Missions 2.0 FAQs

First, contact the person listed to express your interest, by visiting the trip pages on our “Missions 2.0” pages.

Second, if there is an initial deposit required (common for the trips), you will want to make that deposit as quickly as possible as this is the only way we can hold your spot.

Third, if applicable, you will want to make sure you have a valid U.S. passport or valid passport from your country of birth.

Yes, and those deadlines depend on the individual trip. Once you express interest, specific information can be relayed to you on deposit deadlines.

 

First, and most importantly, pray. Pray that God will reveal to you whether you should invest in this kind of experience at this point in your life. While life-changing experiences, these trips are not vacations, but strenuous times to put your spiritual faith in settings and activities that will serve the global kingdom and, often, the poorest of the poor.

Second, you will want to express your interest by visitng the “Missions 2.0” trip pages. However, you will need to know that your place on a trip cannot be secured by simply stating your interest. A firm commitment, evidenced by the required financial deposits toward the trip’s cost by the dates they are due, is needed to hold a spot.

Third, if you haven’t already, make sure you have a valid U.S. passport or valid passport from your country of birth. This often takes several weeks to process, and this will position you to be able to travel if you feel so led.

 

Every international experience will require a valid U.S. Passport or valid passport from your country of birth. To secure a passport, visit the U.S. State Department website.

 

The gifts and offerings through our annual Giving to Christ at Christmas effort help supplement these trips in order to keep costs as low as possible. We are asking all participants to cover the remaining costs. Small groups or families are encouraged to pool their resources if it is a project they commit to jointly; individuals are expected to cover their own expenses or costs of the mission.  We are asking that individuals or groups do not solicit financial support from anyone within the church as we gave collectively to missions through the Unhindered and Giving to Christ at Christmas campaigns.  Further, this prevents individuals within the church from being solicited multiple times from fellow members and being put in an awkward position.  However, if you wish to seek financial support outside of the Meck family, such as friends and family, that is certainly your decision. Any questions regarding the tax deductibility of outside support gifts toward Missions 2.0 trips, please contact our Director of Finance, Chuck Peacock.

 

First, pray. Ask God directly to supply your needs.

Second, while we discourage approaching individuals within the church for financial support due to our collective giving to support missions (and to avoid individuals being solicited by multiple parties), we do encourage those in need to consider approaching friends and family outside of the Meck family of faith for support.

Third, there may be some funds from our Unhindered and Giving to Christ at Christmas campaign efforts to assist those in need. Information on such aid can be procured through Allison Main.

 

Yes, multiple scholarships and support is our goal through our annual missions offering. While it is doubtful we will ever be able to underwrite all of the mission opportunities for the many thousands of Meck attenders, we hope to serve those in our community of faith who truly do not have the means to participate.

 

Tithes are to go directly to the local church of which we are a part. An “offering” is something given above and beyond a tithe. In the New Testament, it was through “offerings,” not “tithes,” that buildings were built, and external mission enterprises funded. This is the idea behind our Unhindered and Giving to Christ at Christmas campaigns. When you support someone for a missions trip, or support yourself, you are giving an offering to the Lord that is to be above and beyond your tithe.

 

The missions program is designed to not only serve others, but to provide unique experiences for the individuals and families that make up the Meck community. Sacrificial giving has allowed many of these experiences to be developed, and teams often go in the name of the church as representatives of our community of faith. While those who are attenders of Meck, but not members, are certainly welcome, we feel that we must give priority to those who have committed to Meck as their church home as members.

 

This depends on the mission trip itself. Each trip description outlines who can participate. Most international trips usually requires a child to be at least thirteen years of age. This is largely due to the nature of the mission and the conditions of the location.

 

Yes. Specific immunization needs will be given to you once you are fully registered and accepted for your mission. However, you can safely plan on at least an up-to-date Tetanus and, for many, Hepatitis “A”.

 

This will depend on the trip itself. Details will be given to you once you are fully registered and accepted for the trip.

 

There are no specific skills needed to be able to participate in any of these trips.

 

We have selected destinations where there are no inherent risks in travel other than those normally associated with any trip.

 

This will depend on the trip itself, but in most cases, you will not need to make them yourself. travel, on-site transportation, food and lodging will be cared for. Details will be given to you once you are fully registered and accepted for the trip.

 

Senior Pastor, Jim White, along with other pastors and members of the leadership team, have been working with major mission agencies (e.g., S.I.M. and World Vision) to develop short-term mission experiences that meet a number of criteria: 1) reasonable cost; 2) relatively easy access from Charlotte and the airlines serving Charlotte; 3) a true missions need that we can fill; 4) a level of theological and missional agreement; and 5) reasonable levels of safety and security. Jim White and other leaders have personally traveled to each of these destinations, met with the leaders, and done the due diligence necessary to determine whether they are sound investments of our prayer, time, money and effort.

 

We are always keeping our eyes and ears open for ways that we can get involved around the globe. We will make these opportunities known to the wider Meck community as soon as they are available.

 

Though we have done an enormous amount of vetting, including traveling to each destination personally, we want to hear back from the teams and learn from their experiences. Further, we are continuing to explore new and varied opportunities, and will engage in a continual process of pruning and cultivating so that each year we are putting forward the best “catalog” we can for each season.