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Short-Term Mission Agencies U-Z

Listed in alphabetical order:
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Utah Partnership For Christ
PO Box 150571
Ogden, UT 84415
Phone: 866-504-UPFC
E-mail: randteast@hotmail.com
Web site: http://www.upfc.org
Ages: 14-25
Group Size: 5-50
Adult Participation: adult participation welcome, ratio 1:5
Trip Locations: Utah
Trip Duration: 5-9 days
Trip Availability: all year
Types of Service: evangelism (70%) construction/labor projects (15%) social needs (15%)
Skills Needed: compassion to reach the lost
Training: We provide teams with a six week training manual and video. A UPFC staff member will conduct 1 full day of training at your location before the trip.
Denomination: non-denominational
Philosophy: We want to give students the opportunity to "dig" into the Bible in order to learn how to communicate what they believe and why they believe it.
Evangelistic Method: We want to help students learn how to prayerfully enter dialogues with people having the intent to share Christ in every opportunity. We teach how to create a friendly, direct and loving atmosphere to share the gospel.
Hope Students Return With: a deeper compassion for the lost, a greater appreciation for the truth, and a greater desire to mature in their relationship with Christ
To Register: call or email us
Cost: $380-800
Cost Covers: food, lodging, transportation, training, materials
Distinctives: UPFC offers "evangelism camp" that sends students into a foreign culture (Mormonism) without leaving a US border.
In Existence: 1 year

Venture Teams International
#3A, 3023 21st Street NE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E 7T1
Phone: 403-777-2970
Fax: 403-777-2973
E-mail: info@vti.ca
Web site: http://www.vti.ca
Ages: sixteen and older
Group Size: as many as we can get; no ratio given
Adult Participation: adults welcome on spring break and summer teams if they are willing to undergo leadership training
Trip Locations: 30+ countries mostly in Asia, South America, Central America, some in Europe
Trip Duration: 10 day spring break trip (Break Teams); six week summer (GAP teams); one-year (Friends and Followers Teams)
Trip Availability: one week to one year
Types of Service: stage evangelism teams using music, drama and puppetry
Skills Needed: interest in music, drama and puppetry; should come with musical ability, otherwise we will teach drama and puppetry
Training: summer teams-2 weeks, one-year teams-eight weeks
Denomination: interdenominational
Philosophy: using music, drama and puppetry to gain a hearing of the Gospel; also one on one implemented
Evangelistic Method: Our philosophy is to reach people who are lost without Christ through the medium of using stage ministry.
Hope Students Return With: God impressing upon their heart the importance of relaying this message to all people groups and in turn will commit themselves to be involved in God's work whether here in North America or overseas
To Register: fill out an application, provide references and be willing to raise support to cover the cost
Cost: spring break: $2000; summer $2500-3500, one-year: $16,000
Cost Covers: everything (food, lodging, training/ministry materials and overseas airfare) but travel expenses and spending money
Distinctives: We work in teams, we use the arts in stage evangelism, we work in a variety of cross-cultural settings. Team members in the one-year program can earn academic at some Bible colleges or their year of service
In Existence: Venture Teams have been around for 22 years, since 1979.

Word of Life Reachout
PO Box 600
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Phone: 518-494-6362
Fax: 518-494-6306
E-mail: reachout@wol.org
Web site: http://www.wol.org
Ages: 15-17
Group Size: 1-100
Adult Participation: youth pastor/adult sponsors welcome (needed), ratio 1:5
Trip Locations: over 40 countries around the world
Trip Duration: 2 weeks to 2 years
Trip Availability: summer, winter and all year
Types of Service: construction, athletic competition, evangelism, music, drama
Skills Needed: Some trips require skills in sports or camping skills
Training: some trips require one week of training
Denomination: non-denominational
Philosophy: Word of Life offered their Statement of Faith to communicate their philosophy
Evangelistic Method: Word of Life offered their Statement of Faith to communicate their Evangelical method
Hope Students Return With: seeing the need for missions here in the USA as well as being sent into all the world
To Register: contact Word of Life for details about individual trips offered
Cost: $2000 and up
Cost Covers: meals lodging , round trip airfare, ground transportation and one week of boot camp at the WOL Bible Institute at Schroon Lake NY
Distinctives: ministering in 47 different countries since 1988
In Existence: since 1988

Youth Ministry International
PO Box 80-885
2825 Lexington Road
Louisville, KY 40280
Phone: 502-897-4295
Fax: 502-897-4296
E-mail: jamie@ymi.org
Web site: http://www.gospelcom.net/ymi
Ages: high school and college students
Group Size: 12-60
Adult Participation: welcomed, ratio 1:5
Trip Locations: Kenya, East Africa, Ukraine, Mexico, Brazil, China, Venezuela, Tanzania, England
Trip Duration: 2 weeks to 18 days
Trip Availability: summer, Christmas, spring break
Types of Service: evangelism through drama, music, gymnastics; discipleship through camps and conferences
Skills Needed: none
Training: training within youth groups before leaving, three days with us before departure
Denomination: non-denominational
Philosophy: Matthew 28:19-20 and Ephesians 4:11-13, We use youth on the field to model evangelism and discipleship
Evangelistic Method: programs interspersed with testimonies; connecting people who have made decisions with local churches
Hope Students Return With: a global perspective of Jesus. We encourage students to consider their Christianity before their nationality, so they will recognize that everything they have, are, do, and say belongs to everyone else in the world
To Register: Have team leader contact us and let us know you are interested in forming a Quest Team.
Cost: $1400-$3000
Cost Covers: room, board, ministry expenses, personnel expenses. NOT INCLUDED Passport, immunizations, medical insurance and emergency medical treatment, personal spending money
Distinctives: We offer missions trips to whole groups, and we offer trips with a long term strategy in mind for youth ministry development on the field.
In Existence: 7 years

