Questions and Answers

WHAT IS EMPHASIZED ON THE VICTORY TEEN MISSION TRIPS? [TOP]
WE EMPHASIZE EACH TEEN HAVING A DEEP PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST THROUGH DAILY PRAYER, BIBLE READING AND MINISTRY. WE TEACH ON THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HEALING. WE ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN BE USED BY GOD TO DO THE SAME WORKS JESUS DID (JOHN 14:12). WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEE THE LOST AS JESUS DOES AND USE THEIR GIFTS TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION. WE DESIRE TO SEE THEM GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, DEVELOP HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS, AND FURTHER UNDERSTAND GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THEIR LIVES.

WHAT TYPE OF MINISTRY IS USED ON VTM TRIPS? [TOP]
WE USE MODERN DRAMAS THAT PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO MINISTER IN THE STREETS, SHOPPING MARKETS, PARKS, PLAZAS, ORPHANAGES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. AFTER EACH DRAMA PRESENTATION WE GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL ALTAR CALL THEN GO OUT TO WITNESS IN GROUPS. EACH TEAM MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD SOMEONE TO THE LORD AND PRAY FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED HEALING. SOME OF THE TRIPS INCLUDE AN EVANGELISTIC MASS CRUSADE OUTREACH WHICH THE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE ACTIVELY APART OF MINISTERING THROUGH DRAMA, MUSIC, AND PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE.

WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE OF A VICTORY TEEN MISSION TRIP? [TOP]
EVERY VTM TRIP HAS A MALE AND FEMALE PROJECT DIRECTOR WHO OVERSEES ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS FOR THE TRIP. THEY ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN TEACHING, TRAINING, DISCIPLINE, AND MINISTRY. EACH PROJECT DIRECTOR HAS HAD NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN TEEN MISSION TRIPS AND HAS PROVEN FAITHFUL IN LEADERSHIP AND RELATIONAL SKILLS. THEY WORK HARD TO ENSURE THE TEENAGERS HAVE QUALITY FOOD, QUALITY REST, AND QUALITY MINISTRY. WITHIN EACH TRIP, THE TEENS ARE SPLIT INTO TEAMS OF 25 TO 30 YOUNG PEOPLE. THE MALE AND FEMALE TEAM LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING THEIR TEAM IN THE DAILY PROCESS OF MINISTRY TO THE NATIONALS OF THE COUNTRY AND FOR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THEIR TEAM MEMBERS. THE TEAM IS THEN DIVIDED INTO FIVE OR MORE GROUPS, EACH ONE SUPERVISED BY A GLOBAL IMPACT LEADER. THE GLOBAL IMPACT LEADER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLESHIP OF HIS OR HER GROUP.

HOW IS THE LEADERSHIP SELECTED AND TRAINED? [TOP]
ALL LEADERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE PREVIOUS YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR MISSIONS EXPERIENCE. VTM LEADERS ARE FURTHER EQUIPPED IN OUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING SESSIONS IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING; EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP, EFFECTIVE MINISTRY, AND DISCIPLESHIP. PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS A COMPLETE BACKGROUND SCREENING THROUGH THE STATE.

WILL A LEADER BE WITH MY YOUTH AT ALL TIMES? [TOP]
ALL OF OUR TRAVELING AND MINISTRY IS DONE AS A GROUP AND IS SUPERVISED BY THE LEADERSHIP TEAM. THE YOUTH ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN AN “APPROVED GROUP” WHICH INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE LEADER AT ALL TIMES WHEN OUTSIDE THE HOUSING COMPLEX. LEAVING THE HOUSING COMPLEX ALONE RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM THE MISSION FIELD.

HOW SAFE ARE THE TRIPS? [TOP]
SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. OUR GOAL IS FOR TEENS TO HAVE THE BEST MISSIONS EXPERIENCE; THEREFORE, WE WOULD NOT PUT THEM IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. IF IN THE EVENT THAT TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED OR A SITUATION IS UNSTABLE IN A SPECIFIC COUNTRY, YOUR TEEN WILL BE SWITCHED TO A DIFFERENT TRIP OF A SIMILAR PRICE.

