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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (click on your question to be directed to the answer)
1. What is the registration process?
2. What is the difference between 1 Week SERVE, 1 Week
SERVE/ENCOUNTER and 2+ Week ENCOUNTER experiences?
3. What is the purpose of three site choices on the registration
form?
4. What are the important deadlines?
5. Is there still room at a particular site?
6. What if I have not received my confirmation yet
for my mission trip experience?
7. What if I have received my confirmation letter,
but have not received any other information?
8. How is registering for a Spring Break SERVE different?
9. What is the age requirement to be a small group leader?
10. Do I have to register with a group or can I register
as an individual?
11. What is a groups-only site?
12. Will my group be split up at the site?
13. What is a Special Needs site?
14. I've never raised support before. How do I go about
fundraising?
15. What do I need to know about travelling across borders?
16. Who do I contact if I have a question that is not listed
here?
17. Is SERVE an acronym or does it stand for something?
ANSWERS Below>>>
1. What is the registration process?
There are three ways to register:
1. Register online (Available October 1, 2007)
2. Download and print a registration form in PDF format ---> Download Now! (71 KB)
3. Call or e-mail us to receive a registration form in the mail - 616-241-5616,
ext. 3040 or e-mail missions@youthunlimited.org.
Sites are filled on a
first-come, first-serve basis according to postmark/online registration date. We wait
two weeks after the postmark/online registration date and then process applications
for that date to assure postal delivery time for everyone throughout North
America. See Leader's Toolkit for more information.
2. What
is the difference between 1 Week SERVE, 1 Week SERVE/ENCOUNTER and 2+ Week
ENCOUNTER experiences?
1 Week SERVE
- Designed for those who have a desire to help others and discover who God is.
- Must enjoy hands-on service - activities may include: home construction and repair, painting, cleaning, meal preparation, working with children and more.
- High School SERVE - Ages 14-20, or you have completed grade 8 by July 1, 2008. NOTE: There are some exceptions. See list of locations for details.
- Middle School SERVE - Ages 12-14, or you have completed grade 6 by July 1, 2008.
- Special Needs SERVE - Ages 14-26, with special needs that cannot be accommodated aon a traditional SERVE experience.
>>NOTE: In order to facilitate strong team-building and new interpersonal relationships, it is recommended that groups of 10 or more are divided between two or more SERVE sites. Some sites are limited to individuals and groups of 15 or less only. See site locations for details.
1 Week ENCOUNTER
- Designed for those who want to experience further growth in faith, develop student leadership skills, and learn how to share their God stories.
- Must enjoy people-oriented service - activities may include: assisting with special-needs individuals, volunteering at sports and Bible camps, street ministry and more.
- Intended to develop student leaders.
- Ages 14-20, or you have completed grade 8 by July 1, 2008.
- Most 1-week ENCOUNTER experiences have the same location and schedule, running concurrently with a 1-week SERVE.
2+ Week ENCOUNTER
- Designed for those who want to learn and use leadership skills in what God is calling them to do.
- Must enjoy engaging with people in ministry - activities may include: teaching Bible school or English, inner-city or rural community development, new church planting and more.
- Intended to develop student leaders.
- North American ENCOUNTER - Ages 14-24, or have completed grade 8 by July 1, 2008.
- International ENCOUNTER - Ages 16-24, or have completed grade 10 by July 1, 2008.
Additional Opportunities, see site locations for more information and application deadlines.
-Through our partners at Christian Reformed World Missions, college age students, 18 and older, have the opportunity to serve alongside missionaries around the world as part of the Summer Missions Program.
-Through our partners at Calvin Theological Seminary, students in grade 11 and 12 can embark on an imaginitive exploration of ministry, theology and deiscerning God's call in your life through the Facing Your Future expereince.
3. What
is the purpose of three site choices on the registration form?
If your first choice is full we will automatically put you in your second
or third choice respectively. If all your site choices are full we will call you
to find out where we can place you.
