Missions
J12 Global
Goal
Our goal is for your students to grow spiritually, connect with other Christians, and have an impact on the world in a safe, supervised environment you can trust. This will be a fun, comprehensive, and valuable missions experience unlike any other for entry level short term missionaries and seasoned veterans.
History and Background
We work with Big World Ventures, a Christian organization that puts together missions trips. Big World helps make sure that all the details are covered. We are also teaming with “Never the Same Missions” founded by Brio Magazine editor Susie Shellenberger, who have led thousands of kids on trips to South America for the last 16 years.
Cost
The cost for the trip will be right around $2,600. This covers food, lodging and airfare from Miami to Panama. In addition, you’ll be responsible for your passport and your domestic flight to and from Miami International Airport, where we’ll meet for training before traveling to Panama.
Unique Features
There are medical staff and professional counselors on every trip.
Every evening we have our own service with Gregg Johnson, Dannah Gresh, and other well known communicators.
Preteens are allowed to bring cell phones and call home.
Shower and toilet facilities are available.
Qualified Christian adults fill the sponsor roles in addition to staff and volunteers.
Big World Ventures makes sure that all of the details are covered using their years of connections and experience. (i.e. food, lodging, sight-seeing, international flight reservations, Christian interpreters and church representatives to follow up on new converts, reserving chartered buses with A/C for ministry travel once in the country, scheduling ministry events for each day and even arranging shopping excursions.)
Safety and Security
Accommodations are at a safe and comfortable 5 star resort called Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Rest assured that every precaution is taken to provide a safe and secure environment with plenty of trained adult supervision.
Yes, this is one reason our trip is a little more expensive than other trips you may find, but safety and security are our number one concern.
Meals will be provided by the Hotel where we stay. For off-site ministry days, lunches like PB&J will be packed to go.
Emergency contact information will be provided, including phone and fax numbers. Frequent news messages to our web site will also be posted so that friends and family can hear how things are going!
Application Information
Download an application from the J12 website. Student applications are available for those who are 11 years old and up by July 2012. Leader in Training applications are available for college students and Adult applications are available for parents and adult leaders.
Send your applications to J12 Missions c/o Big World Ventures P.O. Box 703203 Tulsa, OK 74170-3203 with the application fee ($48 for students/$58 for adults). Applications can also be filled out, scanned, and emailed to info@j12.com.
Checks or money orders should be written to Big World Ventures.
Applications require a student’s Pastor to fill out a Pastor’s Recommendation form.
Once Big World receives and reviews the complete application, you will in most cases receive an acceptance packet via email or receive a phone call to discuss any issues or questions before acceptance. You will also receive preliminary information on obtaining a passport, fundraising ideas, a payment schedule from Big World Ventures, and each participant will receive the first of their monthly newsletters with more trip details.
Adventure Details
July 2 - Arrive in Miami for training.
You’ll meet your fellow world changers for two days of training. Around 100-150 adult sponsors will arrive two days earlier for leader training and meet you at the Miami International Airport when your flight arrives. You’ll be serving on a team of 30-38 missionaries (and 5-6 adult leaders) for the entire trip. In Miami, we’ll train for two-and-a-half days and learn dramas and a few Spanish phrases that will help you share the Gospel. In the evening, we’ll have exciting services full of praise and worship and challenging messages from Gregg Johnson and other well known youth speakers.
July 5 - Arrive in Panama
An average day of ministry will look like this:
After breakfast and devotions with your team you’ll board Team 2’s bus with your leaders, interpreters and church representatives for a day of life-changing ministry!
First stop—public school. Yes, we’re allowed to actually go in, present the Gospel and even give an invitation for students who want to give their lives to Christ! After the drama, a few will give a T’nT through an interpreter. Then, another teammate will ask the students if they’d like to invite Jesus to be their Lord and forgive their sins. At that point, several students may come forward to accept Christ. You and your teammates will introduce them to local church reps who will pray with them in Spanish. The translators will also write down their names and addresses to get them plugged in to a church and disciple them.
Next stop: A busy neighborhood. Same routine.
After the drama and follow-up, it’s lunchtime! (peanut butter and jelly)
Third stop: A local park. Same routine!
Fourth stop: An open-air market or another school.
By the time your team is finished with all four destinations, it’ll be close to 4 p.m. You’ll return “home,” and meet for dinner at 6 p.m.
Then, at 7 p.m., we’ll have our evening service. By this time, you’ll be anxious to testify to what God is doing in your heart.
Our service will end around 9 p.m. You’ll have free time to write in your journal, swim, talk, and then go to bed.
The next several days will be a rotation of drama ministry (as outlined above), work projects, etc. There will also be time for souvenir shopping.