Church Group Trips

Yes, you can still register without a passport, but it is important to apply for your passport as soon as possible. Once you receive your passport, you can email your passport information to your Trip Planner.

Compassion takes child safety very seriously and we require background checks from all travelers, even our Compassion staff.

Yes, Compassion’s background check is our sole source of monitoring any travelers visiting our field countries. This in-house background check is in place to protect travelers, frontline church partners, and sponsored children and youth.

Background checks are valid for one year, from the date it is processed.

We will provide your church group facilitator information on when it is time to apply for your visa. Please expect an email around three months before your trip departs, as most visas expire within three months. We want to ensure your visa is still valid for your trip.

We suggest checking the CDC site and speaking with your doctor, as we cannot legally recommend vaccinations for trips.

We have limited insurance coverage that is included in your trip cost. Here is more information on the insurance coverage.

All travelers should coordinate payments with your Group Facilitator so that your church can make one payment to Compassion.

Yes, in case of an emergency, Compassion will register your name with the Department of State before you leave the United States.

Please let your Group Facilitator know as soon as possible if you need to cancel for any reason, as this could incur fees that are non-refundable.

Soon after your group’s registration deadline, you will start receiving information about your trip. Since there are important, specific steps in the registration process, you’ll want to make sure to read through everything carefully. Your Group Facilitator will prepare your team through regular communication and meetings as the trip gets closer. Finally, you should expect a Trip Guide delivered from Compassion. This is a helpful tool full of information about Compassion and the country you are visiting.

All background checks are valid for one year from date of approval. If your Compassion trip will be completed within that one year, we will not need to run an additional background check. However, if your background check date of approval expires before your trip’s end date, you will need to re-submit a background check.

Compassion works with many different airlines, so please check with the relevant carrier(s) for their most up to date baggage allowances and policies. Any baggage fees will be the responsibility of the traveler.

In most cases you can receive airline miles for your trip by informing the ticketing agent of your frequent traveler number upon check-in.

Yes, we do everything we can to ensure you and your sponsored child meet. Occasionally there are circumstances outside our control that prevent a meeting from happening, but that is very rare.

Being a sponsor is not a requirement for participation in a Church Group Trip. Of course, you will have opportunities to sponsor a child through your church or on the trip itself if you feel led to do so.

Any gift, no matter how small, will be treasured! Some sponsors like to purchase a backpack for their child and put items in it such as school supplies and clothes. Other ideas include crayons, construction paper, jump rope, soccer ball with pump, hygiene products, or small toys. For more suggestions and guidelines, please consult the “Travel Prep” section in your Trip Guide. Although you may see your child at the child development center, we suggest that you save your gifts for Fun Day. If you would like to give a monetary gift, please let Compassion be the catalyst for that.

As far as a gift for the family is concerned, simple kitchen items, flat bed sheets or a small decoration for the home are great choices. Another idea could be a Scripture verse in their language (or national language, depending on which country you’re visiting) that that they can hang on their wall. These are just a few ideas.

Yes, you can, but please ensure the child’s name, child number, sponsor’s name and sponsor number are located somewhere in/on the gift. Most people like to send a gallon-size plastic bag or small backpack, which can either be written on or has this information inside. You can then give this package to your field office staff leader, and they will ensure it gets to the correct child.

Your sponsored child’s Compassion center is notified of your visit usually about one month prior to the visit. However, the child is notified within two weeks. The child is not notified sooner to prevent disappointment in case of any unforeseen changes that may occur.

The trip cost will include airfare (if requested), in-country transportation, lodging, Compassion host and leadership expenses, trip insurance, food, bottled water, tips, home visit basket and translators. Your trip cost will also include background checks (required for all travelers), Trip Guides, name and luggage tags and all registration-related costs.

The trip cost does not include passports, vaccinations, visas, meals while in transit, souvenirs, checked bag fees or the cost of your sponsored child’s transportation to the Fun Day activity. (This cost will be itemized per traveler and included on the final invoice, based on the distance the sponsored child will have to travel to meet and spend the day with his/her sponsor).

Please indicate all dietary needs in your registration, and we will do our best to accommodate those needs. We always suggest bringing some personal snacks, as well.

This person is trained by Compassion to co-lead the trip with you. It is a requirement that all teams be accompanied by a Compassion Trip Leader. He or she is responsible for being the bridge between cultures and managing the flow of the itinerary. This person will assist your team in organizing activities and managing any crisis that might occur, with the aid of National Office staff. While many groups have a designated pastor or leader from the church to lead the team spiritually and functionally, our staff can assist in this role if needed. The Compassion Trip Leader will be introduced to the church approximately one month prior to the trip.

Fun Day is a time for sponsors and their sponsored children to meet, fellowship, play and eat together. It could be at a zoo, park, beach, or pool/water park (depending on where you’re visiting). It is a great time to really connect with your sponsored child and present your gifts to him/her.

All payments for trip costs must be made through your local church.

Yes, please appoint someone to be the Trip Leader and let your Trip Planner know. We will still be able to communicate with you throughout, even if you’re not going on the trip.

Here are some ideas:

• Have the team share some of their journey to faith in Christ or a key moment that God worked in their life.
• Start a team prayer journal in which the team shares prayers and apprehensions both before and during the trip. While on the trip and after your return, revisit what the team prayed for and celebrate God’s answers.
• Team Building Games
• Perspective on STM Videos (Chalmers’ Helping Without Hurting in Short Term Missions)
• Use the Compassion Trip Guide and have various people present information or play a trivia game with information about the country to be visited.
• Spiritual preparation questions (personal or as a group)
• Do trip prep activities together (VBS, Spa Day, Gift Shopping)