Becoming a Thrivent Builds Worldwide Team Leader*
The first step to becoming a team leader is to verify your Thrivent Financial for Lutherans membership. Thrivent Builds Worldwide team leaders are required to be Thrivent Financial members.
The team leader is a representative of the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program. Therefore, it is crucial that every team leader be well-versed in the mission of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the ministry of Habitat for Humanity and the philosophy and purpose of the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program. S/he also should possess the skills and experience necessary to be a competent leader.
Once you’ve verified your membership, you will need to begin the trip proposal process with your local Manager of Lutheran Community Services (MLCS) in your area Thrivent Financial regional financial office. You can locate your MLCS using the MLCS Locator.
Once you submit a trip proposal, it will be reviewed by a Thrivent Builds Worldwide coordinator. The Thrivent Builds Worldwide coordinator will answer questions you may have about the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program and leading a team, and will inquire about your experience and background. After that conversation, if you both feel you have the appropriate qualifications for leading a Thrivent Builds Worldwide team, the coordinator will arrange for you to receive a team leader application packet. Once the application is filled out and returned to the Thrivent Builds Worldwide coordinator will schedule a phone interview with you.
The completed application will be reviewed by Thrivent Builds Worldwide and, if you meet the requirements, the coordinator will extend an invitation to attend a Global Village team leader training session (see below) or an online Webinar for the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Experience.
Basic Requirements
Each prospective team leader must:
- Be a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member.
- Be approved by the Thrivent Financial regional financial office and Thrivent Builds Worldwide staff.
- Have participated in at least one Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip or have significant experience leading similar humanitarian-type teams.
- Complete and submit a Thrivent Builds Worldwide team leader application and signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (included with the team leader application packet).
- Have experience at international travel (except those leading teams within the U.S.).
Once approved, the you will be invited to and must attend team leader training. Team leaders who have previously led Thrivent Builds Worldwide teams still require approval from the Thrivent Builds Worldwide staff and should attend at least one team leader training.
Team Leader Training
Prospective Thrivent Builds Worldwide team leaders are required to attend a team leader training session – conducted by Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program* – prior to departing with a team. Attending training early in the process better prepares the leader for the tasks ahead. There is a registration fee to attend a team leader training and attendees pay their own travel expenses. Presented by the Habitat for Humanity International Global Village staff, these interactive training sessions are two-day events usually held on Friday and Saturday in various locations around North America.
Thrivent Financial will pay half the team leader training registration fee for Thrivent Financial members. Costs typically range from $75 to $200 per person and do not include transportation or accommodations.
Those leading Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Experience trips do not need to attend the two-day training session, but instead will be required to participate in an online Webinar training.
* The Thrivent Builds Worldwide program is supported by Habitat for Humanity International Global Village program and you will see Global Village and Thrivent Builds Worldwide used interchangeably throughout the process of becoming a team leader.
