LEADERSHIP

Leading a team on a cross cultural experience will be a rewarding, inspiring and satisfying experience. Yet it is not easy. Leadership skills and expertise in the following areas are vital for a successful team.

Personal spirituality
Sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit is important in the selection, orientation and leading of the team. A leader’s personal relationship with Jesus will be evident on a daily basis and a great source of encouragement for the team members.
Organisation
The task requires organising and facilitating the involvement with churches, missionaries, national leaders, government officials, Global Interaction staff as well as the team members.
Relationships
A leader will mould a group of people with diverse backgrounds into a cohesive team who can work effectively in a cross-cultural situation. Leaders personally nurture team members, resolve conflict situations and encourage long term relationships within the team and others. Leaders will also need a sense of self-awareness to be able to lead a team effectively while dealing with their own culture-shock.
Role Model
Team members will learn a great deal from a leader’s reaction to the ever changing environment and their approach to the various situations. Leaders particularly need to model cultural sensitivity and an attitude of humility and learning as you are guests in another community and culture.
Encouragement
facilitating team members’ personal journey of faith both during the team ministry and beyond can prove to be a leader’s greatest privilege in leading a team.

Debriefing

Probably the most important aspect of any short term mission experience is what takes place AFTER the team returns. The leader’s role here is vital. What will the team members do with their experiences, lessons and challenges? Will they successfully integrate them into their Christian walk? The team will need ongoing nurture and encouragement or else the dreams, challenges and visions that God has imparted to them will soon be forgotten in the rush of ‘normal’ Christian life. Debriefing does not stop when the team arrives home - that is when it starts! It is assumed that leaders will make themselves available to help the participants process their thoughts long after they have returned. Some will want to go back to cross-cultural work, others to Bible college and yet others will want to take on new and more challenging roles in their local church.

Requirements for leaders

Must have been on a Global Xposure team (or similar)
Complete leaders application process (interview, referees, application forms)
Willing to correspond monthly with Global Interaction staff
Involve Global Interaction staff in at least one training and debriefing session
Complete a Police Check for duty of care requirements
Involved in the Unearthed network (if applicable)

Time Line

Click here to view a time line for preparing a team

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GLOBAL XPOSURE TRAINING

Each team is required to organise approx 6 training sessions and a weekend away. After the trip, most teams meet for a number of debriefing sessions. These are coordinated by the team leader, however Global Interaction staff are willing to assist with some sessions. Each team leader will be provided with a set of comprehensive training manuals.

Training Topics

• Motivations and expectations
• Medications and health while traveling
• Passport / Visa / insurance
• Biblical basis for mission
• Intro to Global Interaction and staff / case studies / DVDs
• History of mission on location
• Worship and prayer
• Team building / conflict / personality types
• What to take / wear / security
• Country information / language
• Worldview, culture, culture shock
• Prayer and financial support
• Program preparation
• World religions

Support

Global Interaction staff provide support for team leaders and Global Xposure participants as they prepare and when they return. Where possible, Global Interaction staff can be involved in interviews, promotion, training meetings, resources and ideas. There is a small group of experienced leaders in each state who can also offer leadership support.

XPOSE

Xpose is a 24 hour experience to engage with mission in a local area. See the Xpose page on this site for more info.

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