Instead of short-circuiting your trip, problems like these can become opportunities to learn and grow. That's why leadership is so important. Take advantage of the "Going With God" training offered through International Ministries. Originally designed for leaders, anyone can participate and everyone benefits who embraces and practices the concepts.

The "Going with God" Short Term Mission Leaders Tool-Kit  with cross cultural orientation will provide hours of interactive training and philosophy including topics such as team building, cultural differences, conflict management, cross-cultural communication, and sharing Christ in another culture. The training will challenge your way of thinking about mission, take you out of your comfort zone, and get you to open your hearts, hands, and minds to different cultures.

The "Going with God" Short Term Mission Leaders Tool Kit materials will be provided so you can train your own group. Over the years, we have discovered that groups who take advantage of this training have a greater impact during their trip. Don't miss this important part of preparation for your mission experience.

Training weekends begin on a Friday evening and end Sunday morning.  Short on time?  Intensive training can be done on a long Saturday. 

Who leads the training?

Staff from Valley Forge is happy to lead your training, or we can find someone who is experienced in leading training and teams to train your group.

Why take the training?

"My first overseas experience was a disaster. It was a business trip in a previous career, and I was naive in thinking that learning a bit of the language would prepare me.  My next trip was my first mission trip to Thailand, led by Wayne Paulsen.  Wayne used the Short Term Mission Training curriculum to prepare the group through team building, learning about the culture, and understanding the perception of Americans around the world. Using the devotionals every evening grounded us in the Word, centered us on why we were there, and helped to relieve any stresses before they became conflicts.  God called me to serve in Thailand, and ultimately with Volunteer in Global Mission team, but this curriculum has prepared me for serving in mission and relating day to day in different cultural settings."  Angela Sudermann, team member, team leader, Coordinator, Volunteer in Global Missions team


"I think the leader training is a needed requirement.  The notebook of materials is excellent.  I found them to be useful all week.  I like the devotional guide and i think it helped provide direction in leading group discussion and helped the leader plan and stay on track"  John Janssen, Discovery Team leader