Basic Trip Information

The success of your mission trip depends a great deal on how much you are prepared ahead of time. First, you need the support of your church leadership. That means submitting a detailed report of what you you will be doing, where you will be staying, how you plan to get together a budget, and why you feel that God is leading you in this direction.

Once you have the support of your church, you will need to present this challenge to your group. The main thing here is to get their eyes off of the work and onto Who they are doing it for. This experience is designed to get them out of their comfort zone and help them to see Jesus in the people they are serving, and ultimately, onto the need for Jesus in their own lives. This is their chance to serve the "least of these."

This should be a real good time of bonding and spiritual reflection for your group. So have a few discussions and Bible studies prepared for that. Encourage them to take the initiative in doing them as well.

Plan to bring some fun group games that you might want to play in the evenings. You will need all the basic camping gear . . . sleeping bags, towels, shampoo, etc. Make sure they have Bibles and encourage journals as well.

The things that you don't want them to bring are things that would separate them . . . walkmans, gameboys, iPods, Playstations, etc. Lastly, we can do our best to draw them into serving the Lord, but only God can change their hearts. So encourage their friends and your church as a whole to hold them up in prayer as they prepare to come.

Accommodations and Fees:
Visiting groups stay in one of two community-owned dorms. One is the first floor of an apartment building located directly behind our main building. There is bunk space for 27 in four separate rooms, with three bathrooms containing showers. There is a living room as well. We also have a second rooftop dorm with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a large living room which is available for groups up to 11 people. Your group would be the only people staying in your dorm. Visits are by reservation only, on a first-come-first-served basis. We begin booking our dorms for the each new year starting the first work day in October.
A Fee of $25 per person per night is required for room and board. A non-refundable deposit, which is subtracted from your overall expense, is required at least eight weeks prior to your reserved dates to maintain your reservation. If you're interested in scheduling a visit for your group, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible, since we have limited openings and the Summer and Spring Break weeks tend to fill up fast.

Deposits are as follows:
February to April (Spring Break): $200.
From June through August (Summer): $300.
Deposits for the rest of the year are $100 dollars per group.

Who can come?
We welcome groups of all different ages. Adult, college-aged, high-school, and junior high groups are welcome; as are mixed-age groups. However, younger groups will require more adult chaperones. A one-to-three ratio is recommended for junior-high groups, and a four or five-to-one ratio working well for high-schoolers. Small children are welcome to come with their parents. However, we don’t provide child care, and all children will need adult supervision.

What's Next?
If you're interested in bringing your group to JPUSA, call to check on dorm space availability first. Call (773) 303-4064 to leave a message, or (773) 491-8197 (Brach's cell). After we agree on acceptable dates, fill out the application form that can be submitted online or printed out and mailed to our Group Coordinators Office. Please fill out the form and send it back along with your deposit as soon as possible, so we can lock in your dates. We should receive your deposit at least eight weeks prior to your scheduled arrival. Without it, we may not be able to hold your dates due to the current demand. Always feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. It is our desire to make your trip a good one for you and your group.

Click Here For the Application Form

If you have questions, comments and/or suggestions, please feel free to contact us.

The Youth Group Office may be reached by:

Office Phone: (773) 303-4064
Brach's Cell: (773) 491-8197

Fax: (773) 989-2320

Mail:
Youth Group Coordinator
Jesus People USA
920 W. Wilson
Chicago, IL 60640