FAQs
You can feel confident about the safety and security of your student because of how deeply RIM invests in its leaders. All leader applicants complete a pre-screening process and in-person vetting, and all leaders attend multi-day training events prior to taking students on trips.
RIM uses a 3-tiered leadership structure to ensure health and safety, to handle logistics and ministry partnerships, and to provide discipleship and a personal experience for each participant. Your child is never alone outside of the lodging complex. They are always accompanied by an adult, and often this person is their MA.
PROJECT DIRECTORS (PDs) are hand-selected, very experienced veteran leaders who have worked with RIM for years. Often they are full-time RIM staff, and they always pass FBI background checks. PDs are responsible for all the teams in a country and provide both spiritual and logistical oversight.
TEAM LEADERS (TLs) are age 21+ and work in co-ed pairs to head up teams of 25-30 young people. TLs handle daily schedule, discipline and spiritual environment for their teams.
MISSION ADVISORS (MAs) are age 18+ and are accountable for 3 to 8 team members. MAs focus on establishing relationships, investing in your student personally, and watching out for them.
To facilitate greater engagement in ministry and with fellow team members, RIM limits communication with home/social media to designated team communication times. Instead of 24/7 connections that can cause distraction, the entire team will pause at various points along the way to call, email, post, etc. at the same time.
RIM guarantees an opportunity to connect with home once per week (however, we do not force your child to contact you – it’s their choice). Depending on your child’s location, they may have additional opportunities as well. In between team communication times, RIM does our best to post trip updates on our blog, our Facebook page, and in the ‘RIM Parents’ Facebook group for each of our teams.
If it’s AT HOME, you can always call the RIM offices at 1-800-774-6746 during normal business hours. In addition, a 24-hour emergency number will be sent to you in the Final Packet (approximately 2 weeks before the trip begins). We’ll put you in touch with your child quickly!
If it’s ON THE MISSION FIELD, RIM will contact the emergency contact listed on your student’s application asap. In the event of an illness, injury, natural disaster, or political unrest, treatment and/or evacuation efforts will be coordinated through the international travel insurance policy all participants are required to purchase.
All missionaries must be 14 by July 1st 2025 unless accompanied by a parent, pastor, or guardian.
For summer mission trips, applications are accepted from September through April. Apply as soon as possible in order to maximize time available for fundraising. RIM recommends that all groups apply before Christmas and that individuals apply no later than February 15th.
Some applicants may be accepted after May 1st; however, a late-signup surcharge may apply equal to the increased cost of airfare compared to on-time signups.
A $95 deposit is due when you accept your spot on the team, and 100% of your trip cost is due 30 days before your start date.
After the deposit is submitted, the remaining trip cost will be split into 3 Fundraising goals (~33% due on 3 dates).
Deadlines are typically February 1st, April 1st and June 1st.
Most of RIM’s forms can be completed online and are typically due June 1st.
The Notarized Consent form must be physically mailed to RIM and is due June 1st for standard trips.
All forms and due dates will be listed in your online account
All PARTICIPANTS on a standard RIM summer mission trip MUST attend training in Miami. This training takes place at a hotel during the first two days of your trip.
All RIM LEADERS (including PDs, TLs and MAs) have an additional two days of training in Miami prior to the start of the trip. Leadership training is by invitation only
Through a variety of teachers, trainers and hands-on activities, you will learn: evangelism strategies, ministry tools (drama, English camp, etc.), team building, and tips for spiritual survival on the mission field.
You will also experience praise and worship, teaching and discipleship alongside your teammates and other teams headed to locations around the world. It’s an incredibly awesome, life-changing two days!
Two weeks before your trip, you’ll receive a t-shirt in the mail, which you wear to Miami. RIM Staff wearing the same t-shirt will meet you at your baggage claim within a few minutes of your arrival. They will escort you to the hotel shuttle, settle you in your hotel room, introduce you to your team leaders and provide a schedule for training.
You do not need to arrange your own hotel or transportation. RIM will provide these for you. RIM also provides all your meals, beginning with dinner on arrival day.
Yes! If you are local to Miami, your family may drive you straight to the hotel instead of the airport, and your parents are welcome to meet your leaders. They can stay with you until 5pm, and then it’ll be time to say goodbye.
Please make sure to indicate your plans to drive instead of fly on your domestic travel form at least 30 days in advance of your trip.
All meals are arranged in advance and prepared by local cooks to incorporate local cuisine. For this reason, RIM does not offer specialized meal options (such as vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, low-carb, etc). If you have a medically necessary dietary need, you will need to pack supplementary food items in your checked luggage. Please call RIM with any questions or concerns.
You’ll quickly learn that missions is about flexibility and willingness to leave your comfort zone. All participants should be prepared to smile and eat what is set before them in order to be culturally sensitive and to not offend our hosts or cooks. Relationships are more important than preferences!