Code of Conduct
All Cross to Light missionaries are expected to adhere to the standards set forth herein. As a missionary in a foreign country, you are an ambassador for Jesus Christ and for Cross to Light. Through all that we do and say, we want God to work through us as a team to glorify Himself and demonstrate His love to others.
Supplies
We ask that you bring in at least one checked bag filled with supplies. This is very important in helping us sustain the ministry in Haiti and for providing relief aid supplies that we distribute. You will be provided with a needs list of items to choose from to fill the checked bag(s). Many times companies are happy to donate. Extra supplies can be found in your house and/or friends love to pitch in to help with supplies – making them a supporting part of the mission trip. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by our Mission Team Coordinator who will receive your supplies. Our in country team knows how best to use them. If an outreach has been planned and supplies collected for that purpose we will make sure to use those supplies for their intended purpose. Please note: all technology and electronic devices being donated need to be given to the Mission Team Coordinator. We have specific approved needs for technology devices and want to allocate them appropriately.
Security
Upon your arrival you will be given a security briefing which will go over the various aspects of our security policy as it pertains to our operations in Haiti. Since beginning operations in Haiti in 2010 we have learned how to reduce risk and maximize security for all mission team members. An example of our security protocol include traveling in country as a team, not out alone.
Accommodations
Expect camp ground grade accommodations. Our facilities are simple and are operated to maximize efficiency and operating expense. Most of our programs, activities and budget are spent on supporting the church plants, outreach, evangelism and emergency relief aid. If you have special diet requirements, pack as self sustaining as you can so that you have enough of your own snacks and treats to sustain you during the course of your stay.
Fellowship
The most common reason that short-term mission teams experience difficulty is interpersonal conflict within the team. In order to function as a team, it is important to have an understanding of acceptable attitudes and behavior prior to going to the mission field. Here are some basic guidelines for how to behave toward those around you.
Daily Devotion
…for without Me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
Team members should seek ever-increasing dependence upon and a deepening relationship with God through Christ by making it a daily priority to spend personal time in prayer and the Word.
Be a Servant
…being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:2-4
The needs of other team members should be placed ahead of one’s own. Team members should seek out understanding in all of their relationships, respecting each other by submitting to one another out of reverence to Christ (Ephesians 5: 21). This includes listening to each other’s opinions, ideas, and needs; and respecting each other’s time, property and sleep.
With Locals
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men’ you are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. – II Corinthians 3:2-3
As you experience this vastly different culture, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, His love and His desired path for the people of Haiti and most of all remember, it is God’s desire that we all have the same eternal destination with Him in heaven.
Accountability
Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
In all of your actions on this trip, you are accountable to God first of all. You must also agree to be accountable to the team leaders, supervisors, and other members of the team.
Responsibility
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no on evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men. – Romans 12:9-18
Team members are expected to carry out tasks in a responsible and timely manner and to handle all ministry equipment and assignments as tools and gifts that the Lord has entrusted them with.
Team Unity
Just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us – Romans 12:4-6.
Team members should realize and respect that each team member has unique gifts and that the Lord has called us to act as a single, cohesive body for HIS glory.
Flexibility
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jew I became as a Jew, that I might win the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak that I might win the weak I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you. – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Pastor Chuck Smith said, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.” Haiti is not like any other place you have been too. It is not predictable and the best well laid plans are often very difficult to carry out. Team members should be flexible in their attitudes, actions, and circumstances as they allow Christ’s purposes to be carried out through them.
Travel
For safety reasons, you are not allowed to travel alone or to do any extra traveling without permission while in Haiti with Cross to Light.
Conflict Resolution
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Matthew 15:18 “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. – Matthew 5:23-24 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Galatians 5:3 Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry and do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil…Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed of the day of redemption, let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. – Ephesians 4:25-27, 29-32
It is clear in the Word that the Lord does not want disagreements between members of the body to remain unresolved and develop into deep-rooted festering resentment. As members of a diverse body, you must anticipate that you may not always agree with your fellow team members. When a conflict does arise, do not allow resentment to build. Do not begin to gossip among the other team members about the conflict. This only sows seeds of discord and hinders the ministry that the Lord has you there to perform. Remember to always deal with your fellow brethren in love, submitting to one another in the fear of God, especially when it comes to conflict resolution. Always be willing to admit if you are wrong. Be swift to ask for forgiveness if you have wronged someone, and be even swifter to grant forgiveness if you have been wronged. If you are absolutely unable to resolve the conflict between the two of you, and mediation is needed, go to your team leader, once again, in a loving manner befitting a servant of Christ.
Being Above Reproach
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of thing offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other god but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven of on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. Bu t food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of your become stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of you knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat mean, lest I make my brother stumble – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
NO ALCOHOL, NO TOBACCO, NO UNPRESCRIBED DRUGS, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Media Content
All images and content taken while on a mission trip with Cross to Light, at any of Cross to Light’s facilities or written about Cross to Light’s facilities are copyright content of Cross to Light. Unless otherwise notified you give us permission to use your likeness and quotes for publishing and media. If you would like to distribute images and content about the facilities we ask that you include a source link to the Cross to Light website with the content that has been distributed. We ask that you refrain from posting on social media about activities until after your trip is complete. This helps retain the teams security. We ask that you share any footage that you capture during your trip by uploading it to the Cross to Light media server or by some other means.
Contingency Plan
Cross to Light has a contingency plan should an emergency arise. You are required to follow their instructions without hesitation and without question in the event of an emergency. You will be briefed upon arrival about the current security situation.
Communication Devices
We strongly suggest that you and your team take a device vacation during your mission trip. This is required in order to get the most and give the most during your mission trip. If you do not shut off use of your device then we require that you limit its use. Specifically, no use of devices or exchanging email or social network information is allowed with the students. Pictures and videos should be used sparingly. We ask you to refrain from using your devices around the students and while out in the tent cities. Respecting the people living in the tent cities is very important to us and greatly impacts the overall safety and favor that we have on the ground. Social networking communication with the students can and has derailed their path to becoming a pastor unless you are on a church staff team with pastoral oversight connecting with them for prayer and support.
Continuance
This Registration Pack covers all future mission trips through Cross to Light. Unless your information changes you do not have to re-Register for secondary and subsequent mission trips to the Haiti Bible Training Center or other Cross to Light facility.
Foreign Security Policy
Cross to Light is an authorized 501c3 non-profit United States organization who is approved to operate the Bible Training Center, the Missionary Training Center and build churches Internationally. Our donations apply toward operations and toward supporting church plants in order of priority. Cross to Light holds 100% prerogative over the use of all donations regardless of designation. The Cross to Light board and Haiti church plant committee are committed to designating funds as stipulated when they coincide appropriately to our core objectives and priorities.
We hold a strict foreign security policy for our operations in Haiti in order to best secure our staff, mission teams and church plants. Our policy holds the following;
- No donor is to communicate any donation funding amounts to any BTC student or graduate unless permission is granted by Cross to Light.
- All donations will be used at the discretion of Cross to Light.
- All Haiti grants are reviewed and approved by the Cross to Light Board. They are not issued at the request of a donor.
- All Haitian Pastors must bring their need requests to the Church Grant Committee for consideration of receiving Cross to Light funds.
This security policy is extremely important for the protection of our staff and mission teams. If you do send a donation to Cross to Light, you agree with this policy and will by no means communicate any fund amounts except to the Cross to Light US office. This especially includes all device communications such as texting, whatsapp, social networks, emails or phone calls. If you would like more information regarding this policy or for financial information please contact our office.
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