Seminar Details
October 10-11, 2025
Lancaster Evangelical Free Church
419 Pierson Rd
Lititz, PA 17543
This hands-on seminar will equip team leaders with resources for a comprehensive discipleship process. Our training outfits short-term team leaders with the tools to disciple their teams and prepare for cross-cultural ministry. CULTURELink‘s curriculum provides a systematic, interactive training approach for preparing short-term mission teams. Regardless of the specific ministry task or location, your teams will be well-trained to serve cross-culturally.
Seminar Instructor
Led by an experienced CULTURELink instructor, seminar participants are guided through ten training sessions that equip them to prepare their teams before, during, and after their cross-cultural experience.
This seminar will be taught by Ryan Hurlburt, Assistant Director at CULTURELink since 2011. Previously the STM Team Director for another mission organization, Ryan has led multiple trips throughout Latin America, Europe, and Africa, with teams comprised of as few as five members and as many as eighty. Ryan leads teams of all ages, but his background in youth ministry has specially positioned him to develop a specialty niche: youth teams. Ryan’s laid-back, highly intentional leadership style strategically develops servants to impact the globe.
Originally from Tampa, Ryan is a graduate of Trinity College of Florida with a degree in Biblical Studies and in Business & Organizational Leadership. He and his wife, Katharine, have lived in Atlanta since 2009. They have two boys, Asher and Alistair, and a third son on the way.
*On occasion, the class instructor changes due to scheduling conflicts.
Seminar Schedule
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 10
8:30 – 9:00AM: Registration
9:00AM – 12:30PM
- Short-term Missions Training Philosophy
- Session 1: Getting Started
- Session 2: Cultural Research
12:30 – 1:00PM: Lunch
1:00 – 5:00PM
- Session 3: Getting Started
- Session 4: Ministry Preparation
- Session 5: Team Building
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 11
8:30 – 9:00AM: Continental Breakfast
9:00AM – 12:00PM
- The Seven-Step Process
- Session 6: Travel, Packing, and Health
- Session 7: Final Countdown
12:00 – 12:30PM: Lunch
12:30 – 3:00PM
- Session 8: Living the Experience
- Session 9: Debriefing and Re-entry
- Session 10: Home and Looking Forward
*On Your Own Study
- Maximum Impact Short-Term Missions
- Short-Term Emergency Issues
Our seminars are recognized by Perspectives of the World Christian Movement and by numerous Bible colleges that offer college credit to seminar participants. Since 2010, CULTURELink has conducted more than 90 seminars, training over 3400 leaders. These alumni have gone on to mobilize teams to 140 nations. CULTURELink is also an approved Resource Provider for MissionExcellence (formerly Standards of Excellence, SOE). To learn more and read about the Seven Standards of Excellence, visit missionexcellence.global/7-standards.