Dominican Republic (High School Students)

How to apply? 

• Please create an account for both you and your student. Then apply for the trip under the student’s name. 
• There are questions the student will need to fill out in the application and questions that the parent will need to fill out.
• The application will take 15 - 20 minutes. 
• If you are a family that has multiple people applying for trips, check out the ServiceReef How To Guide. 

What is the Goal of the Trip? 

High School Student Trips have 3 primary goals – 1) experience and grow their heart for the nations, 1) learn and practice evangelism, and 3) be challenged to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

The goal of this trip is to create an intentional environment where students are shaped as followers of Jesus through meaningful exposure, practice, and spiritual growth. This experience is designed to move beyond simply visiting another place and instead invite students into God’s heart for the world. By stepping into a different cultural context, students will experience the nations firsthand, gaining a deeper understanding of people, cultures, and the global Church.

In addition, this trip is meant to actively equip students to learn and practice evangelism. Students will grow in their understanding of the gospel and be challenged to clearly articulate and live it out through both words and actions. Through training, scripture engagement, and real ministry opportunities, students will take steps of faith in sharing the hope of Jesus. 

Throughout the trip, students will also be challenged to grow in their personal relationship with Christ—developing spiritual disciplines, deepening their dependence on Him, and growing in confidence in who God has created them to be. Ultimately, this trip aims to be a formative experience that strengthens students’ faith.

Who will the team be working with? 

The Austin Stone will be partnering with Mission of Hope. As an organization following Jesus Christ, Mission of Hope exists to bring life transformation to every man, woman, and child. They partner with local churches to transform lives through community engagement, education, and food security.

We accomplish this through our Core Resolutions:

• Connecting People to Jesus: Repeatedly sharing the Gospel message in targeted geographies.
• Empowering Local Leaders: Strategically developing national leaders to carry the vision to their nation.
• Serving People Holistically: Continuously striving to meet the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of every man, woman, and child.
• Engaging People Relationally: Intentionally modeling Christ’s love through relationships.
• Stewarding with Excellence: Responsibly utilizing all resources and talents to their fullest potential for God’s glory.

Mission of Hope partners with local pastors and leaders and asks, “What does your community need to be transformed?” This trip will be spent serving alongside those incredible leaders and pastors to meet the needs of their communities. There are a variety of ministry opportunities, including youth programs, community evangelism, small construction projects, and mobile medical clinics. By working alongside these indigenous leaders, the impact will last long after the team returns home.

The team will help meet the physical and spiritual needs of underserved communities in the Dominican Republic. Each short-term trip is unique and can be tailored to match the skills of a high school team with the needs of the community the team is serving.

Is it safe?

The ministry has been working with Americans for over 20 years and and our previous trips to this partner have been executed with the standard of safety and care we require at The Austin Stone. During the trip, the student participants will be led by Students Ministry staff, who are committed to keeping every student safe. The teams will be operating in groups of 3 or more, including at the airport and going through customs, so no one will be alone and they will remain in constant contact with Students’ staff.

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What to Expect

What Does Time with the Ministry Partner Look Like? 

Trip participants are never doing ministry alone. When going out, the Austin Stone team is directed by the ministry partner’s team that lives in the country. 

Students can expect to…

• engage with people from different cultures. 
• be challenged to serve. 
• hear the Gospel. 
• see the Gospel shared. 
• practice sharing the gospel.

Typical Day 

• Saturday: Arrive, Settle in on campus, Orientation
• Sunday: Church, Relax on campus, Visit the coffee shop/MOH market
• Monday-Thursday: Strategic Ministry Time or Church Advancement Projects in the community
• Friday: Excursion Day
• Saturday: Depart to airport

What are Accommodations Like?

The team will stay at the Mission of Hope Center in a dorm-like setting with bunks. They will need to bring their own bedding. 

What’s the Location Like?

• Weather - It is hot!
• City vs. rural - Towns
• AC - There will be AC at the Mission of Hope compound, but there may not be AC at the ministry sites.
• Transportation - They will drive in vans with the ministry partner and their trip leaders.
• Traveling there - They will fly together as a team and may have one layover depending on flight prices. The Mission of Hope team will pick them up at the airport. 
• Food - Meals will be eaten on the Mission of Hope compound. 

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Trip Leaders

Who are the leaders? 

Parker Spaniel, West Students Director, will serve as the primary leader for this trip, supported by a team of four additional leaders:

• Kayleigh Corbell, West Students Lead
• Catherine Phan, St. John Students Lead
• Sam Malouf, South Students Director
• Brady Green, North Students Director

What Are the Expectations of a Trip Leader? 

The trip leaders will be responsible for the emotional, physical, and spiritual well being of the students on the trip. They will also be expected to communicate with parents daily about the status of the group and what activities they have done! 

What Training and Qualifications are Needed to be a Leader? 

Trip leaders must have gone through the Students’ Ministry approval process and have been onboarded as Student Ministry volunteers. There will be student ministry staff serving as leaders. Only TAS staff members can be drivers for the group.

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Financial Notes

• Budget: The cost of the trip is based on traveling to and from Austin and includes all trip insurance, transportation, supplies, lodging, and meals for the duration of the event. 
• IRS Guidelines: Gifts to the For The Nations Fund are used to support the church's global mission initiatives. You may preference the use of your gift, and we will endeavor to use the funds as you desire, but in order for the contribution to be tax deductible, the church must have ultimate control/discretion as to how the money is spent. This means that any financial gifts towards trips are non refundable. 
• If a trip is canceled due to unforeseeable circumstances, refunds will not be issued in compliance with the IRS guidelines. In some cases, it may be determined to allow raised funds to be applied to future trips.
• Student Drop Deadline: Any student that has to drop out of the trip after March 31 for any reason is required to raise the full amount of the trip to cover the trip expenses incurred by the church on their behalf. Any charitable contributions received that exceed trip costs are not legally refundable.