SAVE THE DATE for united west!

JULY 15-26

PHILOSOPHY OF SUMMER TRIPS
Here at Bellingham Covenant Church, we believe strongly in giving our students hands-on experiences with their faith. This looks like weekly community gatherings, service projects, retreats, and summer trips. Our summer trips are intended to get us out of the building and into new environments—places where we can experience our relationship with Christ in new and unexpected ways. We currently have a 3-year rotation for our summer trips:

  • Year 1- UNITE (Denominational Event) (Summer 2022)

  • Year 2-  In-Country Mission/Service Experience (Summer 2023)

  • Year 3- International/Multicultural Service Trip (Summer 2024)

The overall purpose of each summer trip is to explore with students how Christ is working throughout our world—and to invite them to join this redemptive work. This summer (2022) is our UNITE WEST trip!

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

This July, we will be traveling down the coast from Bellingham to Biola University in the beautiful city of La Mirada, CA to an event called Unite West.

WHAT IS UNITE WEST?

    • Unite West is a gathering of Covenant High School groups from across the west coast and Alaska for worship, connection and fun!

    • 12 days and nights of fun, worship and friendships

    • Evening sessions with dynamic worship and powerful speakers

    • Morning sessions with strong teaching leading into personal and small group times

    • Afternoon activities such as sports tournaments, swimming, seminars, and more

    • We’ll sleep and eat in Biola University Dorms

Theme: Broadcast the Gospel

Jesus came to earth with a message. The message of a new and better Kingdom that would be free to anyone who believed in Him. His message was broadcast in many ways – conversations with his friends, sermons to the crowds, and miracles healing the hurting. Jesus also proclaimed His message through stories – tales with hidden meanings and deeper application to life. Jesus’ parables tell us so much about who He is and life in His kingdom. When we hear Jesus’ stories, we are forever changed. Our lives are given purpose, meaning and a mission. Changed lives become a BROADCAST about him to the world.

A Day In The Life of Unite West:

8:00 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM Morning Session
10:45 AM Devotions 
11:00 AM Small Group Time
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Recreation 
5:30 PM Dinner
7:30 PM Evening Session
9:15 PM Youth Group Time
11:00 PM Back In Dorms   

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS 

  • We’ll be driving down to Unite in our church van and rented van(s)

  • For the first 3 days of our trip, we will stay at a hotel, a church floor, and Biola University

  • Once at Biola, we will be housed in campus housing for the week

  • The return portion of the trip will be just like the beginning (church floor, hotel, home!)

COST

This summer trip will cost approximately $750.00 per person
This price will go down because of our fundraiser and scholarships…
This price includes registration, travel, food, housing 

Assistance from the church:

  • Each student will receive an instant scholarship from the church, so this price will go down. The scholarship amount will be determined once all registrations are turned in.

  • Money earned at our spring fundraiser will be dispersed to those who participate

  • We never want money to be the reason someone doesn’t go on a trip. This is why we have scholarships available for those who need assistance. Please contact Jeff G for more details.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

  • $100 due with registration

  • $100 due on March 1, 2022

  • $100 due on April 1, 2022

  • $100 due on May 1, 2022

  • $100 due on June 1, 2022

  • Final Payment due on June 26

**If you decide to not go on this trip once you have begun to make payments, you will be reimbursed the amount of money you paid minus $130.00.  

APPLICATION PROCESS

This year, we need two things from participants who are attending this trip:

  1. Register Online Here

  2. $100.00 non-refundable deposit
    Due ASAP, final deadline of January 30, 2022

HERE ARE THE RESULTS WE PRAY FOR

First, that God would speak to you in powerful ways and that you would get a bigger understanding of who God is in your life.

Second, that your personal walk with Christ would grow. We pray that you will be sparked to re-examine your life priorities in light of what you learn and experience on this trip.

Finally, that your life back home would change. We hope you’d return to the Bellingham community with new eyes — sensitized with a new vision for how your faith can impact your life and the lives of those around you.

THE IMPORTANCE OF the TEAM

One of the most important elements of this trip is the team of students God calls to Unite West.  To be a part of this trip means that you are also a member of a team of peers who desire to grow closer to God and each other.  To that end, each individual member has a responsibility to help the entire team achieve our goals along the way.  Please know that these trips are as a significant and formative element in your life.  When you say yes to this trip, you are also saying yes to a deeper level of spiritual growth in your relationship with Christ.  

  • Spiritually, each team member will agree to spend time each week reading their Bible and praying for other team members. Team members may be asked to step out of their comfort zones and pray out loud for specific things (safety in travel, thanks for meals, prayer for people, etc.)

  • Financially, each team member will agree to make regular payments on time (unless other arrangements have been made) and will be at team-fundraisers.

  • Relationally, each team member agrees to be at our team meetings. These meetings are an important element of this trip because they help students get to know one another so everyone can have a good starting point relationally with one another. If you need to miss one:

    • Email Jeff G. with a brief written explanation and parent approval at least one week in advance.

    • Coordinate with a teammate who will collect any papers and handouts.

    • Team Meetings will be announced in mid-January

  • Respectfully, each team member will agree to treat other members of our team in a respectful manner. We will not tolerate “behind the back” conversations (gossip), under your breath comments, or anything that causes other team members to feel excluded. We will allow positive and kind words of affirmation and all acts of kindness!

COVID PROTOCOLS

  • Proof of covid vaccine is required to attend this trip. We are going to be in close quarters for travel days so it is essential that we do our best to protect ourselves and others.

  • For the same reasons listed above, proof of negative COVID test prior top trip is required.

  • While in California, we will follow all federal and state social distancing requirements in place at the time of the event.

  • Masks will likely be required for large portions of this trip. The area of masking is still very much up in the air at this point because we have no idea where our country will be with the pandemic in July. Please speak with Jeff G if you have questions or concerns.

FINALLY

Please talk this over with your family and spend time praying about your involvement.  I have taken countless trips with students over the years of ministry and I’ve seen firsthand the impact these types of trips can have on your life.  I strongly believe that these out-of-the-box experiences give you real-life experiences that God can use to deepen faith and trust!

Thanks for your support and involvement in our Unite West Summer Trip!

Jeff G 


NEXT STEPS
If this trip is right for your family, please do the following:
Complete the online Registration Form
Bring a 100.00 deposit to the church next time you’re here.  Please give it directly to Jeffg.