Time together creates an extended

Dates for your trip are coordinated between your international church partner, World Orphans, and your church based on available dates on the World Orphans trip calendar, the international church’s ability to receive a team based on their church calendar, and your church calendar.

Interested applicants can apply online by clicking the “Apply Now” icon next to their desired trip found on this page.  Your church may have an additional application for you to complete, however, the World Orphans application and background check are required in order to be considered for travel.

World Orphans works with the US church trip leader to determine team members who will be the best fit for each particular trip given the relationship between the churches and the planned trip itinerary.  Submitting an application doesn’t guarantee a spot on the team.  Each team will have a maximum capacity which may limit participation.  In accordance with the Standards of Excellence in Short Term Missions we always look through the lens of having a team dynamic that will benefit and serve all parties involved – the sender (World Orphans and the US church), the goer (US church team members) and, most importantly, the receiver (our international church partners). For the sake of longevity of our ministry and maintaining our focus on equipping the church to care for the vulnerable, occasionally World Orphans and/or the US church partner may decide an applicant simply isn’t a good fit for a particular trip.  

World Orphans recommends at least one parent travel when a minor travels on a Church Partnership trip. When parents desire to have their child participate in a trip under the supervision of a non-parental church leader, consideration will be given as to whether having a minor on this specific team will be the best fit given the relationship between the churches and the planned trip itinerary. In addition these factors will be considered: trip destination, published travel warnings, the challenging issues and factors that will be encountered on the trip, and the minor’s maturity to process.  The trip leader will converse with World Orphans and the parents of the minor to determine the best course of action prior to a decision being made.

Trips range from 5-10 days depending on location of the trip. The heart of what we do is facilitate relationships between two churches so that churches are engaged, children are restored, and communities are transformed by the gospel.  World Orphans staff will work with our international staff/contacts to plan an itinerary that focuses on relationship building and mutual serving between the church partners.  This will provide an opportunity for you to see how the local church is working to serve vulnerable children and families in their community.

Each team member will be provided with a Team Handbook.  The team will participate in approximately 2-3 pre-field calls with a World Orphans Church Partnership Director to cover topics such as: World Orphans Organization, Vision and Purpose, Group Dynamics, and Heart Preparation. Your church may schedule additional team meetings as you prepare to travel to your destination.

Tickets will be purchased for your team as a group, either by World Orphans or your church.  World Orphans has trusted agents that we work with and are happy to purchase the tickets.  Alternately, we are happy to introduce a church leader to our travel agent or for the church to work with their own trusted agent.  The decision of who purchases will be made together by World Orphans and church leadership.

The Mobilization department will serve your team by providing a budget based on the itinerary planned and anticipated trip costs. These trip costs may include application expenses, training materials, team gear, airfare, transportation, lodging, travel insurance, ministry supplies & expenses, interpreters, visa (if necessary), food, team leader costs, and there will always be a 10% administrative fee on funds that come through World Orphans. The only extra money you will need on the field is for souvenirs, sightseeing or for other personal spending not mentioned in the items above. Items not included in trip expenses include, but are not limited to: passport fees, shots, postage for fundraising, passport photos, internet usage, phone calls, souvenirs, and sightseeing trips. All trip funds are non-refundable.

Your trip leader will decide how your team will manage raising funds for your trip.  Your church may want donations for your team to be submitted directly to your church, or donations may be submitted directly to World Orphans.  Contact your team leader for guidance.  If your church chooses to use World Orphans fundraising tools, World Orphans will provide each team member with an online link for you to personalize and use (via emails, Facebook, etc.) to gather electronic donations.  Additionally, the Team Handbook each team member receives will serve as a guide on how to fund your trip.  Team members can make personal payments, write a support letter, promote your partnership trip to those around you, utilize social media, participate in fundraising events as a team, and organize other fundraising events.  All trip funds are non-refundable.

Gifts made to the ministry in support of a short term trip are tax-deductible, as such they are non-refundable according to IRS and ECFA guidelines.  World Orphans therefore does not refund gifts made in support of a short term trip.  Any funds that a team member raises above their individual trip cost goes to other trip expenses or World Orphans general ministry expenses.