Are you a young adult between the ages of 19 and 29, or know someone who is?

We're in the midst of organizing another Xtreme Team of American Baptist young adults this summer and we're looking for folks who are not afraid of a challenge, ready for an amazing faith adventure, and can't WAIT to see what God is doing around the world!

If you're that person, or know someone who is, what are you waiting for?? Check out these details or pass them along to the young adult in your life who is ready to go to the Xtreme…in Russia!!

Dates: July 16- August 16, 2009

Cost: $4200 (plus airfare and visa).

Leadership:
Rev. Holley Faulkner of Fairmont, WV. He is International Ministries’ Special Assistant for Russia, an experienced team leader and traveler to Russia, and has a great love for the Russian people.

Paulo Monroy of Elizabeth, NJ. He was a participant in the 2007 Czech Republic team and will provide leadership in sharing the story through media and the web.

Details:

• The team spends a total of 27 days in Russia inclusive of travel
• Debriefing time in Cowen, WV will be facilitated by Daniel Buttry, American Baptist missionary, well known author, and former Xtreme Team leader to the Republic of Georgia
• Conclude the Xperience by attending and sharing the Xperience with others at the Camp Global mission event at Camp Cowen, WV.

How to Apply:
Visit the Xtreme Team website at www.xtremeteamonline.org to apply as well as view the 2008 Thailand trip Xperience and view videos.


Background:

So, what makes this mission experience a bit different?
The Xtreme Team is designed to connect young adults with the global mission of American Baptists. Our purpose is to grow a passion and interest in mission for the here and now as well as to cultivate global mission leadership for the future.

How do we do that? We carefully select a team of usually no more than twelve participants (including the Xtreme Team staff) and we send them to a country for a variety of mission "Xposures". The team will participate in cross-cultural Xperiences and interact with Xtreme global issues in the context of the many levels of global mission work in which God's Church is involved.

At first this may sound like any other mission Xperience, but the Xtreme Team is called Xtreme for a reason. You see, the team members are not told what they will be doing on a day to day nor told who else is going on the trip! All they know for sure is their destination and when they will arrive and depart. The rest is a mystery! It's an intense Faith Walk in following Jesus to the Xtreme!

During the time in-country, Xfiles (clues about what is coming next) are prepared by the leaders to lead the Xtreme Team members to their next mission Xposure. We choose to use this method for several reasons: it certainly is an Xercise in faith, it forces team building and most importantly it reminds us that much of our Christian walk is a mystery to us, but not God! When we say to God "here am I, send me" we must be prepared to go whenever and wherever He calls!

We seek to accomplish the following on an Xtreme Team mission experience:

… XPERIENCE a variety of "mission", mission-related issues, and people involved in mission

… XTEND your hand of friendship and service to people of a different culture and/or faith

… XPAND your mind by encountering different ways of thinking, communicating, relating, and behaving and having your current patterns in those areas challenged

… XAMINE your values, priorities, commitments and responsibilities in light of those held by people of another culture and those involved in global mission

… XERCISE your faith as you go to Xtremes in crossing culture and are Xposed to Xtremes in climate, standards and quality of living, religions and global issues

… XPLORE God's word and world, searching for the whole of Christian mission

Doesn’t this sound Xciting? It is! It is also Xciting to see how lives are being changed through the Xtreme Team. Young adults are being given an opportunity to serve God in a way that is meaningful to them. In addition, we also

… Xpect to meet God in our Xtreme adventure together

… Xpress to others what God is doing in the world and in us through global mission.

Oh, one other thing that is different about the Xtreme Team- the use of media. The team will update a website www.xtremeteamonline.org with journals, audio, video blogs, etc that will allow folks everywhere to be Xcited and challenged by your Xperiences.

Questions?: Call 800-222-3872 ext. 2366

or email  bimvolunteers@abc-usa.org for assistance.

Blessings,

Angela
Angela Sudermann
Associate Coordinator, Volunteers in Global Mission