Scripture

Matthew 25: 31 - 40
Micah 6: 6-8
Galatians 6:2

Theme

As a team, participants will begin to plan and develop a Christian ministry project in which they will participate in response and recovery after a disaster.

Objective

Participants will:

• plan an actual mission project that will engage them in disaster response
  
• continue to grow together as a faith community

Resources Needed

• circle of chairs
• tables for writing
• easel and newsprint pad
• markers, masking tape
• 3x5 index cards
• thumbtacks and tack board (optional)
• dot stickers (optional)
• hymnals/songbooks
• Bibles
• copy of the Activity Guide for each participant
• one bean bag for each participant (optional see page 3) of this Leader's Guide for instructions)
• materials for Islands in the Sea game: construction paper or half sheets of newspaper, whistle or chime or audio-cassette player and upbeat music, pack of lifesavers (optional)

NOTE TO LEADERS: It may take several meeting sessions to complete the planning for your group project.

Planning and Doing a Project

Begin with a quick review of the previous modules Warm-up Activity: Play the Bean Bag Juggle or the Islands in the Sea game (Instructions on pages 37, 39-40 of the Leader's Manual).

Let's Do a Mission Project 30 minutes

(Actually, this planning process will probably take you a good bit longer than this. If you are planning an elaborate project such as a mission trip, the planning process will have to be done over several weeks. If you have a large group, you may choose to divide the participants into committees that will work on different parts of the planning process. Spend 30 - 40 minutes at this meeting getting started.)

It is important that all group members participate in the planning and take some of the responsibility so that each is invested and committed to the action plan. The leader should read over all the information on planning a project in this Leader's Manual and in the Activity Guide.

Remind participants that planning starts with a dream. Now is the time to dream of making the world a better place through acting in faith and of finding ways to put that dream into action. Youth can take action in ways that will strengthen their bonds with the church and with each other and God as they make a difference in the world. Effective planning can make dreams come true.

You may wish to decide ahead of time whether your group should plan a local community project or whether you will want to consider the idea of a mission trip or work camp that will involve traveling to a different area of the country or even to a different country.

The worksheets to be used for planning can be found on pages 24 -26 of the Activity Guide

Reminders for Group

1. Encourage maximum participation. The more enthusiasm and investment the group members have, the more successful the program will be.
   
2. Start with "brainstorming". Allow for all ideas to be heard no matter how absurd they might sound. This stirs up creative energy and raises excitement about possibilities. Capture input from each person on newsprint or on index cards. This makes ideas visible to all.
   
3. Discourage "put-downs". Encourage everyone to listen to each other person without ridiculing or judging the merit of the ideas. Remind them that they are building a team that can work together.
   
4. Stall with the agenda.Guide conversation away from discussion of "The Problem" back to the planning process. Hold off on choosing specific strategies until a mission and goals have been agreed upon.
   
5. Pay attention to the feeling tone of the group. When the members are having difficulty staying focused it may be time to narrow down the choices and make a decision about the mission and project goal.
   
6. Emphasize the dual outcomes of a successful project and the collaborative process of working together in Christian love and respect.

Planning Together

1. Introduce the idea of a work camp or mission project. Explain that everyone will be involved in the planning process, and describe the steps for planning.
2. Turn to page 23 of the Activity Guide, MISSION PROJECT IDEAS. Have each participant read it over to get some ideas.
3. Use the ACTION PLAN, worksheets 1 and 2 on pages 24 and 25 of the Activity Guide, to lead you through the following steps in planning your project.

VISION

This is the time for brainstorming. Emphasize that no idea is too wild or impossible to be included here. Have the group members generate as many project ideas as possible. One way to do this is to have 3"x 5" index cards and markers within the reach of all participants. As a person mentions an idea, that person should write it in a word or short phrase on an index card that a helper can then tack to the bulletin board or tape to the wall.

When all the brainstorming is complete, ask the following questions:

• How much time are we willing to spend on our project?
• How much money do we have to spend (or can we raise)?How responsive will the church leaders and parents be to our ideas?
• Do we have the skill to complete the projects in a satisfactory way?

Then tell the group that each person gets three "votes." They will be voting for the project ideas that they are most interested in pursuing.

Each person "votes" by placing three dots (either sticker dots or marker dots) on the index card with their favorite ideas on them. (They may vote for three different projects or give two or three votes to one project.)

Leaders may decide whether the top vote-getter is the project to pursue or may decide to develop plans for the top three vote-getters and present the plans to the church's session or administrative board to make the final decision.

MISSION STATEMENT

When the project(s) has been selected, write a MISSION STATEMENT which is a sentence or two that expresses what it is you have decided to commit to and why.

OBJECTIVES

Next the task is to name the GOALS OR OBJECTIVES that need to be met in order to make your vision a reality. Brainstorm as many ideas as you like and then choose 3 to 5 that seem particularly necessary and feasible.

ACTION STEPS

Now turn to worksheet #2, page 25 of the Activity Guide. It's time to get down to the nitty-gritty and decide what exactly needs to he done and who should do it. It is a good idea to assign a "due date" for each task to keep the group on task and accountable. Finally, part of the job will be to assign approximate cost to each part of the project.

REPORT

Make a detailed REPORT to your church's session or administrative board and the parents explaining your mission, your objectives, and your anticipated expenses. Use the REPORT form on page 26 of the Activity Guide.

Bible study 10 minutes

Use page 27 of the Activity Guide to direct your study of Matthew 25:31-41. Read the passage aloud. Have participants complete the sentences on their own and then share some of their responses aloud.

Conclude the session by reading aloud one of the prayers in the WORSHIP RESOURCES section of the Activity Guide.

Note to Leaders: It can he meaningful to participants as: well as to the entire congregation if you can plan a short commissioning ceremony as part of a regular Sunday worship service prior to the beginning of the mission project. Several of the prayers or litanies included in WORSHIP RESOURCES, pages 31-36 of the Activity Guide are appropriate for inclusion in such a ceremony. The young people may enjoy participating in planning the commissioning ceremony, selecting 3 scripture passage that is meaningful to them in their understanding of the mission in which they are engaged. The ceremony should be short. It might include reading a scripture passage, praying a unison prayer or litany and asking God's blessing on the project. Elders or parents might be invited to come forward to lay on hands during the prayer.