Many students go on short-term mission trips. These can be life-changing events. In fact, some churches use mission trips as a primary tool in their discipleship strategy because of the long-term benefit to their young people as well as to the church community.

Outtatown Discipleship School is a one-year program of Canadian Mennonite University. Under the careful guidance of Site Leaders, and working with mission organizations, the students in this program will spend approximately one third of their time in mission/service assignments. During the first semester in Canada some time will be given to urban ministries, service assignments with camps, and work with native communities. In the second semester our students will serve in Guatemala or South Africa in a series of programs and events that are designed to help them see the needs of the world and for them to interpret this experience and to respond to these needs in meaningful ways. The work here will range from construction projects to working with children, and will vary according to opportunities that are well suited to the students' own gifts and abilities, as well as the need that is expressed by the mission organizations that we are working with.

The total cost of this program for 2008/2009 is $12,800 plus airfare, and $3975 is understood to represent the Missions & Service portion. As an educational institution, CMU will issue educational receipts (T2202A). Churches on the other hand, may be willing to allow students to raise funds for the mission portion, issuing charitable receipts for the funds raised.

The common options are as follows:

1. Your Church may have funds available for short-term mission/service assignments that you can apply for.
2. Your Church may be willing to allow students to raise funds for the mission portion, issuing charitable receipts for the funds raised. A decision to authorize the fundraising efforts of the student by the Church/leadership would allow a student to request funds from family and friends that are then given to the local Church, receipted there, and then sent to CMU for the Missions & Service portion of your program costs.
3. Individuals can direct funds to CMU for your account, but will not receive a tax receipt for these gifts. As an educational institution, CMU will issue educational receipts (T2202A) to the student.

Please feel free to talk to your local pastor or congregational leadership regarding their willingness to support you in some way. Clarify all arrangements with your Church before raising any support.

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