The IMB has adjusted as well, currently only booking travel for personnel two to four weeks prior to departure.
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Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has also complicated travel.
“Right now European carriers cannot transit Russian airspace and Russian carriers cannot transit European airspace,” Prewett said. “That adds layers of complexity to flight routes and times for connections between Europe and Asia.”
Oil prices have also skyrocketed, he added. “This will inevitably affect the prices of airline tickets, especially on flights flown by European airlines.”
Summer 2022 may see churches ease back toward pre-pandemic levels of mission travel, hoping 2023 continues that trend. At this point, though, it’s crucial to get a sense of the terrain and do what’s necessary.
“I plan on ramping things up in the fall, hoping that COVID concerns die down by then,” Ward said. “Our church will not mandate a vaccine for travel, but we do require travelers to purchase COVID insurance, which is an add-on to the travel insurance we always purchase.”
Pre-COVID, Ward’s goal was to get 25 percent or more of Grand Avenue’s average weekly attendance to go on a mission trip. “In normal years, we usually hit that number,” he said.
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
