WHY GO WITH ISLEGO?
*We have partnered with national pastors and ministries in each country we serve so that what you do on your journey will continue to be a blessing long after you leave.
*An IsleGO staff facilitator will accompany your team while on your journey, taking care of all logistics (meals, transportation, work materials, ministry materials, bills, security).
*IsleGO has over 30 years of experience doing short-term missionary journeys with an emphasis on long-term relationships.
*Accommodations are suited to any age group and/or families. Most housing is air-conditioned with a private bathroom, not dormitories. We feed and sleep our teams well so that we can work hard all week!
ABOUT US
Dusty Cooper is a missionary kid from the West Indies. His father, Jim Cooper, was a pioneer missionary in the Caribbean from 1960-1973, planting churches in the Turks and Caicos Islands and then in the Bahamas. While still in college, traveling from Florida to the Bahamas on a missionary aviation flight, Dusty met Corinne, then in high school, on her way to the islands to sing in one of the churches in Nassau. Corinne was one-half of The Erickson Sisters, travelling and singing across the U.S. for many years. Less than two years after meeting, they married and will soon celebrate 40 years of marriage. After serving in Brazil as resident missionaries, they returned to the central Florida area, working for over 20 years in student ministry there.
When God led the Coopers to leave Brazil and return to the U.S., they were convinced that He was leading them into ministry to reproduce themselves in missions. For 18 years, that vision centered on taking students on short-term missionary journeys each spring and summer. In 1996, God led them out of their last position on a local church staff to form IsleGO Missions, Inc. Over 40 teams a year now go from the U.S. into the world with IsleGO and the number just continues to climb. The Coopers now see that their vision was not nearly big enough. Scores of students and adults have caught the vision of building relationships in missions! Dusty and Corinne have a unique view of short-term missions, having hosted teams on the field in both the Bahamas and Brazil. That perspective is prevalent in all they teach and has formed the core beliefs of IsleGO Missions in forming relationships in the Church, the Body of Christ, wherever it is found.
OUR CORE VALUES
Worship
Missions is the overflow of worship and worship is just practice for heaven, as John Piper puts it. One day God's people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will surround the Throne of God and together worship the only True and Living God. That is why short-term missionary journeys are so vital...they get us ready for heaven! Worship is what drives missions as we go to every people group wherever they are and lift up our Father in worship.
Relationships
The Bible, from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the Throne of God in Revelation, is a book of relationships. We were created for relationship with the Father and with each other through Jesus Christ, His Son. How could we do anything else other than value the relationships into which He brings us with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the islands? We value each individual in these relationships knowing they come from God and are in our lives as part of our worship to Him.
Partnership
We believe the very Trinity is an example of how Christianity is designed for partnering in the building of the Kingdom. Our goal is to come alongside our family in the islands and serve them in fulfilling the vision God has given them for their own.
Mobilization
We are convinced IsleGo Missions is being used by God to mobilize the church for missions, both in the U.S. and in the Caribbean. Missions must be more than a program in the church; we must become a church on mission. Missions must become more than something we do once a year for a week; it must become a part of who we are and what we do daily wherever we are. IsleGo Missions is commited to mobilizing the church for missions.
OUR MISSION: TO CONNECT THE CHURCH ACROSS ALL BORDERS.
There is only one Church and it is distributed all over our planet. We seek to bring the Church together across geographical and cultural borders to accomplish the work of the Kingdom. Missions is about relationship, with God and with each other. It is not about buildings but about building people. Our desire is to align ourselves with those groups in the Church in America that will establish long-term relationships with the Church across the globe. We also are working to see those in countries we have served also going on missionary journeys to other countries.
For many years we have been preaching that we are all the family of God...it's time NOW to begin to live like family...one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Here are a few of our connections!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much financial support do I need for a missionary journey in the islands? It depends on where you are serving and what project you will be doing. Week-long trips start at $815/person (airfare not included) and go up to $2,225/person for the week. This cost includes ground transportation, departure taxes, lodging, 3 meals/day, insurance, tips, work project fees, ministry project fees, a day trip for sightseeing/souvenirs, and an IsleGo Missions Facilitator to accompany your group...everything but souvenirs! For exact costs on a given journey, e-mail or call us.
How do I get signed up to go on a missionary journey? Go to our Ready to Go? website page and complete the on-line Registration. Once we receive this we will contact you about the next steps.
Where can I find help on raising the needed funds? Part of our Missionary Journey Orientation is a section on how to raise the needed mission support. Go to the Orientation page and click on the "...read more..." link at the end of the paragraph.
How safe is travel? As safe as travel is anywhere in the world and safer than most places in the world. We have been taking teams for over 20 years now without any incident. Safety is a high priority with IsleGo Missions and we take your security very seriously. At the same time we know that God did not call us to safety but to always be with us as we bless the nations.
What happens if I sign up and then have to cancel? The $100 deposit is non-refundable - if you find someone to replace you your deposit can be transfered to the new team member. If you have to cancel 30 days before the trip you will be responsible for one half of the cost (which doesn't include airfare) - for example if the cost is $815 you will be responsible for $392. By time we are 30 days away from the trip there are costs that have already been incurred by IsleGo on your behalf - the above amount will cover what has already been spent.
What is the food and water like? Depending on the location it is AWESOME! We have most of our food prepared for each team by native cooks, people from that island and culture that prepare it with a ton of love. Fresh drinking water is always available.
How much spending money will I need? Bring enough for one fast-food meal on your own while on this journey and for souvenirseverything else is included in the cost of the trip that we quote you. A good rule of thumb is at least $25 minimumyou can spend much more, but that is up to yo'
Will we have some time for sightseeing? Definitely - what a shame it would be to go on a missionary journey and return thinking it all looked like the worksite for your project that week. We always take at least a day to see the beauty of Gods creation in activities like climbing the Dunns River Falls in Jamaica, snorkeling on the reef in the Bahamas, going on an eco-tour in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, or taking a canopy zip-line tour of the Costa Rican rainforest.
What is the age limit? That varies from team to team as the makeup of each team is different. For most teams, however, you must be going into the 8th grade or older to participate. Children accompanied by a parent or parents are welcome on any team. If a student is traveling alone they must be 18 years of age. When in doubt, call or e-mail us to make certain.
Is there a way to call home while on the journey? Yes, everywhere but in Brazil and Cuba. In Cuba we have limited access to e-mail but no phone calls back to the U.S. In Brazil, we live on the boat in the river and only have a satellite phone for extreme emergencies. In all the other countries you can call home but dont bring prepaid phone cards from the U.S. to use while on the journeymost phone cards from the U.S. dont work in the islands. It is best to purchase a phone card there for use while on the journey. Regardless of where you go with us, however, don't plan on calling home everyday since the schedule is tight and access to a phone is difficult.
I am interested in the IsleGo intern program. What do I do?
An intern must be 18 years of age by January of the year you are wanting to intern. There is an application process, reference checks and approval by IsleGo's board of directors. Please contact Corinne Cooper at corinne_islego.com or call at 407-687-8542. She will forward information regarding the program to you.
Dusty & Corinne