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE TRIP? [TOP]
AFTER APPLYING FOR THE TRIP, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ACCEPTANCE PACKET WITH INFORMATION REGARDING NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL PRE-TRIP PREPARATION. UPON ARRIVAL TO TULSA, THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE TRIP ARE SET ASIDE FOR MISSIONS TRAINING AT OUR CAMP. DURING THIS TRAINING EACH MISSIONARY WILL MEET THEIR LEADERS AND FELLOW TEAMMATES, AND BE TRAINED HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MINISTER ON THE MISSION FIELD. THIS TRAINING WILL INCLUDE: TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, LOW-ROPES GAMES, DRAMA TRAINING, MINISTRY TRAINING, WORSHIP SERVICES, AND SPECIAL SPEAKERS. THROUGHOUT THE TRIP THE LEADERS WILL CONTINUE TRAINING AND MENTORING EACH YOUNG PERSON TO TAKE WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING BACK INTO THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE.

WHAT DOES THE TRIP PRICE INCLUDE? [TOP]
OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE EACH YOUNG PERSON THE BEST MISSIONS EXPERIENCE; THEREFORE WE WORK HARD TO PROVIDE QUALITY MINISTRY, QUALITY FOOD, AND QUALITY REST. THE TRIP PRICE COVERS THE COST FOR TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM AND WITHIN THE COUNTRY, FOOD, AND LODGING, AS WELL AS MISSIONS TRAINING CAMP, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, LEADERSHIP COSTS, AND TRIP SET UP COSTS.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST? [TOP]
THE TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF OBTAINING A PASSPORT, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM TULSA, OR COSTUME. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A TEEN RETURNING HOME EARLY DUE TO SERIOUS VIOLATION OF THE RULES WILL BE THE PARENT’S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

IS THE MONEY CONTRIBUTED FOR MY TEEN’S MISSION TRIP TAX DEDUCTIBLE? [TOP]
VCC IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION; THEREFORE MAKING ANY DONATIONS TO THE MINISTRY IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTION, CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTER (TULSA, OK). THE IRS REQUIRES DONORS TO RELEASE TO VICTORY THE CONTROL OF HOW THEIR DONATIONS ARE SPENT. THE NAME OF THE TEEN GOING ON THE TRIP CANNOT APPEAR ON THE CHECK MEMO LINE; HOWEVER, A RECORD WILL BE KEPT OF EACH STUDENT’S ACCOUNT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY TEEN DECIDES NOT TO GO? [TOP]
DUE TO IRS RULES, CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE WHEN ONE DOES NOT GO FOR ANY REASON. IF YOUR TEEN IS UNABLE TO GO AND NOTIFIES VTM OFFICES 45 DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRIP, ALL FUNDS RAISED WILL BE HELD OVER FOR ONE YEAR, LESS INCURRED EXPENSES. IF THEY DECIDE NOT TO GO AFTER THIS 45-DAY CUT OFF, THE COSTS OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TICKET (S) AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES ARE DEDUCTED FROM THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS RAISED, AND ALL REMAINING FUNDS WILL BE HELD OVER FOR ONE YEAR. THE INDIVIDUAL WHO RAISED THE FUNDS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN USE THESE FUNDS AND THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR ANOTHER VICTORY TEEN MISSION TRIP. AFTER ONE YEAR, IF THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT USE THESE FUNDS FOR THEIR OWN TRIP; ALL REMAINING FUNDS WILL BE APPLIED TO OFFSET FUTURE VTM TRIP COSTS.

HOW CAN WE RAISE THE MONEY? [TOP]
ONCE YOUR TEEN HAS SENT IN AN APPLICATION, WE WILL SEND YOU AN ACCEPTANCE PACKET WITH MANY CREATIVE FUNDRAISING IDEAS. WE WANT TO HELP YOU AND WE HAVE HEARD MANY MIRACLE STORIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE RAISING ALL THE MONEY THEY NEEDED FOR THEIR TRIP. WE HAVE FOUND IN THE PAST THAT A STUDENT IS MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN RAISING THE MONEY WHEN THEY HAVE THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THEIR PARENTS. THEREFORE, TAKE TIME TO PRAY TOGETHER AND USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH YOUR TEEN HOW TO BELIEVE GOD AND START FUNDRAISING EARLY.

WILL THERE BE ANY COMMUNICATION FROM THE MISSION FIELD? [TOP]
WE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HEAR FROM YOUR CHILD, THEREFORE EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO CALL HOME THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. ALONG WITH THAT, WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE TRIP FROM THE LEADERS. EACH TRIP PROJECT HAS A VOICEMAIL BOX SET UP SO THAT PARENTS, FRIENDS, AND OTHER SUPPORTERS CAN CALL AND HEAR THE LATEST EVENTS FROM THAT TRIP. ON THE HOTLINE, THE PROJECT DIRECTORS WILL RELAY INFORMATION ON THE MINISTRY SITES, TESTIMONIES, AND TRAVEL UPDATES.