In our October e-news, we announced that we’re making some changes to the mission trip program at Back Bay Mission. Over the next couple of months, we’ll be letting you know the details of those changes, which will be in effect for volunteers coming in 2018. For now, we want to give you the outline of what we’re planning.
First, we’re going to restrict the number of volunteers we take each week. Most weeks will be capped at 20 volunteers, with a few weeks allowing larger groups. We’re also going to enforce some rules about skill and age ratios for groups that we haven’t been enforcing in recent years.
Second, we’re going to revamp the educational part of the mission trip program, strengthening the ‘learning’ part of this service-learning experience. We’ll be working out the details over the next several months, but we’re hoping to provide a more consistent education, deeper looks into our ministries, and opportunities for self-directed learning.
Third, we’re going to change the fee structure and increase fees. The new structure will be: a $200 per group reservation fee (regardless of group size) and a $250 per person participation fee. These fees will cover lodging at the Mission House, service materials, and educational materials.
These changes will make this volunteer program stronger (and more financially stable). It will also make the housing rehabilitation ministry, food pantry, and Micah Day Center – all ministries served by volunteers – stronger.
We’ll give you more details – and the reasoning behind them – over the next couple of months. Keep your eyes on your email, or our website and social media channels, to learn more.
