Resource
Social Media and Web Posting Guidelines
The stories you witness on a mission trip are not yours to keep, and they are not entirely yours to tell. A photo posted with good intentions, before you know the cultural and societal standards of a place, can expose someone to exploitation, abuse, or trauma. The goal here is not to stop you from taking pictures. It is to help you think about context and ask, before you post, whether this is safe and dignifying for the person in it. You remain responsible for the impact of your posts, even when you had permission.
The eleven guidelines.
- Do not capture any photos or video before the cultural briefing at a new ministry site.
- Build relationships and learn the names of the people you photograph.
- Aim for God's glory, not personal recognition.
- Do not post personal information about anyone you meet: names, identification, medical conditions, addresses, schools, landmarks, or workplaces.
- Do not post pictures of children without a parent or guardian's consent.
- Do not post any image without consent. When unsure, ask a ministry leader. Where safety is a concern, a private photo album is better than a public post.
- Do not photograph people's homes to illustrate poverty.
- Portray people with dignity. Ask yourself whether the photo shows them positively.
- Show people their photos, ideally with a printed copy.
- Provide context for the stories you share.
- Change names and blur faces unless you have permission. For orphanages, the red-light district, or known survivors of abuse or trauma, always use a different name and blur faces, and never share the orphanage or host ministry's name without permission.
If a post causes harm.
Adventures may ask you to remove any post that could harm people, ministries, or communities. We ask you to take that request seriously and act on it quickly. The relationships our partners have built over years are worth more than any single photo.