Have you ever visited another country? According to a Pew Research survey, 76% of Americans have travelled internationally. But according to Barna research, only 11% of all churchgoers have been on a short-term mission trip. The good news is that 23% of evangelical Christians have reportedly been on a mission trip. Perhaps, you have never considered going abroad for a week or month to serve alongside a foreign missionary. I want to share some reasons why you should prayerfully get out a map and start dusting off your suitcase.
My first mission trip
When I was twelve years old, my family drove from Florida to El Paso, Texas where we visited missionaries that had a church plant across the border in Juarez, Mexico. It impacted me to see how the missionaries lived and ministered. I found that there were simple things they did in ministry that I could replicate back home. We learned to give out gospel tracts and say in Spanish, “Esto es para usted.” This meant “This is something for you.”
Soon after this trip, I started learning to play the guitar and got accompanied the music for our Spanish services in our church. I gave out gospel tracts in English and Spanish. I was understanding that when God said that He loves the world, that includes all language groups! I even thought that perhaps the Lord may one day want me to be a missionary in Mexico!
God shaped my life through mission trips
As I got older, I surrendered to be a missionary at teen camp. At age 17, my older sister Lori and I went to Ecuador to visit a missionary family for almost three weeks! I learned that missionaries are common people but live in a very different setting and must adapt to a new culture. There are extra challenges, but the joy of serving the Lord in a needy place is incomparable!
God used these experiences to shape me and prepare me for missionary life in Asia. When my family served in Nepal, we had a few single adults from America come spend a month to three months with us assisting us with homeschooling, children’s ministry, and wherever else we needed. It was such an encouragement to my wife and I!
When other family or friends would visit us, I felt as though they now shared part of the burden we carried. They had experienced for themselves the strange sights, sounds, and smells that surrounded us. They now could put a face and personality with names we had written about in our prayer letters. They could truly understand somewhat the challenges that we faced linguistically and in ministry among Hindus and Buddhists. They now had an up close and personal glimpse into the spiritual oppression and darkness that we were striving to penetrate with the Gospel light.
Jesus commands us to go
The greatest motivation for the Christian to follow the commands of Jesus Christ is love. He said to his followers, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He has commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. There are now over eight billion people living on earth. It is impossible to preach to someone you never go and meet personally.
“Lift up your eyes and look on the fields,” are the words our Lord Jesus spoke to his disciples. A mission trip is the best way to get your eyes off of the routine of your own life and community and see the fields ready for the harvest. To have a vision from God’s perspective requires that you look up. Other people’s pictures, videos, and stories are no substitute for experiencing other countries and cultures firsthand for yourself.
A trip for David had an incredible outcome
We all are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. We know that David overcame all odds and defeated the giant “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (I Samuel 17:46) But the events that led to this showdown may be less familiar. David had been watching his father’s sheep in Bethlehem while his three eldest brothers were with the Israeli armies camped in opposition to the Philistines. Jesse, David’s father, called him to take some food to his brothers and check on their welfare. He obediently went to his brethren on the battle front and saw firsthand the giant Goliath mocking his God. He took the insults personally and queried who was going to stand up to him. No one, including King Saul, was up to the task, so David volunteered.
Because David went to visit his brethren, he saw the battle. Because he loved God, he volunteered to do something about the situation. He declared, “Is there not a cause?” He understood the mission and personally got involved. Our local churches will be greatly helped when people get a global vision for world evangelism. God does a work in hearts of those who go see the needs of the heathen in foreign lands.
The best reason for going on a mission trip
One of the greatest reasons to go on a short-term mission trip is to encourage your long-term missionary. When you go see your brother, you will also witness the spiritual battle they are in. This will be a challenge to you to know how to better aid them. Whether it is in prayer, or simply in helping to carry their emotional burden, or helping raise financial support: the ways of assisting our foreign workers are many.
