Because of our commitment to missions based in the local church, it is essential that the Senior Pastor gives his/her support, and it is best if they actually participate. This may require a paradigm shift from viewing missions as simply a ministry area within the church to understanding missions as a key task of the church. The first step in planning to take a short-term mission trip is to determine the country or region you may want to visit. Perhaps God has already been speaking to you about a nation, or you are aware of another church working in a particular nation. It is often good to travel with someone else more experienced the first trip. We often gain vision by serving along side someone with a vision. The second step is to determine what you will do on the trip, even if the purpose of the trip is simply to “check things out.” This normally requires dialogue with people in the country you intend to visit. Remember, taking a short-term ministry trip involves sacrifice on both sides. People from the U.S. give up their limited vacation time and spend hard-earned money to visit a place very different from their home. The people we visit are also giving up time in their busy schedules to receive the team, to organize transportation and housing, and to work on making the time a good experience for all involved. In light of this cost, it is important that something valuable be done (for example, building relationships is very valuable). Identifying how best to serve can only be done in dialogue. Dennis Bourns at the Vineyard in Phoenix, Arizona has developed a helpful manual for leading teams. He can be contacted at dennisbourns@vineyardusa.org