We, the members of the Bethlehem Baptist Church Ministry Team, believing that God has called us together to serve, agree together concerning the following ...

I. Our Vision

We desire to be a team of people characterized by Christlike behavior exhibited through unconditional love; unselfish, joyful service, and unified teamwork. Our ultimate purpose as a team is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

II. Our Team Objectives

We believe that we can fulfill this vision through the following commitments ...

1. Glorifying God
   We join God the Father in magnifying the supremacy of his glory through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit by treasuring all that God is, loving all whom he loves, praying for all his purposes, meditating on all his word, sustained by all his grace (Psalm 115:1–3; John 17:3, 17, 23).
2. Our Teamwork
   We commit ourselves to being a group of individuals who unite as one in purpose, striving to accomplish the same goal: to glorify Christ and increasing his Church (1 Corinthians 12:12–31).
3. Communication
   We commit ourselves to resolve all inter-team conflicts according to biblical principles. This involves prayer as the first step, personal confrontation as the follow-up step, and the counsel of a third party (namely, a leader) as a third and final resort (Matthew 18:15–20). In all issues of conflict, we commit ourselves to maintain a humble spirit of confidentiality, while seeking to affirm one another in love (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6).
4. Forgiveness
   We commit ourselves to the recognition of sin as our common enemy so that we each may be sensitive to our human failings and forgive each other (Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 3:12–13). We recognize that forgiveness is manifested through an understanding, forgetful attitude and the continuation of demonstrated love. In accordance with Hebrews 12:15, we commit ourselves to resolving any bitterness, because we realize that bitterness will drag the whole team down (Matthew 18:21–35).
5. Spiritual Growth
   We commit ourselves to personal worship and fellowship with God through obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and an openness to learn from God’s Spirit in all situations. We agree to have the same attitude of the Apostle Paul with respect to failure (Philippians 3:12–14), and with respect to perseverance (1 Corinthians 9:24–27); we will strive to put off the old self (Ephesians 4:17–22) and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:23–32).

III. Our Team Structure

We believe that the following structure elements will enable us to carry out our team objectives ...

1. Team Meetings
   Before, during, and after the trip, our team meetings will be crucial for fulfilling the commitments mentioned above. These team meetings shall include team devotions, team prayer, time for communication of details and plans, and time for individual relational development (Hebrews 10:24; Ephesians 5:19–20).
2. Personal Quiet Times
   We will attempt to be faithful in our daily times with God because we believe that growing individually is essential to growing as a team (Hebrew 10:22).
3. Ministry Opportunities
   We will seek to be a witness of the love of Jesus to the people we encounter throughout our trip.
4. Work
   We recognize that, if our objectives are to be completed, we must all commit ourselves to work to the best of his/her God-given ability every day of the project (1 Corinthians 10:31).
5. Prayer
   We commit ourselves to daily prayer, every day up to and including our time on the field, for the individuals on our team, the missionaries we will serve with, and the national church.
6. Leadership
   In situations of team concerns, the team leader will be the team guide. We also recognize that working with the team is an opportunity for us all to develop God-given leadership ability, and we commit ourselves to that end through the pursuing of individual growth opportunities that may arise (Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 13:17).

7. Lifestyle
   We will strive (God helping us) to be imitators of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), to walk as he would walk (1 Peter 2:21), not causing our brother to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9-13), acting in a manner appropriate to the host culture, doing all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10: 31).

IV. Evaluation and Accountability

We shall hold each other accountable to this Covenant, and we shall measure our success in keeping this covenant by the following ...

1. Correcting each other according to biblical and covenant principles (Colossians 1:28; Matthew 18:15–18; Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 5).
2. Responding without defensiveness when we are corrected, believing that other team members have our best interests and of the team in mind (Proverbs 27:5–6).
3. Meeting as a team after our return home to “debrief” as a team.

I, ___________________, as a member of a Bethlehem Ministry Trip Team commit myself to abide by this covenant to the best of my God-given ability.

Signed: ________________

Date: __________________