I remember hearing about Pastor Robert Sutton visiting a missionary in South America back in 2014. When he returned to the states, he was so burdened to help a particular financial need, that he visited other churches to raise money on Wednesday nights one summer. He saw a need and his eye affected his heart. He just had to help anyway he could and God used him to raise the money needed to enable the building of the church building pictured below!
Objectives of a mission trip
There are numerous reasons people take mission trips. Some go to preach in evangelistic outreaches, while others provide training for pastors. Numerous groups help with medical needs or clean water projects. Some will do dental work or provide other areas of assistance in poverty stricken countries. Whatever you go to do, I would encourage you to work directly with a missionary and local church if there is one available. Before you go, ask them how you can be of help and when is the best time to visit. It is best to let them set the agenda, as they know what their needs are and what is actually helpful. Sometimes people who mean well can make things harder on the busy missionary.
There are obvious personal benefits for taking a mission trip. Be sure that you go with the motivation to assist rather than to simply make yourself feel good by doing something that makes you fulfilled. Remember you are going to encourage and serve. Some missionaries rarely have someone visit them on the foreign field. Don’t underestimate the power of your presence and the fellowship that they may be starving for.
How to prepare for a mission trip
Where do you start if you are considering a foreign mission trip this summer? A good place to begin is by prayerfully corresponding with some missionaries that your church supports. Perhaps your pastor knows of a need or another church group that is going to assist a missionary. Maybe you are already particularly interested or burdened for a particular group of people or country.
Get your passport. This will take some time and you will need to do your homework on what requirements there are to enter a country. Many countries require a visa as well, so you need to thoroughly do your research and give yourself ample time before you go.
Start saving your money. Many trips will cost $1,500 to $2,000 a person. Ask the missionary you are visiting how much they recommend you to bring for living costs. Don’t assume that they will have arrangements for your lodging, food, and transportation, although they may readily assist in these areas. It is polite to offer to pay for your own costs and bring some extra money to help lighten the financial burden on those you plan to help.
Once you have figured out who you are going to visit, when you are going, and what you are going to do, you will need to purchase your plane tickets. Some choose to use travel agencies, which is a wise decision. You will need to decide if insurance is necessary as well. Be sure to plan out how you will get to the airport and who will pick you up at your final destination.
Lastly, prepare for an adventure of a lifetime! Allow God to speak to you and speak through you. You have no idea what lasting impact you may have on the individuals you minister to. On the lighter side, don’t be afraid to try new things and make some life-long memories! Take lots of pictures. Eat something strange, if you dare!
Final Thought
I whole heartedly recommend every Christian that is able to travel to go visit the mission field. Your life will be changed, your worldview enlarged, and appreciation for America enhanced. If possible, take your children or teens along with you and let them get an education that cannot be provided in a classroom. You will not only encourage your missionary, but will bring back a fire that can spread in your home church and community!
Enjoy the short video highlights below from a recent Mission trip with my sons and friend from church!
About the author:
Luke graduated from Crown College of the Bible in 2003. He married Jamie in July of 2006. God has blessed them with five children. Together they had the privilege of serving in the pastorate of a Baptist Church in Florida from 2007-2011.
In August of 2011, our family began our journey to serve the Lord as labourers among Unreached People Groups in Asia. We prepared ourselves at Baptist Bible Translator’s Institute in Bowie, Texas. During that time, God directed our path to work among the Tibetan people in the country of Nepal.
In February of 2014, we moved to Kathmandu, Nepal and experienced God’s work of grace and protection upon our family. We had the privilege to serve at the Crown Nepal Bible College. Teaching classes and preaching at youth conferences was a great opportunity for our family. We also were able to assist in outreaches to villages of the Tamang and Gurung people.
In 2021, we moved to Tampa, Florida. We currently are serving in our home church Southside Baptist Church and teach in the Christian Academy. Luke continues his writing ministry (www.pilgrimoftruth.com) and video messages on his YouTube channel (Pilgrim of Truth). His goal is to aid believers in making Christ known to the world. He continues to seek to assist churches in America. His heart’s desire is to help meet the needs of the unreached people groups in the world.
