AIM provides many opportunities for you to get involved in extraordinary ministries all around the world. Your AIM trip can be either stateside or international and can be initiated and led by the local church, district, national office, and/or an approved third-party ministry.
Check out the related pages for more resources as you get started and plan your trip!
When planning an AIM trip, it is important that your trip be done properly. AIM trips can be sponsored/led by either the national Youth Ministries, district, or local church. The following questions must be answered to have an effective AIM outreach.
Jesus said, "Go." AIM trips are primarily to reach the lost and assist those fulfilling the Great Commission. A secondary goal is to see spiritual growth among the AIMers.
Set measurable, attainable, precise, and personal goals. Goals should benefit the missionary and the field, the youth ministry, the youth leader, and the local church. Some mission fields will produce different results than others. Analyze what experiences will impact your group in a practical way.
Some missionaries have more skill and experience in working with American teenagers. Find a missionary who will keep your AIMers productively active. A productive, busy AIMer is a happy, fulfilled AIMer.
Every group needs a qualified leader. Make sure that he/she is: faithful to the Lord, a good example, a servant, committed to the task, willing to sacrifice, comfortable around youth, liked by youth, flexible (the mission field has many surprises), a team player (one who gives all of the youth on the team an opportunity to participate), trained for the task (send him/her on at least one other trip as an AIMer), let him/her learn under a good leader.
Age: Some young teens may not do well in a densely populated city, yet they might excel in the countryside. Younger teens are great with children's ministry. Their experience, maturity, and energy are adaptable to this ministry when properly trained. Students must be at least 15 years of age to participate in an AIM trip.
Qualifications: Each trip should be evaluated individually. Short missions outreaches are more suitable to larger groups. For longer trips, we limit the number who can go and have more requirements.
Finances: Finances should not be the most important factor in determining who can go. However, I would rather have a teen earn the money for the trip than have a church or parent provide the money. Teens who work hard appreciate the trip more and are generally more committed to excellence.
Inside/Outside: Decide whether or not a teen from outside your group can join. Use wisdom and consider your goals. Other adults who want to participate must be evaluated as well. Use judgment while keeping your goals at the forefront of all of your decision making.
Trips that end in failure are generally the result of inadequate planning. With proper preparation in all the areas, and especially training, every trip can be a success. Training includes dramas, songs, and testimonies, but it also involves preparing team members to handle different situations that might arise.
AIM trips cost money, time, and energy. Valuable lessons, rewards, and good memories cost something.
Plan ahead for unexpected costs. Make sure you have adequate supervision, health insurance, travel insurance. Consider all possible costs: ground transportation, training costs, leadership costs, food, lodging, airfare, clothing, field costs, entertainment (tours, etc.), tips, transfers, equipment, and tracts.
This question coincides with your goals. Your group may be at a maturity level that requires a tougher challenge. Some groups may be ready for sleeping in the church for 2 weeks, while others may not.
Use this rule of thumb: Make it tough if it serves a purpose and doesn't detract from your goals. Young people staying in a church with one shower, sleeping on wooden pews, and never getting away from the crowds will become physically and mentally exhausted in a few days. This can distract from your goals. Rather, stay in hotels where the kids can get a good rest. If an AIMer gets sick, spare no expense. Have professionals take care of him/her quickly and properly.
Ask your missionary what he/she needs. Match your equipment to the objectives of your trip. Consider leaving equipment as a gift to the missionaries or national pastors. See who is on your team and utilize their skills. Train your AlMers to use the equipment properly.
| This is such a fun question to ask of the Lord. AIM will help you to "Go into all the world..." And you can go with the knowledge that you are following in the same footsteps taken by tens of thousands of AIMers dating all the way back to 1966.
Through AIM, there are many opportunities for you to get involved in extraordinary ministries all around the world. Your AIM trip can be either stateside or international and can be initiated and led by the local church, district, national office, and/or an approved third-party ministry.
| 1. Answer the following questions:
a. Where will AIM take me? Where do you want to go? Foreign trip or US Trip? Your answers can be as specific as City, Country (Rustenburg, South Africa) or as general as region (South America).
b. When do you want to go?
c. Do you know what missionary you would like to work with? (If not, don't worry. We will help.)
2. If you are taking an international/foreign AIM trip, please click here. You will be working directly with AGWM for your missions' trip.
3. If you are taking a stateside/domestic AIM trip, please complete the AIM Outreach Form.
4. Begin praying for the people you will take and encounter on this trip.
Upon receiving the AIM Outreach Form for your stateside AIM trip, we will contact you with the next steps of planning your trip. Our goal is to partner with and resource you in planning your trip. If you are an experienced missions trip leader, we will not slow you down. However, if you need our assistance, we are here to serve.
| 1. Obtain necessary approvals by completing the AIM Outreach Form.
2. Secure a written invitation from the Assemblies of God US missionary(ies) or Assemblies of God licensed minister with whom you will work with.
3. Complete the subsequent AIM Forms (provided to you following the above-mentioned approvals)
a. Assumption of Risk (Leaders)
b. Parental Consent (Minors)
c. Insurance Application
d. HIPPA Authorization
e. AIM Trip Affidavit
4. Obtain background checks for all adults 18 years of age and older participating in your AIM trip. Considering today's legal environment, churches assume unprecedented liability risks in the selection and screening of church workers. Background checks for all staff and adult volunteers of AIM teams are becoming increasingly important.
One of the most significant legal risks facing the church world is the risk of negligent selection. Negligent selection means carelessness or a failure to exercise reasonable care in the selection of a worker. A finding of negligent selection dramatically impacts the liability of a church and/or its workers. It is suggested that each district and/or church check with the legal authorities in your state on the proper procedure for conducting the background or criminal records check.