FINANCIAL GUIDELINES

Servant Life is committed to providing a quality mission experience at the lowest possible price. Our goal is not to entertain or engage in Christian tourism, but rather to help mobilize churches to carry out the Great Commission and testify to the gospel of God's grace. As you review these financial guidelines, be sure to check out our fundraising resources as well.

The cost of the mission experience typically includes in-country costs, such as:

Meals
In-country transportation
Housing
Supplemental Traveler's Insurance (international trips)
Sponsoring local students to attend camp (some locations)
Translators (when applicable)
T-Shirt
Mission trip devotional
Pre-Trip Training Material
Entry / exit fees (when applicable)
Visas (if applicable)

However, there are some exceptions to these included costs:

Transportation is not included in Memphis, St. Louis, Houston, Orlando, or Toronto. You will need your own transportation on these trips, though we can assist you with securing rental cars if you need help.
Most trips cover three meals a day, although you are responsible for your meals while traveling (such as in the airport), and may be responsible for a meal on your free day (this will be outlined on each trip location page). However, New York City and Toronto prices do NOT include all of your meals. Those trip pages explain which meals are covered.

Costs not covered in base cost of the trip include:

Airfare (we will book this for you through our travel agent; contact us at any time for a free estimate)
Passports
Immunizations / Shots / Medicine (many trip locations do not require additional shots outside of routine vaccinations, and we can guide you through this if you have questions)
Snacks
Souvenirs
Personal expenses while traveling and in-country, including meals in airports
Any additional costs associated with the trip before you arrive and after you leave
Some locations have optional costs such as extra free day excursions

DEPOSITS

Deposits are due November 1. If you register after November 1, we ask for deposits within 30 days of registration in order to secure your space. Please contact us if you would like our team to work with you on an adjusted deposit deadline. Deposits for summer trips are non-refundable as of January 1, although you will have the opportunity to adjust your team size until January 31. For spring break teams, deposits are non-refundable as of December 1, although you will have the opportunity to adjust your team size until December 31.

Deposit Costs are 25% of the base trip cost (excluding airfare). For example, if the Dominican Republic trip is $699 plus airfare, the deposit amount would be $175 per person. The remaining 75% of the trip, plus any airfare expenses, would be paid at a later date.

SUMMER MISSIONS PAYMENTS

Deposits of 25% of the base trip cost are due on November 1. For groups registering after November 1, deposits are due within 30 days of registering for your trip.
As of January 1, deposits are non-refundable. However, deposits remain transferrable until January 31. This means January 31 is your last date to decrease your trip numbers and still have the deposit payment roll toward the final balance.
The first payment after the deposit, which is another 25% of the base trip cost, is due on March 1.
The final balance of the trip cost, the remaining 50% plus , is due in the Servant Life office 45 days before your trip.
For groups that have purchase Airline Tickets, that payment is due 60 days before your trip. If your final balance is not received 45 days before your trip departure, a $100 late fee may be applied. If your final balance is not received 45 days before your trip departure, a $100 late fee may be applied.

SPRING BREAK MISSIONS PAYMENTS

Deposits of 25% of the base trip cost are due on November 1. For groups registering after November 1, deposits are due within 30 days of registering for your trip.
As of December 1, deposits are non-refundable. However, deposits remain transferrable until December 31. This means December 31 is your last date to decrease your trip numbers and still have the deposit payment roll toward the final balance.
The first payment after the deposit, which is another 25% of the base trip cost, is due on January 1.
The final balance of the trip cost, the remaining 50% plus, is due in the Servant Life office 45 days before your trip. For groups that have purchase Airline Tickets, that payment is due 60 days before your trip. If your final balance is not received 45 days before your trip departure, a $100 late fee may be applied.

INDIVIDUALS

The vast majority of our trips are made up of a single group from a single church. However, if you are 16 years old or older, you qualify to register as an individual for a trip. We cannot guarantee your placement, since it depends on having a group for that trip who has space for you to join. Once you register, our team will contact you to notify you if it is possible for an individual to go on that trip. If so, you will then receive an application via email that will need to be filled out and mailed to our offices along with a check for the $50 non-refundable application fee (which is part of the listed trip cost) within 30 days of registering online. Once we process the application and fee, you will be notified if you have been accepted to serve on the mission trip of your choice. Please allow 2 weeks for your application to be processed and references to be contacted.

Once you have been accepted to serve on a trip, the remainder of your deposit will be due either by November 1 or within 30 days of being notified that you have been accepted to serve.

*Many weeks and locations are unable to accommodate individuals because of the nature of ministry in these contexts; often a minimum team of at least 6-8 people is needed to host events such as VBS or community outreach projects. Please contact us if you have questions.

AIRFARE

If flying, Servant Life offers to secure all airline transportation through our travel agent to help navigate the complications of group airfare and to help your group get the best price possible (we are often able to get free checked bags, as well). Once your group is committed to the trip and ready to pay a deposit, let us know as soon as possible so we can secure your tickets at the lowest possible rate. If booking on your own, Servant Life requires to approve the itinerary before purchasing so we can confirm that the dates are correct and that arrival and departure times are acceptable.

You are responsible for the payment of any purchased tickets. Once a ticket is purchased through our travel agent, payment for that ticket must be in our office within 5 business days. Generally tickets are held with a $100 per person deposit, then purchased and paid for in full about 60 days prior to the trip. All tickets must be secured and paid in full 60 days before departure. Payments for airfare must be made via check. We cannot accept credit card payments for airfare purchases.

NATIONAL DISASTERS, TRAVEL BANS, UNFORESEEN EVENTS, ETC.

Since Servant Life began in 1999, we have remained committed to hosting planned trips for which your group is registered. However, there are some events that are out of our control, such as natural disasters (hurricane, tornadoes, fire, outbreaks, etc.), political turmoil, acts of terror, national security threats, widespread fear and terror, global pandemics, or other circumstances. Such events could render us both unable to host a planned trip and unable to return your deposits and payments. We make payments to our mission partners, send deposits to confirm your attendance and hold airfare, and purchase supplies and rent non-refundable facilities based on your reservations and payments to us. Money is often sent to our mission partners shortly after we receive it from you. Please be advised that if a Servant Life trip is cancelled due to such extraordinary circumstances, we will not be able refund your deposits and airline ticket costs, nor can we guarantee a refund of other payments or provide future credit or vouchers. Refunds of final balance payments (as outlined above) will be made only if properties and/or locations refund Servant Life for these costs. If a trip is hosted as scheduled and your group cancels or reduces numbers due to said conditions or fear, all payments are non-refundable.

PLEASE NOTE: All checks and money orders must be made out to SERVANT LIFE. Please mail all payments and donations to PO Box 36307, Birmingham, AL 35236.