
Mission Trip Director is required to attend a training called Mission Director Leadership Summit (MDLS). MDLS is a week-long training wherein Mission Trip Directors learn international and domestic travel practices, risk mitigation techniques, emergency training, diplomacy, and the learning arc of trip participants. In addition, they learn how to properly interact with third-party hosts, manage a group, and facilitate transformative experiences.
-
Once the trip departs, the group serves marginalized populations by collaborating with local organizations to ensure help is being given where it is most needed. The Mission Trip Director coordinates ongoing check-in's with Mission Trip Leaders and forms participants through a series of assigned talks. Mission Trip Directors contribute to the success of the trip through their leadership and purview of participant experiences.
-
Mission Trip Directors and Leaders facilitate a debriefing session at the conclusion of the trip to help participants process their experience.