For ENCOUNTER, your placement
will also be based on your special skills, abilities and aptitudes. For example,
if your first choice is a site where you would be working with special needs
youth, but you do not indicate on your application that you have skills or
interests in that type of ministry, you may be placed at another site that
is better suited for you.
4. What are the important deadlines?
Spring Break Mission Experiences:
- October 1 - Registration OPENS A Pre-registration deposit of $50 USD / $75 CAD will reserve your spot(s). At anytime, you may also register and pay in full.
- December 1 - Pre-registration closes.
- January 15 - Completed resgistration forms and remaining balance due of registration fee for all pre-registered participants.
Summer Mission Experiences:
- October 1 - Registration OPENS A Pre-registration deposit of $50 USD / $75 CAD will reserve your spot(s). At anytime, you may also register and pay in full.
- February 1 - Pre-registration closes.
- March 1 - Completed resgistration forms and remaining balance due of registration fee for all pre-registered participants.
International Mission Experiences:
- October 1 - Registration OPENS A Pre-registration deposit of $50 USD / $75 CAD will reserve your spot(s). At anytime, you may also register and pay in full.
- February 1 - Pre-registration closes.
- March 1 - A second payment of $500 USD / $630 CAD and completed registration form due to book your flights.
- May 15 - Remaining balance due for registration and transportation fee.
5. Is there still room at a particular
site?
If the site is at less than 100% capacity, we cannot guarantee you will get
in because we don’t know what is in the mail. We place applicants on
a first come first served basis based on the postmark dates.
6. What if I have not received my confirmation
yet for my mission experience?
If it has been more than a month since your application was postmarked, please
call the office and we can send another confirmation to you. If it has been
less than a month, the confirmation will be sent out soon. Also, If you have
not received a confirmation letter, it is possible that your registration
form was incomplete or the registration fee was not paid in full. If this
is the case, you will receive a notice via postal mail.
7. What if I have received my confirmation
letter, but have not received any other information?
The Host Team for your mission experience will be sending out more information about their site and what to
bring about a month prior to the project beginning.
8 .How is registering for a Spring Break
SERVE different?
Full forms and payment are due at the time of registering. No partial payments
or pre-registration will be accepted for Spring Break sites.
9. What is the age requirement to be a
small group leader?
Adult Small Group Leaders must be at least 21 years old and be mature Christian
role models. All adults must have their pastor approve and sign their registration
form endorsing their participation as a small group leader. Adult leaders act as work site supervisors and discussion facilitators for a small group of 6-8 students. NOTE: Youth groups
must send a minimum of one adult for every five teens attending from your
church.
10. Do I have to register with a group
or can I register as an individual?
You are welcome to register as an individual or a group, except for sites
that have been identified as “groups-only” sites. In fact, many
people register as individuals and then meet new people when they arrive at
their site! Some sites are limited to individuals and groups of 15 or less only.
11. What is a groups-only site?
An individual cannot sign up for this site. A group is considered a minimum
of one adult and two youths. If you are flying to a groups only site, you
must secure your own transportation at the airport to take you to the site.
12. Will my group be split up at the site?
Yes, the sites will place participants in small work/prayer groups, trying
to not have people from the same church in the same group to promote a community
among the entire group. In order to facilitate strong team-building and new interpersonal relationships, it is recommended that groups of 10 or more are divided between two or more SERVE sites.
13. What is a Special Needs site?
Special Needs SERVE are for youth, ages 14-26, with special needs that cannot
be accommodated at the traditional site.
14. I've never raised support before. How
do I go about fundraising?
We recognize that raising support can be a daunting experience for first-timers.
Let us help. Review Youth Unlimited’s fundraising
tips for step-by-step support and helpful ideas. You'll personalize
each step and find the process exciting. PRAYER gives you the most essential
support you'll need.
15. What do I need to know about traveling across borders?
Please see the Travel Information page for instructions.
16. Who
do I contact if I have a question that is not listed here?
For more information call 616-241-5616, ext. 3040 or e-mail missions@youthunlimited.org.
17. Is SERVE an acronym or does it stand for something?
No. It is capitalized in print materials and our website to show emphasis.
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