GO JOURNEYS

GO Journey Financial Policies
 

Each GO Journey participant is expected to raise the necessary prayer and financial support for their trip.   The model is that GO Journeys are completely separate, funded by support-raising. That is, the church does not set aside a portion of the budget to fund these trips.  A common target amount is established for each team member in order to cover the full expenses of the Journey. (If there are 10 team members, this would be 1/10th of the total projected expenses).  While we  encourage  each  team member  to  raise  the  target  amount  of  support, some may  raise more while others may fall short.  We REQUIRE that each team member do their part by sending out a sufficient number of support letters (30+ letters for every $1,000 needed) AND by following up with those who do not respond.

Specific timelines for GO Journey participants who are:

• Self-funding:
  Must bring in 100% before the date that the GO Journey Coordinator secures plane tickets, this is usually about 2 months out. 

• Raising support:
  One month out:  If not at 50%, must tell GO staff their action plan ("I have sent at least 30 letters per $1,000 needed and will now follow up with those who haven't responded").
  
  Two weeks out:  If not at 90% with the understanding the remaining 10% could come in at the last minute, it should be considered whether it's God's will for them to go on this GO Journey or future one. 
  
  Non-Perimeter Members/regular attenders must either pay the balance or forfeit their participation in the trip.  If the latter, funds remaining after the airline cancellation fee will be rolled over to the next GO Journey they register for.
  
  Perimeter members/regular attenders must have financial approval from GO Staff before getting on the plane; approval will be based on current account balance and progress that has been made through support raising process.

• Cancellations
  If a GO Journey participant cancels after the airline tickets have been purchased, the airline cancellation fee (typically between $100-$350) will be deducted from any support they raised so far.  If their support level is too low to cover the entire cancellation fee, the individual is responsible to pay the difference.  If they can provide a medical excuse/doctor's letter and the airline accepts it, the cancellation fee is waived.  Donations cannot be returned to donors, but support can be rolled over to the next GO Journey they register for. 

• What exactly does the support cover?
  GO Journey support covers the international airfare*,  traveler's  insurance, visas, transit  hotels  and  meals, ministry expenses and all in-country expenses including transportation, lodging, food, translators, and team designated events. It does not cover souvenirs, mini-bar purchases, airport parking, hotel incidentals, etc. There are two items that are reimbursable if the team raises more than necessary to cover expenses AND a participant raises more than their goal for the journey: 1) Immunizations and 2) Postage used in support letters. To receive a reimbursement, a participant must fill out the reimbursement form found on the website, include the corresponding receipts and turn them in to the Global Outreach Office within 30 days of the Journey. Passports, luggage, airport transportation or parking, clothing, snacks, team supplies, gifts to ministries or other personal items are NOT reimbursable.
  
  *If you are coming from another city, you will need to book your own flight to ATL to be able to fly out with the rest of the team.  IF you raised more than the cost of the GO Journey, you may turn in the domestic flight receipt for reimbursement out of the team support account.

• Using Airline Miles for GO Journey Airfare :
  If a team member wants to use personal Airline Miles to fly to & from the GO Journey destination, they must follow ALL of these instructions:
  
  1. Apply on-line for a particular GO Journey. WAIT until you hear from the GO office or your team leader that you are accepted onto the team before proceeding.
  
  2. Notify the GO Journey Coordinator of your desire to use Airline Miles BEFORE the team's ticket purchase date (the day the team leader authorizes the ticket purchase).
  
  3. Reserve your Airline Miles ticket for same exact flights out of Atlanta, GA as your team.
  
  4. Immediately upon purchase, send or bring a copy of your reservation in to the GO office. At that time, the GO office will take the cost estimate of the GO Journey and subtract the amount that everyone else's plane ticket cost, then add the amount of your Airline Miles fees associated with this reservation. The results will be the amount you are responsible for raising to go on this journey.

• How to Earn Airline Miles for GO Journey related Travel:
  While the GO office does not apply Airline Miles numbers to individual's tickets at the time of reservation, the team member (upon check-in on EACH leg of the trip) may ask the desk clerk to apply it. In addition, he/she should keep boarding passes if the miles do not appear on their account later on. 

Questions About GO Journeys

Q: What Is A GO Journey?

A: Global Outreach (GO) Journeys are short-term mission trips (7-12 days), individually designed to come alongside our partners in countries all over the globe, assisting in their long-term efforts. Through GO Journeys, you will have the opportunity to participate in what God is already doing among our partner ministries and communities. This is not just another trip. You will be equipped to go as learners and servants realizing that we have much to learn from our brothers and sisters around the world. Teams consist of a leader and anywhere from around 5 to 25 team members.

Q: What Does The Financial Support Cover?

A: The financial support you raise covers your travel costs, food, lodging, entry visa, ministry expenses, and local ground transportation. Participants are personally responsible for obtaining a passport, immunizations, personal needs and any souvenirs.

Q: What Will The Accommodations Be Like?

A: Accommodations will range from staying in people's homes, to partners' ministry centers, to the comfort of your own bed in hotels. Flexibility will be the key for all participants.

Q: What About Insurance?

A: In addition to your personal insurance, GO will provide individual international medical insurance for the dates you will be on your GO Journey. This is included in the financial support you raise.

Q: Are There Any Age Restrictions?

A: We have several journeys that are ideal for families that will help you introduce your children ages 11 & up to missions. Other destinations are more appropriate for ages 16 & up.  Please contact us in the Global Outreach office to discuss specific journeys and how they might be appropriate for yourself or your family.

Q: What About Training?

A: Following Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission, Perimeter offers cross-cultural, spiritual, and logistical training as well as team building. There is a minimum of 4 sessions before your journey begins, as well as daily meetings while on the field. We also have a prayer time the week or so before departure that anyone can attend, as well as a debriefing session once the team has returned home.  Some teams even decide that they want to hold a Picture Party!

Q: How Do I Pay For The Trip?

A: Each GO Journey participant is expected to raise the necessary prayer and financial support for the trip. Support training and deadlines are provided in the first training session. A common target amount is established for each team member to cover the full expenses of the Journey. This amount covers everything that the team is approved to do while on the Journey (i.e. meals, banquets, teaching materials, translation expense, etc.); this amount is approved in that country's ministry plan and budget. While we encourage each team member to raise the target amount of support, some may raise more while others may fall short. The Global Outreach Ministry of Perimeter Church is not responsible for covering the expenses of a team member. We ask that each team member do their "due diligence" by sending out a sufficient number of support letters (minimum of 30+ for every $1,000 needed) AND by following up with those who do not respond.

Q: Where Do I Get A Passport?

A: Passport applications can be downloaded from http://www.travel.state.gov. The passport form must be presented and signed in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility. Visit www.USPS.com for a passport office near you. Many passport offices require appointments which can be weeks or even a month or more later, so be sure to contact them right away to find out about an appointment.

Q: Will I Have To Have Any Immunizations?

A: Most of the places we travel to with our GO Journeys do recommend immunizations. For the most up-to-date information on what is needed for the country you are interested in visiting, go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/travel.  We cover this during the details and logistics portion of our GO Journey Training-Session #1.

Q: Do I Need An Entry Visa?

A: Your team leader will let you know at your first training if an entry visa is required for the country in which you will be working/traveling and how this will be obtained.

Q: How Do I Track My Support?

A: Follow this link to view the status of your support raising - you will have to log into you My Perimeter Account.

Q: How Often Does My Support Tracking Update?

A: Donations made online will update to your account immediately. Cash /check donations are updated once a week on Tuesdays.