Why does Compassion Christian use a support-raising model for going on short term trips?

One of the goals of GO teams is to discern whether or not an individual is called to cross-cultural missions work. The methodology Compassion Christian uses for preparing teams for a short trip imitates the one most full-time missionaries use. There are distinct phases of the process: hearing God’s call, building a support team, preparing your heart and mind for the task, and then going. We believe building a prayer/financial support team is a critical element to this process. Even if you are in a situation of being able to pay for your entire trip, building your prayer & support team is critical. Not all of us are able to go on a short term trip, but we are ALL called to participate in God’s global mission. For some of us, this means participating as a sender by praying or giving financially to someone else’s trip. Asking for support can feel uncomfortable, but we should not allow our pride to keep us from giving others the opportunity to be obedient to God’s invitation to send. Often team members find that the support raising process is the most tangible way they see God ‘show up’ in the preparation process and confirm His calling for them to the field.