Contact: Shawnda Hines, Bread for the World, 301-960-4913, shines@bread.org

MEDIA ADVISORY, June 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- Just in time for the summer travel season, Bread for the World has released Getting Ready to Come Back, a new advocacy guide for church mission teams.

Getting Ready to Come Back helps mission teams traveling internationally to understand the root causes of hunger and poverty in the communities and countries they visit. An estimated 1.5 million American Christians travel abroad annually, usually during summer, on short-term church missions.

The guide supports and encourages trip participants to engage in advocacy as informed Christian citizens when they return home. It is designed to complement other training materials churches currently use in preparing their mission teams.

"Mission trips can be life-changing experiences for Christians," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "Getting Ready to Come Back can channel a single inspiring experience into a lifetime of effective advocacy for the hungry and poor people that missioners serve on their trips."

Tools throughout the resource help teams prepare for their trip, reflect on their experiences, and take action once back home--all with the goal of making a long-term impact by helping address the causes of hunger and poverty. The guide also includes Bible studies, suggested discussion topics, and prayers for each part of the journey.

Copies can be ordered or downloaded at www.bread.org/advocacyguide.  The printed version is spiral bound and conveniently-sized to be carried in a backpack. Single copies cost $10 and a packet of five copies is $25.

Getting Ready to Come Back was produced by Bread for the World together with the following partners: American Baptist Churches USA International Ministries; Christian Reformed Church of North America Office of Social Justice; Church of the Brethren, Global Mission Partnerships; Church World Service; Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; Week of Compassion (Disciples of Christ); Evangelical Covenant Church; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America World Hunger Program; Franciscan Action Network; Presbyterian Hunger Program; Reformed Church in America; United Church of Christ; and United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.