- (519) 824-9380
- contact@impacthope.ca
- 203 - 121 Wyndham St N Guelph, ON
- Post: P.O. Box 211 Stn Main, Guelph, ON N1H 6J9
Welcome to Impact Trips, where we collaborate with local communities so you can join us in empowering the poor and creating lasting change. Our approach to short-term missions is guided by values such as compassion, humility, and respect, which are fundamental to building meaningful relationships that honour the strengths and assets of local communities.
We believe that serving those in need is a vital part of God’s mission to renew all things, and we recognize the importance of doing this in a way that is respectful, empowering, and sustainable. Our focus is not only on the short-term impact of our trips but also on creating long-term solutions that align with the priorities of local communities. We work closely with our partners to ensure that our trips align with their priorities and are geared toward fostering mutual learning, respect, and understanding.
Our trips are designed to provide meaningful opportunities for personal growth and transformation while also contributing to the greater good.
The Young Adults Grant Campaign is designed to raise funds to subsidize mission trips for young Canadian adults who are passionate about making a difference in the world. Our goal is to support these individuals in their journey to serve and lead by providing financial assistance for transformative mission experiences.
“Poverty isn’t just a lack of material resources but a result of broken relationships with God, self, others, and the rest of creation.” – The Chalmers Center.
This quote highlights the complex nature of poverty and the importance of addressing not only the tangible needs of individuals but also their spiritual, emotional, and social well-being.
To effectively tackle poverty, we need to walk with people experiencing poverty in humble relationships and promote lasting change. By fostering a model of missions that values humility and mutual learning, we hope to break down the barriers between ‘helpers’ and ‘helped’ and create a space for shared growth and transformation.
We believe that the Chalmers Center’s resources are an excellent tool for learning more about this approach to missions and how it can be applied in practice. Materials like ‘When Helping Hurts and Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions‘ provide insight into tackling poverty and moving beyond good intentions towards lasting change. Go deeper by watching this video by the Chalmers Center.
At ImpactHope, we see Impact Trips as a stepping-stone toward long-term involvement in poverty alleviation, advocacy, and community building. Our hope is that your experience is transformative and serves as a catalyst for lasting change. This process can be broken down into six key steps.
With a focus on sustainable community development and a commitment to cultivating meaningful relationships, both Open and Closed Teams provide an enriching and impactful experience for all participating.
Join one of our upcoming Open Teams and make a meaningful impact! Immerse yourself in life-changing experiences as we work together to bring hope and make a difference.
Disclaimer:
A Closed Team is a pre-established group of people who share the desire to serve together!
We have planned mission trips to Guatemala, Kenya, Oaxaca, and Peru in 2024.
ImpactHope trips depend on several factors, location, time of year, airfare, team size, duration, and field project costs. The trip cost covers all expenses within the country, including flights, travel insurance, food, accommodation, and project/ministry expenses. Team members are required to fundraise for these trip costs. All donations for the approved trip costs are tax deductible. A schedule will be provided for when these funds are needed. Expenses incurred during travel (food, visa, etc.) are not included. ImpactHope allows brief tourist activities, which are not included in the trip costs. ImpactHope encourages all team members to bring cash for these expenses and any souvenirs purchased.
Our approach to service overseas is rooted in our Christian faith. We adhere to the statement of faith, values, and behaviour expectations of most evangelical churches.
While we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences on these trips, we expect all participants to respect our Christian approach and values. It is vital that our visits and participation do not negatively impact the ministry sites of our project partners. We are guests, and they serve long-term. We encourage individuals with different skills, experiences, and perspectives to join us on this journey toward renewal by seeking peace, justice, and love for all communities, but we reserve the right to disapprove volunteers to participate in these trips.
We recommend at least six months before the trip. While it can be accomplished in a shorter time, we want individuals on trips to be well-prepared. The reason for this is threefold:
None! We provide training for all teams that go to our project sites. Short-term mission teams have been notorious for hurting the people they intend to help. To ensure that each team is prepared for the experience, we work with your team leader to provide you with the materials and training that will position your heart to come alongside the partners as they make lasting change in their community. We help you be a part of the poverty alleviation solution!
Short-term trips are an opportunity for long-term change. The purpose of the trip is not only to provide an opportunity to participate in what God is doing but to understand your role in poverty alleviation around the world. Our project partners are encouraged when people are interested in the work they do, especially by the teams who commit to developing long-lasting relationships with them. This is a chance to experience the work God does outside your Western bubble, which can be a life-changing experience. Each of ImpactHope’s projects has the mission to transform the lives of their community through the power of the gospel and service. ImpactHope’s headquarters participate in this mission by sharing stories of God’s work and providing opportunities for North Americans to experience God’s redemption story.
Short answer: yes. It is necessary that we are all on the same page before you are sent. We work with your team leader to ensure that the training is adapted to the schedule of the team. We follow the “When Helping Hurts Short-term Team Guide” course and principles. Generally, these would be our training recommendations to your Team Leader:
If you go on multiple trips with us, we ask that you go over our review material designed to further engage in themes and ideas covered in previous training.
The Team Leader holds various responsibilities – all with the goal of helping to prepare and lead the team, both logistically and spiritually. The responsibilities include:
Work with our missionaries on the field to coordinate the team. Our on-field hosts will be responsible for coordinating items on the itinerary; however, the Team Leader will be asked to organize their team and facilitate meetings while on the field.
We would be happy to answer any additional questions at trips@impacthope.ca.
Ready to join us in making a lasting difference and experience the transformative power of Impact Trips? As Chalmers Center founder Brian Fikkert says, “God is at work transforming the world, and it is a privilege to join Him in that work.” We invite you to join us on this transformation journey as we build relationships, promote dignity and respect, and serve those in need in a way that honours God and reflects His love for all people. Inquire about an Impact Trip today!
Come meet us at 203 - 121 Wyndham St N Guelph, ON | Send all post to P.O. Box 211 Stn Main, Guelph, ON N1H 6J9
