How You Can Help

Methodist Habitat relies upon the assistance of donors and volunteers to operate.  You become a part of our mission when you pray for the program and when you commit to:

Serve as a Volunteer     Become a Partner Donate your skills from where you live   Spend a weekend or longer performing mission work in the Bahamas           Volunteer FAQ Volunteer Application (Click on above link to apply to volunteer)   Contribute monthly to general operation   Sponsor a specific project   Donate tools, building supplies, vehicles, household items, teaching/craft supplies, etc   Generate support within your church, business and community   Contact us to donate Methodist Habitat Wish List

VOLUNTEER FACTS

Download Volunteer FAQ Printable Version

Download Volunteer Application

View Mission Covenant

What kinds of projects can we assist with? 

Teams and individuals have unlimited opportunities on various islands of the Bahamas! Teams may opt for construction, home repair, vacation Bible school, music, fellowship, community building, or use other skills to minister to adults and children on their destination island. Whatever your skills, we encourage you to use them in service to others. We are dedicated to helping you find ways to share your gifts with God’s people in the Bahamas.  

Please see the Current Projects page to read about opportunities to assist with housing assistance projects.
 

Do we have to be Methodist or affiliated with a church? Are there other qualifications? 

You are not required to be a member of a Methodist church or any other denomination. You may bring a team of co-workers, family members, or friends.  The only requirement is to come into service with an open mind and open heart so you can work in harmony with the goals and purposes of Methodist Habitat.

How much does a mission trip with Bahamas Methodist Habitat cost and what is included? 

The total cost of a week is $500 per person and will cover:

Please make your travel arrangements to comply with our scheduled work week starting Sunday afternoon (4:30 pm Flight) through Saturday morning (7:30 am Flight)

	Lodging, usually dormitory style
	Transportation to and from airport and worksites
	3 meals per day (Sunday dinner - Saturday Breakfast)
	Administrative costs
	Building materials

Groups wanting to do Music and VBS ministry should bring supplies necessary to carry out their specific mission.

Please see the Methodist Habitat Financial Covenant for more information.

What else are volunteers responsible for? What should we bring? 

All teams are responsible for securing adequate liability insurance. Team leaders are responsible for all safety issues for their team. 

Construction teams should provide competent and skilled construction leaders.  

Team members are required to bring documentation of citizenship from their home country. The Bahamas now REQUIRES a Passport to enter and exit their country. Team leaders should contact their respective embassies if you have any questions.

Please see the Suggested Packing List in the Resources for Committed Teams page.

Describe a typical day. Is there time for recreation? Can we interact with the local community? 

Of course, a typical day will vary according to the type of project you work on. Generally, teams will work from 8-4:30 with 45 minutes for lunch. Evenings will be devoted to recreational, fellowship, and worship activities within the local community. Recreational activities will vary from island to island, but most offer serene beaches, hiking, snorkeling, and sightseeing. We encourage all teams to experience the beautiful landscapes and friendly people of the Bahamas. 

Teams must be prepared to be flexible with their schedules as they are confronted with unforeseen needs or challenges.

How many people per team?  

Teams of all sizes are welcome! Housing and project assignments may vary according to the size of your team. So it is important to keep Methodist Habitat informed of any changes to your roster. Ideal group size is 20-25 but we can host from 1 to 40 persons.

Are there age requirements? 

Men, Women, College and Youth of all ages are invited to experience missions in the Bahamas. Youth teams should be composed of 2 adult leaders for every 6 youth. Minimum age requirement is graduated 9th grade. If a younger youth would like to participate, their parent or guardian must accompany them because of the nature of the work. There is no maximum age.

If I bring a construction team, which project will we work on? 

Many variables will affect your project assignment, including the size and skills of your team, the speed of the teams that come before you, hurricanes, and other unforeseen disasters. We may not be able to assign your project as soon as you commit. But we will inform you of the location far enough in advance to book your travel and assign your project in time to acquire necessary material and tools.

We believe that God will direct our path and yours, to provide you with the best mission experience possible.

What assistance will Methodist Habitat give us? 

Let us know how we can help you get here! We may be able to send a guest speaker to your church or group to help generate support.

We will coordinate and supervise the on-island portion of your mission project. We will help you plan your recreational and fellowship activities. Feel free to ask us for information about your destination island.   

We are constantly updating our Resources for Committed Teams page to provide you with as much support as possible. So check back often!

Download Volunteer Application!

View Mission Covenant
 

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WISH LIST

Download Wish List Printable Version

General - Buckets, rope, safety glasses, dust mask, sponges for dishes, tarps, flash lights, cots, television, VCR (LCD Projector), computers, office supplies / equipment, and generators, Medical and first aid supplies, fire extinguisher, gallon-sized Ziploc bags

Paint - Brushes (all shapes sizes), Extension handles, putty knives, wire brushes, razor scrapers, paint rollers and pads, masking tape, stirring sticks, sandpaper

Yard Equipment - Bow saw, bush axe, grass clippers, garden trowel, hedge trimmers, lopping shears, hoe, rake, sling blade, yard broom, pruning shears, garden hose

Digging - Post hole digger, pick, pry bar, shovel, wheel barrow, maul

Ladders - Scaffolding, step ladder, roof ladder, Extension ladders (16, 20 28 feet)

Plumbing - Pipe cutter, crimper, pipe wrenches, PVC glue/cleaner, and Teflon tape.

Dry wall Equip - Tape, trowel, trowel tray, sand block/pivot handle.

Power tools - Extension cords, electric drills , drill bits, rechargeable drills (18V), circular saw, chain saw and accessories, drop cord and light, sabre saw/jig saw, hex nut driver, belt sanders, table saw, chop saw, electric planer

Other construction equip - Caulk gun and handle, hack saw, 4 foot level, 2 foot level, hand saw, pop rivet gun and rivets, framing square, staple gun and staples, chalk line, nail puller, tin snips, nail aprons, saw horse, crow bar, speed square, hammers, pliers.

Heavy Equipment - Front end loader, tractor, bush hog, small tractor for clearing land, 20' or 40' sea shipping container and chassis

Vehicles - Pick up trucks, 15 passenger vans, flat bed truck, golf carts, bicycles

Recreational – Canoes, kayaks, snorkel masks and fins, bicycles, tents, recreational balls (volleyball, basketball, softballs and bats, kickballs, etc)

Cleaning Supplies – Sponges, rubber gloves, all-purpose cleaner (i.e.: 409, Pine Sol), laundry detergent 

Other household items – Kitchen utensils, dish liquid, paper goods such as cups and paper plates, powdered drink mix, ceiling and/or floor fans, clothing, books for adult readers (devotionals, novels, etc), Tupperware, clothes pins, clothes hangers, linens (twin size), pot holders 

Teaching supplies - Craft supplies, Books for our youth and children’s resource library, pens/pencils/crayons, paper/notepads, games (card games, board games, etc.) 

Volunteers with special skills - Administrative skills, construction skills, computer skills, engineering and architectural skills, counseling and pastoral experience, community-building skills, medical training, ability to produce Methodist Habitat souvenirs and promotional items (i.e.: postcards, hats, T-shirts, Key rings, mugs). Tell us what skill you have and we will find a way to use it in service to others!

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"Relieving Disaster, Promoting Community"
Methodist Habitat is an outreach program of the Bahamas Conf. of the Methodist Church.

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