GoodNews International

"Preach the Gospel to all creation" Mark 16:15

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Welcome to GNI's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page! Here, we will attempt to answer the questions that arise from people considering or going on a GNI mission trip. Many of these questions apply to mission trips in general, and you may find this page helpful for future reference (although we hope you make all your trips with us, we know the Lord may call you elsewhere). It is our hope that the questions are answered to your satisfaction.

Click the buttons below to scan the questions associated with each topic, and clicking the topic heading in the questions section will take you to the answers. Use the 'back' button on your browser to return to your previous positions on the page.

Being Sent

Who goes?
What are the qualifications for going?
How do I know if I should go?
What will I do during the mission?
Is going on a GNI mission safe?

Mission

How does GNI choose where to go?
How long are the trips?
What is GNI's 'modus operandi' in the field?
What is the relationship between GNI and the local churches?
What kind of joint missions does GNI do, such as medical teams, construction teams, etc.?

Preparation

About how much does the mission trip cost?
What can you tell me about funding a mission trip?
What if I feel called to go, but I do not know how to share the gospel?
What help or training will I get?
What if I have my own way to share the gospel, do I have to share using GNI's presentation or material?
What immunizations do I need?

Packing

How do I pack for this trip?
What should I bring?
What medicines do I need to bring?

In-Country

Of what does a typical day in the field consist?
What am I expected to wear in the field?
What am I expected to wear in the worship services?
What will our accommodations be like?
What will the food be like?
Will there be any leisure time?
Will I have the opportunity to preach?
What will be the involvement of the local Christians?
Will I be able to give money or resources to local individuals I meet on the mission trip?

The Answers

Being Sent

Who goes?

Christians from all walks of life have gone on GNI missions

What are the qualifications for going?

The most important qualification is having the call of God to go. This is more important than any decision, as the only decision you should be making is whether or not to say “YES” to the Lord. If you have the call of the Lord to go, you will also have second most important qualification: the desire to share the gospel.

How do I know if I should go?

This is a very spiritual process, and some people have described it as suddenly being aware that they should go, and having the Lord's peace concerning it. Discerning God's call is critical, as it will be reference point, a milestone, a beacon, for everything that happens after you commit to the call.

What will I do during the mission?

Everyone who goes on a GNI mission is an evangelist: one who shares the gospel with others. You will typically be a part of a team consisting of another GNI participant, interpreters and local Christians to take the gospel into the highways and byways of the world.

Is going on a GNI mission safe?

GNI using a process for ascertaining risk levels that is similar to those used by multi-national companies. Having an understanding of the risk enables GNI to prescribe appropriate security measures. GNI goes where called by faith, and uses wisdom in mitigating risks.

Mission

How does GNI choose where to go?

It appears to be true that there are only “Six degrees of separation between us and anyone else on the planet”. Our contacts in other countries often begin with contacts here at home, and other contacts arise from overseas pastors viewing our website and making inquiries. These contacts, regardless of source, are cultivated through dialog, and if there continues to be interest and we both sense the leading of the Lord, a reconnaissance trip is made to said location to visit the local pastor and his church.

How long are the trips?

GNI knows that TIME is a precious commodity, and we schedule our missions to be of the shortest duration as possible, and still fully accomplish its goals. This requires the mission trip tp be anywhere from 10 to 14 days in length.

What is GNI's 'modus operandi' in the field?

GNI is a firm believer in one-to-one evangelism and seeking out people with whom to share. “One to one” might actually be “one to a small group”, depending on the situation the Lord provides. We do not do “rally evangelism”, hosting large meetings (the places we go typically would be very resistive to such a thing) with plenty of advertising. Rather, GNI sends you to the “highways and byways of the world” to seek out those who want to hear the gospel, beginning with your own personal testimony.

What is the relationship between GNI and the local churches?

GNI seeks a long-term relationship with the churches with whom we work. We know this develops slowly, and patience is required by both sides. It is our goal to be the catalysts for a Great Commission strategy and effort by the churches, and to this end we wear many hats. We begin by leading them to the field and sharing the gospel, and then year by year, teach and train the local Christians to take more responsibilities in sharing the gospel and leading the teams, until they are proficient and pro-actively engaged in the Great Commission. GNI then hopes to bring some of these co-laborers in the gospel to adjacent countries as fellow evangelists.

What kind of joint missions does GNI do, such as medical teams, construction teams, etc.?

GNI no longer conducts joint missions. Our experience has shown that the logistics, needs of the participants, and the focus of the separate mission efforts induce challenges which both ministry efforts would prefer to do without. It is our policy that GNI remain focused on what it has been called to do: share the gospel in the highways and byways of the world and equip the local Christians to do likewise. Special ministries to children and others will be done by the GNI teams, and done so within the context of the GNI 'modus operandi'.

Preparation

About how much does the mission trip cost?

Airfare is the single greatest expense, and we work to get airfare as low as possible. The other side of the expense is the in-country expense of each participant, which again, we seek to minimize. A Western Hemisphere mission trip ranges from $900-$1100; while an Eastern Hemisphere mission trip ranges from $1700-$2900, with distance from the USA being the key driver.

