Finances

It’s easy to look at the cost-per-student and say, “No way can we afford this trip,” and therefore write it off.  PLEASE DON’T!  The reason we publicize a cost-per-student figure is to help each person quantify what it takes to make a trip such as this happen.

3 words best summarize what is at the core of our financial policy for conferences and mission trips: faith, trust and belief (and yes, their meanings a very closely related).

We recognize that some families struggle to make ends meet from week-to-week. Others are able to “relax” a bit more and have the privilege of knowing that, unless something major happens, their needs are met for the foreseeable future. And there are families everywhere in between.

Our financial policy demonstrates FAITH in God as the sole provider for everyone in our church; expresses TRUST in one another that each family will take seriously the personal responsibility and commitment (both students and parents) needed to make these trips successful (in more than just finances); and a BELIEF that everyone will be provided for and the trip will be a success.

With that said, here are the guidelines for our financial policy taken right out of our handbook:

  • Finances are managed in one “kitty” (or pool).
    • This gives us the flexibility to work together as either one team, or multiple teams, to raise money toward our mission trip efforts and allocate the funds where the need is most evident.
    • Students will not be restricted from going on a mission trip because they cannot afford to go.
    • We will determine a per student price simply to help us gauge the overall cost of the trip based on the number of students we anticipate.
  • When multiple youth ministry mission teams are sent, funds are divided proportionately.
  • Students attending a mission trip are required to participate in raising money for the team.  There are three primary ways we do this:
    • Fundraising efforts – each student is required to participate in a certain number of predetermined fundraising efforts.
    • Support letters – each student must write and mail support letters to personal family and friends (a majority of which should be outside of church family).  A letter template is provided, but students need to customize their letter in order to be as much a part of this process as possible.
    • Personal/family contributions – The Bible clearly teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) as well as the importance of intentionally storing up treasure for ourselves in heaven (Matthew 6:19; 19:21).  However Jesus teaches that this is a matter of where our heart is at, more than how much we have to give (John 12:3).  Pray about what you are able and desiring to contribute financially, check your heart and give with joy!

Trip Cost* and Fundraising Goal: $30,000

Estimated Cost per Student: $850 (includes airfare, conference registration, hotel, food and leader costs for our ratio)

We’d love to take 35 students (plus 8 leaders) to New Orleans for Challenge 2012. With this in mind, we hope to raise $30,000 to help families pay for a nearly all of the associated costs.  This fundraising effort will require significant participation from all families who have students attending Challenge.