Youth With a Mission - Maui
PO Box 790237
Paia-Maui, HI 96779
Phone: 808-579-8402
Fax: 808-579-8405
E-mail: mauiregistrar@juno.com
Web site: http://www.ywammaui.com
Ages: 18-30
Group Size: 10-40
Adult Participation: ratio 1:1 on site, 1:5 on outreaches, none additional, we have staff
Trip Locations: Asia, South Pacific Islands, Cambodia, Nepal, Philippines, Indonesia
Trip Duration: 1-3 months
Trip Availability: 4-5 times a year
Types of Service: drama music construction teaching discipling children's ministry, Friendship evangelism, open air evangelism
Skills Needed: graduated from high school
Training: we do not take in groups, training done on site
Denomination: non-denominational
Philosophy: to know God and make Him known. We believe that one must first know God and have a relationship with him before we bring the Gospel to the nations.
Evangelistic Method: Evangelism can be the main focus on our outreaches, but not all the time.
Hope Students Return With: an interest in becoming a missionary for life. This can be at their home, but we love it if it is to the nations.
To Register: online registration form, $40 registration fee
Cost: $4550-4900 for our 5 month DTS program
Cost Covers: housing, food, transportation. NOT INCLUDED Personal spending money, airfare to and from Maui
Distinctives: We are a surf outreach, where a team of surfers reaches out to the surf cultures in other.
In Existence: 40 years

Youthworks!
3530 E 28th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: 800-968-8504
Fax: 612-729-4113
E-mail: servicecenter@youthworks.com
Web site: http://www.youthworks.com
Ages: grades 7-12 including graduating seniors
Group Size: 5-65
Adult Participation: adults/youth leaders welcome, ratio 1:7
Trip Locations: 47 communities across US, Canada and Mexico
Trip Duration: one week in length
Trip Availability: summer only
Types of Service: students build relationships with community members through home repair projects, kids club (VBS) and serve with existing community ministries
Skills Needed: all projects are designed to meet the skill level of the group participating
Training: group leaders receive promotional tools, an extensive site book, a four week Bible study, prayer support and telephone coaching
Denomination: multi-denominational
Philosophy: Our primary focus is to provide youth workers with a tool to help them do life changing youth ministry.
Evangelistic Method: We encourage sharing Jesus' love through serving others.
Hope Students Return With: from a 9th grader: "It humbled me greatly and strengthened my will to serve others."
To Register: call our service center at 800-968-8504 to register
Cost: as little as $150, usually just under $200 per person
Cost Covers: lodging, meals, promotion and prep materials, site leadership, program and project supplies
Distinctives: We are committed to providing quality mission trips at affordable prices. Our group sizes are small allowing for a close knit sense of community and a great variety of experiences.
In Existence: 8 years
Et Cetera: We are expecting over 21,000 youth to be involved this year.

Yugo Ministries
PO Box 25
San Dimas CA 91773
Phone: 909-592-6621
Fax: 909-394-1210
E-mail: outreach@yugo.org
Web site: http://www.yugo.org
Web site:
Ages: junior high through adult
Group Size: min: 1, max 500
Adult Participation: youth pastor/adult sponsors welcome, ratio 1:5
Trip Locations: Mexico
Trip Duration: 1 week
Trip Availability: year-long
Types of Service: outreach/evangelism through VBS, sports ministry
Skills Needed: no special skills
Training: training outline sent to groups, includes 12-16 hours training materials
Denomination: non-denominational
Philosophy: win Mexicans to Christ, build the church in Mexico, challenge North American churches to partner with Mexican churches to reach their own communities
Evangelistic Method: Working alongside existing Mexican churches to integrate their neighbors into the body of Christ
Hope Students Return With: trust of God, a new concern and passion to reach the lost, become part of the great commission (whether they go or support others who do)
To Register: contact YUGO office, $200 deposit secures your space
Cost: about $200 per person for a week-long trip
Cost Covers: food, materials, gasoline, Mexican auto insurance, accident insurance, logistical set-up in Mexico
Distinctives: working with on-site missionaries to aid their church planting efforts
In Existence: started in late 1950s, incorporated in 1965
Et Cetera: an excellent "first experience" trip

Zap Ministries
916 Janisse
Windsor, Ontario
Canada N852V8
Phone: 519-948-1528
E-mail: tpretzel@bigfoot.com
Web site: http://www.members.home.net/zapyouthmissions
Ages: 11-18
Group Size: 20-60
Adult Participation: welcome, but they rarely attend, ratio 1:10
Trip Locations: Ontario, Canada and Reynoso Mexico
Trip Duration: weekend to 8 weeks
Trip Availability: spring breaks and summer
Types of Service: ever-changing depending on mission site. We usually always do some kind of outreach through a VBS.
Skills Needed: puppet and music skills helpful, not mandatory
Training: three training weekends during school year
Denomination: Lutheran Church Canada
Philosophy: "Go ye means me"
Evangelistic Method: street skits, tracts, puppet plays, VBS
Hope Students Return With: a taste of what mission work is like; desire to maintain deep relationship with God; consider mission work for their future
To Register: attend training, complete application, Bible memory
Cost: $80-$820
Cost Covers: lodging, food, staff, ministry material, travel expenses
Distinctives: we offer large amount of intensive training before trips
In Existence: 11 years

Listed in alphabetical order:
A - E  |  F - N  |  O - T  |  U - Z