What can you tell me about funding a mission trip?

Each participant is expected to raise their own support. GNI will help you raise funding by helping you develop your own contact list, provide you with example support letters, and encourage you to secure prayer partners.

What if I feel called to go, but I do not know how to share the gospel?

GNI has training materials to help you learn to share the gospel, and will conduct brief training sessions to reinforce the study of the materials.

What help or training will I get?

GNI will help you learn a way to share your faith, and then will team you with an experienced team leader who will help you complete your training so that one day, you can teach others as well!

What if I have my own way to share the gospel, do I have to share using GNI's presentation or material?

So long as you have an effective means of sharing the gospel (i.e., you have used it to lead others to Christ already), you are welcome to share the gospel in the most effective way possible for you.

What immunizations do I need?

This is a personal matter, but minimally your tetanus shot should be current. Consult with your physician regarding other immunizations, but remember, this is a short trip, and taking such strong immunizations may not be the best for you and your body for the brief time you are away. Personally, I only go with the tetanus shot, but you must decide for yourself.

Packing

How do I pack for this trip?

Bring only what YOU can carry! This is the first and greatest rule. Your fellow team members will have enough of their own stuff without having to be carrying yours as well. Think MINIMALIST! You should bring only enough clothing for half the trip, as you can get laundry done once you are at your mission center. Avoid large bulky bags if at all possible, since vehicles are smaller abroad and space is a premium at all times.

What should I bring?

As mentioned above, bring no more than enough clothes for half the days you are gone, and better yet, plan to wear pants (or skirts, for the ladies) for several days. I usually only pack two, and no more than three pairs of pants for a 14 day mission. Bring personal toiletry items, but personal bedding (pillows, blankets, sleeping bags) are generally not necessary.

What medicines do I need to bring?

I recommend the following: Imodium, Pepto-Bismal, Benadryl, and Advil, or their equivalents. Of course, bring any personally required medicines, and make sure you have enough for the trip, as getting prescriptions filled overseas is not possible.

In-Country

Of what does a typical day in the field consist?

The team has breakfast together in the morning, gathers their gear, and then departs for their mission point, arriving by 0900h. The team then hits the streets and shares the gospel with as many people as will grant them permission to do so. The team breaks for a sack lunch around 1300h, taking an hour to eat, rest, and pray together. They then check assignments and verify their rendezvous point, and go out to share the gospel, usually meeting at the rendezvous point between 1700h and 1730h. The team then returns to the mission center for supper and report time with the other teams. Report time is a time of praise and celebration of what the Lord did that day. The teams pray together and then depart for the evening, usually around 1930h to 2000h.

What am I expected to wear in the field?

A nice shirt, polo or t-shirt (only t-shirts without logos or with Christian logos are welcomed), long pants for the guys, long skirts (below the knees) for the gals. A broad-rimmed hat is recommended for keeping the sun off the neck and ears. No sunglasses (hinders communication) or jewelry, please.

What am I expected to wear in the worship services?

Usually the field attire can be worn to worship as well, although those preaching might have to “move it up a notch”. Specific instructions will be given per mission trip, and in advance of your packing.

What will our accommodations be like?

You will usually stay in the homes of believers, sometimes in the church itself or a school, and rarely in a hotel. All accommodations will be humbler than you might have encountered previously.

What will the food be like?

Sometimes the food is not much different than what you eat in the USA, other times it will be very different. One thing remains the same throughout the world: eating together is considered crucial in establishing a relationship. All team members will be expected to eat the local cuisine, and GNI will have already prepped those cooking in the need for properly cooked meats and vegetables.

Will there be any leisure time?

Please bear in mind that this is not a vacation. You are on mission because the Lord has called you to the work before you. That being said, we usually reserve the Saturday before our departure as a “day-off” for the team. The team will be together regardless of the recreational activity. The day might consist of a day of fellowship with the church members (in which the entire team is expected to participate), or a special side trip of sightseeing for the team (again, the entire team together). The day-off schedule will have been determined in advance and expenses put forward, as the locals usually must make arrangements in advance.

Will I have the opportunity to preach?

There will usually be the opportunity to preach on most missions. Not everyone will be required to preach.

What will be the involvement of the local Christians?

The local Christians will be involved as interpreters and team members, cooks, drivers, hosts and hostesses. The church will be committed to your support.

Will I be able to give money or resources to local individuals I meet on the mission trip?

This is a practice that GNI forbids. All giving will be done through the pastor and the local church. It is very important that the members see the local church as a source of ministry unto them. You will be able to designate whom you would like to receive your gift, but it will be done anonymously. You may give your gift to the GNI leadership, with instructions, GNI will privately pass the gift to the pastor and elders of the church, then the church will present the gift to the specific individual (as designated) or to those in need (in the case of a general gift) after GNI has departed. We have had to deal with many a hurt feeling over such individual giving in the past, and the tendency of the local Christians to view us as “cash cows” or “walking clothing stores”. Such attitudes and feelings by the local Christians are detrimental to them and compromise GNI's mission efforts.