SDP Global South Asia
Vision
Join us this summer as we serve alongside long-term workers in South Asia as part of a cultural exchange program! This mid-term trip will be strategically focused on prayer, demonstrating the gospel through service, and personal evangelism. On this trip, you can expect to engage with locals, learn about their culture, serve them, offer to pray with them, and seek to share the gospel with them!
Long-term teams in this area work in the slums, high rises, and city streets to proclaim His good news, strengthen disciples, and multiply churches.
Everything the team does is rooted in scripture!
What's Expected
As team members are learning from and engaging with others, they should have a heart posture of humility and remember that culture does not make people, people make the culture. Team members will be part of the long-term team and are expected to participate in all activities, events, fasts, meals, prayer meetings, work meetings, etc. Be ready to be flexible, as activities are often subject to change due to various factors (e.g. last-minute invite to a village event).
Other expectations include:
- In light of our value to hear and obey the Holy Spirit, we expect all team members to spend individual time in the Word and prayer outside of group prayer meetings. This may sound obvious, but this can be a hard discipline to carry out—especially when on a village trip. We can’t emphasize enough the need to daily abide in the Lord!
- Come ready and eager to learn—life and ministry here are most likely different from what you’re accustomed to.
- Be aware of your personal needs to maintain spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health. If you need something, ask.
Typical Day
- The ministry partner will conduct a 4 day orientation for all visiting teams. During this training, individuals will learn more about the vision of the ministry there, the culture, how to abide well in the Lord while participating in the ministry, and practical tools for engaging in the ministry.
- The team will join in the regular rhythms of the ministry. Team members can expect to join weekly prayer and fasting, weekly sabbath, and a weekly ministry planning meeting.
- Teams will split their day into 3 sections – 2 ministry time blocks and 1 time block for resting and abiding in the Lord. Most mornings are set aside to spend time with the Lord, and in the afternoon and evening, teams members will head out to areas in the city where locals hangout to have gospel conversations and see if there are any people interested in learning more about Jesus.
- During the beginning of the trip, members of the ministry partner will go out on outreach with team members, but after that, team members will go out in small groups on their own. They will work with the ministry partner to determine the best areas and locations to go as well as how to do any follow up with people interested to learn more about Jesus. A lot of people speak English in the city and there are also opportunities to work with translators when going out in the city.
- Even though the ministry partner is not always with the group, team members must always be in groups of at least 2 and will be able to reach the ministry partner at any time if support is needed.
Logistics
- Teams will stay in a hotel near where the ministry partner lives.
- Team members will walk a lot as well as take public transportation (rickshaws, metro, taxis, and trains) to get around the city.
Trainings
We desire you to pursue Jesus in your daily life and grow to be more like Him. We will provide trainings that walk through abiding and resting in Jesus (John 15), ministry overview and expectations, culture, and logistics. While we can’t perfectly prepare you for everything you might encounter, we do our best to train you with everything you’d need for your trip.
Budget
Everything you need for your trip is included in the trip cost. These amounts are based on preparation costs and costs given to us by the field partner.
Story From Last Year
"The Lord moved mightily in and through the team last year. Over the 6 weeks, each person on the team got to have gospel conversations with locals. Some had never heard the name of Jesus before. While short-term/mid-term trips don’t always get to see the fruit of a trip, the team got to see 5 people profess faith." - Past Trip Participant
3 going
Financial
$5,000.00
Due 6/30/2024
$1,250.00 | 25% Goal Due 3/25/2024 | |
$2,500.00 | 50% Goal Due 4/15/2024 | |
$3,750.00 | 75% Goal Due 5/6/2024 |
Meetings
Feb 25 2024
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Trip's Ministry Overview and Support Raising Required
Mar 3 2024
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Abiding and Culture Training Required
Mar 24 2024
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM CDT
Conflict, Paperwork, and Ministry Prep Required
Apr 14 2024
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM CDT
Evangelism Training Required
We will teach you tools for evangelism form the ministry partners.
Apr 28 2024
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM CDT
Prayer and Expectations Required
Pray for the trip before you leave and set expectations.
Requirements
Prerequisites
- Word: Commit to hearing from the Word in this decision.
- Prayer: Commit to pray regularly about this decision asking God to give you wisdom.
- Community: Get advice and feedback from Godly people around you.
- Count the Cost: Make a list of pros and cons asking yourself which opportunity in front of you will best equip you to be a disciple who is making disciples.
- Trust: Based on your time in the Word, in prayer, in discussion with others who know you, and time spent counting the costs, trust God and make a decision.
Responsibilities
- Have a listener heart posture.
- Engage with people from other cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Pray for people.
- Prayer-walk around key ministry areas.
- Host event(s) as a team to gather people and provide space for spiritual conversations
- Sharing the gospel.
- Be self-disciplined and self-managed to go out during ministry block times
Restrictions
- 18 years or older
- Any vaccinations required by the government.
- Each individual needs to be able to walk about to average 20,000 steps per day.
- Must have a valid passport through the end of 2024 – If yours is expired, you’ll have to get it renewed.
Preparation
- Invite a friend!
- Begin praying for your trip!
- Check out your task list on your profile.