International Discipleship Trips
At Watermark, we believe that we’re all “on mission”. Life is a long-term mission. And, every day and every appointment is a short-term mission opportunity. God’s Word makes it clear that we should love God and love and serve others. It’s our job to share the love of Christ with people we see every day – whether you’re in Dallas, Texas or half-way across the world.
In response to Christ’s directive to spread His Good News around the world, we use a multi-faceted approach in helping reach today’s world. Our church takes a servant approach in equipping and supporting various indigenous ministries that have proven effective in their own culture. We encourage members to serve abroad. In addition we seek to involve our church in projects to communicate the Gospel and share our resources worldwide.
CORE VALUES
- The “good news” must accompany “good works.”
- We want to work through, empower, and support local churches/ministries.
- A focus on developing people and restoring systems – not just relief.
- Discipling our people and those we serve.
At this time, our key partners are ALARM in Uganda, Barundi and Congo and Mission of Hope Haiti in Haiti.
ALARM – AFRICAN LEADERSHIP AND RECONCILIATION MINISTRIES
- An African ministry, empowering African pastors and other leaders to bring hope and transformation to their communities. ALARM operates in eight countries of east and central Africa.
- In 2006, Watermark began partnering with ALARM, for ministry in Burundi, Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda. Through ALARM, our efforts in Uganda and Burundi include teaching government and church leaders, providing clean water to the poor, educating Uganda’s future leaders through a trade school, economically empowering the poor through loans and business development, and funding education and discipleship of orphans and at risk children.
- For more information, visit: www.alarm-inc.org
MISSION OF HOPE HAITI
- The Mission of Hope complex now sits on 76 acres of land and employs over 150 Haitians.
- Approximately 1,300 children are enrolled in the School of Hope
- Hope House Orphanage is home to almost 60 children
- Hope Clinic sees hundreds of patients every week and over 600 adults, youth and children come from surrounding villages to attend the Church of Hope.
- They have 55 schools involved in a nutrition program and everyday over 11,000 children throughout Haiti receive a hot meal at school. We also have over 15 orphanages, well over 1000 children, receiving 3 meals a day through the program.
- We are exploring ways to serve in the following areas: construction, children, teaching/pastoral training, and medical.
- For more information, visit: www.mohhaiti.org
Watermark Discipleship Trips are part of a long-term, asset-based, development approach where we provide our local partners with support they need and request from us. If you are interested in a short term international opportunity, a Watermark member, connected to the body by active participation in a community group, and you are already serving in some capacity at Watermark (or with one of our partners), please complete the appropriate application.
DO I QUALIFY?
AFRICA TRIPS:
There are only 4 core teaching trips a year to Africa (2 each to Burundi and Uganda) made up of 10-12 men/women total so the number of slots are very limited. WCC’s efforts in Africa are viewed as our highest and best leadership and discipleship opportunity. Because of the nature of what we’re teaching and the location of our teaching a great deal of prayer and consideration is given to who is asked to part of this ministry with ALARM in Africa. Because an African pastor views anyone teaching from our teams as teaching with the authority and wisdom of a pastor or elder those who go must have shown themselves worthy of the opportunity on a local/internal level before an invitation is ever considered or extended.
In order to be part of a trip a person must be a member, in an active/healthy CG, and be leading in ministry with WCC either internally (ie. teaching equipping class, leading a foundation group, on leadership for a ministry) or externally (ie. 2nd Saturday leadership, Cornerstone Church partner leader, prison ministry leadership). Those who go must also be comfortable and capable as an upfront teacher for an audience of 100 or more Africans. Finally, they must also have demonstrated an ability to apply scripture to difficult issues and circumstances as that is the at the core of all our teaching.
The process of becoming part of an Africa trip begins with being nominated by staff or a ministry leader to be part of a core Africa teaching trip. All nominees are reviewed by the EF International Directional team, the trip leaders, and the elders to be sure there is no known concern for that individual. Once the final nominating list is developed and vetted a list of 10 -12 potential invites for each trip is put together and 4 to 6 invitations issued to both men and women on those lists. The goal is to have team that crosses ministry line, age lines, and gender lines so that we are developing and discipling our leaders across multiple ministries while still effectively serving the needs of ALARM and the audience in Africa with quality biblical teaching.
HAITI TRIPS:
There are Haiti trips being planned for throughout each year to Mission of Hope-Haiti our ministry partner there. Anyone interested in being part of trip who is a member, in an active CG, and already serving with WCC internally or externally is eligible to be part of trip. Applications for Haiti trips can be found on the EF blog under International Discipleship Trips. If basic requirements are met folks interested in going to Haiti should complete an application and indicate an interest either being part of specific trip led by someone they know or any trip that is going to Haiti in the next 12 months. Trips leaders review each application and are asked to include on their trips 3 folks who are not personal invites (each trip leader can invite up to 3 people they have relationships with).
Team makeup is across the spectrum of WCC. There are family trips, single adult trips, ministry specific trips, and stage of life trips that our folks can be a part of as long as they meet the basic criteria listed for being part of our international efforts.
