Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to go on an Open Arms outreach?
Every trip is different depending on where we are going and what time of year we are traveling. For instance, summertime travel is always more expensive than other times of the year. Team members are responsible to raise their own funds to pay for their own travel, accommodation and food. Open Arms raises the necessary funds for the actual ministry that happens in each country, but again, each team member must pay for his or her individual expenses on each trip.

Is there a minimum age a person must be in order to go on an Open Arms outreach? Is there a maximum allowable age?
An applicant must be at least 18 years of age to go on an Open Arms outreach without a parent or guardian. Individuals under the age of 18 may be eligible to go on an outreach if Open Arms gives its approval AND if a parent or guardian accompanies the individual on the outreach. We assess all underage applicants on a case-by-case basis, so don't hesitate to ask, as we do feel it is important for teenagers to experience life in other countries.
There is no maximum age limit for prospective team members. If an individual is in good physical and mental health, age is not a concern. For individuals age 70 and above, there will be a special interview process with Open Arms management prior to formal approval for team involvement.

What is the geographic scope of Open Arms' work?
Historically, Open Arms’ primary focus has been central, east Africa, and one area in southeastern India. For the foreseeable future, these areas will continue to be our main focus. However, as the ministry grows and develops we may begin to take outreach teams to other countries.

What types of skills or experience does a person need in order to be an effective member of an outreach team?
No specific skills or experience are required, although certain skill sets and experience are helpful for some of the work we do. People who don't have specific skill sets or experience can still be very effective on an outreach team and can serve as assistants in both the medical clinics and in the area of children's ministry. There are also practical ways for people to assist with the evangelistic outreaches that we do.
Areas where we do have need for specific skill sets and experience are:

• The medical clinics - We need doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, paramedics, medical technicians, etc
• Children's ministry - We need experienced children's ministry workers and teachers.
• Pastors' conferences - We need qualified Bible teachers and those who can teach Christian ministry leadership.
• Evangelistic outreach - We need those gifted in evangelism; those who can share Christ through drama, music, preaching and one-on-one witnessing.
• Construction - We need experienced contractors and construction workers who can build new projects and who can oversee the renovation of other projects. We also need individuals experienced in water engineering to assist us in setting up filtration systems, digging wells and building water tanks.

How do I sign up to go on an outreach?
The first step is to decide which upcoming Open Arms outreach you want to go on. Then download the application form from the website, fill it out, and mail it in to us with your deposit. We recommend submitting your application form a minimum of 90 days prior to the departure date for the intended outreach, although the more notice we have, the better prices you can obtain on flights. We must often purchase tickets prior to 90 days before the trip.
All team members must also undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check, in accordance with our Child Protection Policy, prior to departure and thus applications cannot be received less than 60 days prior to departure due to the time required to complete this check.

Besides turning in an accepted application form, what requirements are there for team members prior to departure?
If your application is approved, there is at least one required team meeting to attend  prior to departure. These meetings are mandatory and prospective team members must be in attendance. Absence from a team meeting must be approved in advance and will only be excused under special circumstances.
These meetings are for important information dissemination, relationship-building, and assigning people to specific roles while on the outreach. Appropriate vaccinations and visa requirements will also be addressed at these meetings as this is an entry requirement into most countries.

Is Open Arms International affiliated with any particular Christian denomination?
No, Open Arms is not affiliated with any one denomination. We are inter-denominational in that people who work for the organization come from a variety of Christian denominational backgrounds.
It is not a pre-requisite that team members are practising Christians, and we accept team members of any faith and none equally