Our short-term summer trips work with variety of different ministries, depending on the location. On a recent youth trip to New York City, our participants worked with the Salvation Army. Project Leader Ashley Bass shares a bit about what she learned on the trip and how it’s changed her perspective on the people in Santa suits around the holidays. ———- Founded in 1865, the Salvation Army is one of the nation’s oldest and most well-known non-profit organizations. They have thrift stores in several locations worldwide and are famous for their Santa’s that stand...

Each summer, we send out thousands of participants on short-term trips domestically and abroad. Their ministry can look vastly different, depending on the city or country they’re in, but whether they do construction with a local church or run VBS for neighborhood kids, some great stories come from the field each year. Here’s a collection of some of the great things the Lord has been doing through our domestic teams on the field this summer. Nashville, TN We had the perfect spot for the VBS. One problem was that no kids were there. They were all at the water park. We thought that...

  Preparing for your first (or your fortieth) mission trip can be a little overwhelming. So whether you’re a first-timer or a veteran, here are six tips to help your mission trip be a great experience:   1) Be open to God’s Spirit. Step out, take risks. Pray, listen, and obey.   2) Show obvious respect for other cultures. Ask questions, show interest, and be observant. Many a cultural faux pas can be avoided by simply being aware of your surroundings.   3) Attempt to speak the language. A common American misconception is that any attempt to speak another language...

When it comes to preparing for a mission trip, deciding where to go can be the hardest part.   You’ve felt the call to missions. A sermon, youth retreat, or an inspirational article has you ready to jump on the next flight to a country with mud huts and a different language. This enthusiasm is great, but all too often it clouds judgment when deciding where to go on a mission trip. To be a good steward of your call, there are several questions you must answer: 1. Where is God calling you? First and foremost, mission trips should be dictated by where God leads you. Ask for guidance...

Last month we celebrated women in missions, and this month we’re giving it up for our guys. We’ve poured over blogs from men on the field along with those of the thankful ladies serving beside them. They’re stories of fun and freedom, challenge and compassion, honor and humility. And the lasting impression we’re left with is a man who looks like Jesus. Every year, over 200,000 people travel to Spain to walk El Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James. For hundreds of years, El Camino has been a gathering place of religious pilgrims and adventurers. They travel for...

Last January some of our Adventures in Missions staff members attended the Passion 2013 conference in Atlanta. They worshipped alongside 60,000 college students from around the world and learned about practical ways to fight against modern-day slavery and human trafficking.  Passion 2014 starts tomorrow, and we’re excited to hear what this year’s group of students learns and see the impact they make in the world in the next year. Today we’re pulling a post from the archives from one of our staff writers, Emily Tuttle. At Passion 2013 Emily learned how important...