Mission Scholarship Policy
When someone believes God is leading them to participate in a trip, God is the One who will provide through various means. While Cross Pointe Church wants to do everything possible to provide financial aid for those who desire to participate in church-sanctioned mission trips, it should be understood that scholarships are reserved for those who have a genuine financial need. Our intention is to be a blessing for those who have fulfilled their responsibility in raising funds for a particular mission trip.

The granting of a scholarship should not be assumed during the process. Availability of funds depends on mission funds available at the time of request, as well as other factors, including:

• The effort an individual has given to raising support through the fundraising letters and contacts;
• The individual's capacity through income, savings and resources to pay for his or her trip;
• The spiritual maturity of the applicant;
• The ability of the applicant to provide leadership during the trip or on future trips; and
• The timeliness of the scholarship application (which should be received at least two months prior to the planned trip).

A person should not request a scholarship and then determine how much they need to raise for their own support. The proper attitude and order is:

• God is leading me to participate in this trip and He will provide the funds;
• I will pray for the need to be met, and send out fundraising letters to my friends, family and colleagues;
• I will in prayer determine how much God wants me to provide financially for the trip from His blessings in my life. I will personally sacrifice to be obedient to God.
• I will then petition the church to see if financial help is available as God leads and enables them through the missions offerings.

Q: I genuinely don’t have enough money to pay for the mission trip. What should I do?
You will need to:

• Review the fundraising guidelines and sample letters;
• Send out your personalized fundraising and prayer support letters as soon as possible;
• Pray and ask God to provide the funding you need for this trip;
• Prayerfully ask God what you should contribute to the trip if all funding has not come through the fundraising letters; and
• Complete and return a scholarship application form two months prior to the planned mission trip.

Q: If I apply for a scholarship do I still need to send in my initial, non-refundable deposit?
Yes, you will need to either raise funds for the amount or pay the initial deposit prior to the deposit deadline to ensure your spot is held. An application alone does not guarantee your place will be held. 

Q: Can I assume that the church will pick up whatever funding I cannot raise?
A: You cannot assume that the balance will be given. Scholarships will be granted:

• According to the effort given by the participant to raise funds;
• According to need;
• Pending availability of funds and the number of people requesting scholarships.

Q: What is the largest amount I can expect to receive from a scholarship?
A: Unless a highly unusual set of circumstances exist, the maximum amount of a scholarship will not exceed 25% of the total price of the trip. 

Q. What should I do if I send in my deposit and then the Lord provides all of my funds through the letters I send out?
A: Due to IRS regulations, all donations received for a missions trip must be considered donations to Cross Pointe Missions. If your letter writing campaign results in meeting your needs, praise the Lord!  Please contact us immediately so that we can remove your scholarship application from consideration and if you are expecting more gifts you may want to notify the possible donors that the need has already been met.  This will allow us to provide more funding for others and will possibly provide you with donors for another trip.

Q: When will I know if I will receive a scholarship and how much it will be?
A: The Missions Ministry will send you a confirmation of your scholarship approval and amount no less than one month prior to the trip to allow you time to raise any additional funds needed.

Q: What happens if I don’t raise all of the funds before the final deadline?
A: It is extremely rare that a mission participant would be allowed to travel on a given trip without full payment having been received. Each case is individually evaluated, but our ultimate desire with each trip is that those who participate grow spiritually. We hope that the process of funding is also a spiritual blessing.

Scholarship Application
Click below to download a Mission Scholarship Application in PDF format. Return the completed application to the Missions Office for processing.

> Mission Fundraising Introduction