[ Team options ]

GLOBAL CHALLENGE

Global Challenge is an exciting international OM initiative offering short-term mission outreaches around the world. In Russia, we offer options for international teams to join us each summer to be involved in various forms of outreach. The summer starts with a two-day preparation conference in St.Petersburg, Russia, followed by two to four weeks of outreach across Russia. Different seminars, teaching and practical skill tracks will prepare the participants before they go out in their teams. The ministry options will vary from children's and youth ministries, and kid's camps to church programmes in remote villages etc.

Over the past decade, OM Russia has been serving local evangelical churches through the efforts of these short-term teams. The teams that come and work over the summer build into the long-term work of our overall ministry.

OPTIONS FOR SUMMER 2007:
Please contact your local OM office for further information and option prices.

Love Russia Teens Camp Team
(This team will work with kids in a camp, they will live in tents)
Often coming from broken families or even orphanages, many of the kids in Russian summer camps need guidance, love or just attention. This team will be working alongside staff from a Russian Church, with whom we have worked for several years, and will have many opportunities to get involved with the teenagers. The team will take part in the daily camp activities, play, conduct small evangelistic programs and help out with practical duties. Living outdoors for two weeks in a tent might be outside your comfort zone, but it will give you amazing opportunities to share your lives constantly with others. You may need to use your initiative to generate opportunities to share your faith with these teenagers. But even without knowing the language, there are many ways to make God’s love real.
Dates : 5 th – 17 th July

Love Russia Trans Siberian team (min. 6 people)
“Would you like to travel across the largest country in the world by train, stopping to work with local churches en route? Then this is for you! Riding the famous Trans Siberian express, this team will journey through 8 time zones, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. This famous train ride will give you a glimpse of the vastness of Russia with its varied people, cultures, religions and landforms. But even better, you will have a chance to stop in various cities along the way, experiencing Russian life personally as you work alongside churches and live with Russian families. Your team will be involved in various kinds of ministries such as evangelism, organizing programs for children, youth and adults or just helping local churches in practical ways in cities and towns right across Russia. Trains without air conditioning, adapting to very varied Russian church styles and moving on every few days are just a few of the many challenges this team will face, but riding the Trans Siberian offers the adventure of a lifetime too.
Dates : 5 th July – 3rd August

Love Siberia team
You have the opportunity to go willingly to this part of the world, long associated with cold weather, prison camps and internal exile for dissidents. However, that is only part of the picture! There are many wonderful things in Siberia; the beauty and diversity of its wildlife, its vast open spaces and in summer time it reveals one of its best kept secrets – the snow melts and it is blessed with warmth, up to 35oC and blue skies, well most of the time! OM has been working with several churches from different Siberian cities over the past 10 years and it’s exciting to see the Russian churches growing there. This team will work alongside an active Russian church in Western Siberia. The team will be involved in youth work, on the streets, running a kids club, showing films, playing sports and having discussions with the people, as well as participating in outreach programs in the nearby villages and helping with practical things. We believe there IS a lot you can give just by coming, and sharing your life with both believers and non-believers. So why not come and see the wonderful things Siberia offers?
Dates : 5th – 20th July

Team requirements:   You're welcome single or as a couple if
you're at least 18
you're willing to step out of your comfort zone
you're willing to learn from God and grow in your relationship with Him
you have a basic knowledge of English (teams will be English speaking)
you're happy to be FLEXIBLE as things in Russia change all the time.
Experience is not essential. Training will be provided at the conference.

Dates:
GC Conference in St.Petersburg, Russia : 3rd th – 4 th July 2007
GC outreaches in Russia:
Two week options:     5 th to 17th or 20th July (Love Siberia and Teens Camp options)
Trans Siberian:           5 th July to 3rd August

Practical:
see also "Useful Info" section

  Travel:
Note: The earliest time for departure from St. Petersburg is the afternoon of the day the outreach finishes i.e. 17th, 20th July or 3th August 2007.

Pre-conference. If participants need to arrive a day or two before the conference due to flight schedules or a desire to get over jet lag for those travelling long distances, they can stay at the conference site, but they will need to pay 10 Euros a day to cover the food/accommodation costs. If participants arrive before 1st July they must make their own accommodation arrangements.

Post-conference. Participants need to let us know if they wish to stay before the outreach not on the last day.

Visas:
Every participant needs a visa to come to Russia. They need to pay for this themselves -- it is not part of the option price. After application for GC Russia, OM Russia will get an “invitation letter” that will be sent out to the participants in order to apply for a visa. Therefore participants need a VALID passport that covers the length of the conference AND the campaign. Due to the length of the visa application process the application deadline for all options is the 15 th April 2007 . You will need to provide your local OM office with a clear photocopied/scanned emailed copy of the information pages of your passport, along with your application form.

Luggage:
Please note carefully that all participants will have to carry their own luggage on crowded local transport. Therefore participants should keep all luggage to a minimum. If you choose the Trans Siberian or Love Siberia options, your total luggage, including hand luggage, should weigh less than 20 kilos. Every team will also have to take extra team luggage (ie. literature, sketchboard). We strongly advise participants to bring a rucksack, not a suitcase, as this will help greatly with travel.

Accommodation:
Participants need to be prepared to sleep on floors, in simple accommodation or with Russian host families. (Couples might not be staying together!) Please note that you will all need sleeping bags and carry mats for the conference. (Carry mats are preferable to air mattresses as they take up less space.) Other essentials include mosquito repellent, plastic shower shoes, a torch and travel mug.

Catering:
Meals will be provided either by the local church or the team itself. Special dietary needs should be made clear on your application form.

Costs:
Please contact the OM office in your home country. Also, please note that due to the economic situation in Russia, prices, especially prices for travelling, can change tremendously, even though we have tried to build that into our budget. We'll let you know if there are any major changes as it comes closer to the application deadline.