Training Multiplied

Last October, Outlook Christian Church brought their first short-term team to Haiti. Mike Wilkins (Director of Outreach & Missions) and Barb Reasinger (World Missions Leader) had already visited Peredo on a Vision Trip to check out the mission before beginning a partnership with HCO.

On January 24, Outlook hosted an HCO Trip Leaders Training. This was a day for upcoming HCO short-term trip leaders and summer interns to come together with the HCO staff to talk about how to prepare and lead teams. Mike recently shared some of his thoughts about the training and the OCC partnership with HCO:

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"One of the things I have really appreciated in our relatively short relationship with Haitian Christian Outreach is the way we are treated as partners, not just supporters. I always feel very well informed about what is going on at HCO. That, in turn, lets me keep the members of our missions team more engaged.

I know our team members are actively praying for HCO and looking for ways we, as a church, can be more involved in the ministry. Largely, this is because we are treated as partners in the mission, not just financial supporters.

A great example of our partnership was the leadership training for leaders of short term teams. This was some of the most valuable time I have spent addressing short term teams, not just for HCO, but for all short term teams. We received valuable updates about what is going on at HCO and the projects where our short-term team might have an opportunity to serve.

Even more important to me - we talked about short term teams in general:

their benefits and shortcomings
the importance of spiritual preparation
matching the team's gifts and interests with the needs of the ministry
and most important: how to plug team members into the larger overall ministry of the church after they return

Someone could literally have known nothing about HCO and walk away from this training having a heart for the ministry and being perfectly capable of leading a short-term trip. None of our other ministry partners are doing anything close to this.

Something that has been on my agenda is to create a guide for the leaders of all of our short-term teams. It's one of those things that is a great idea and really should be a necessity, but ends up always being pushed to the back burner.

I am going to take what I learned from the leadership training and use it as a guide for all of our short-term teams. The benefit of participating in the training has been multiplied - not only will our HCO short-term team be well prepared, but all of our short term teams will be better prepared."

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Thanks for your kind words, Mike! We really enjoyed putting together the training, and we're looking forward to leading more opportunities with team leaders.

In 2015, we are asking God to provide more churches like Outlook that will partner with us for short-term mission trips!

Could your church partner with us this year for a trip in July or October? We still have some open dates. Please see the sidebar for more information!

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Trip Dates Available

It's not too late to bring your team to HCO this year! We still have a several slots open in July and October. Recruit your church members and friends to share in this life-changing experience serving God in Haiti!

Contact Laura at hco@haitianchristian.org or

217-778-6950 to sign up your team.

Missions for VBS

Growing Hope: A Journey to Haiti helps children learn about Haiti and the work of HCO.

Growing Hope includes:

5 short video segments (1/day) that introduce kids to Haiti and different children at HCO schools
Supplemental enrichment activities you can do with your kids that are exciting and easy to incorporate in your VBS

Click here for more info or email hco@haitianchristian.org to order your VBS missions curriculum today!