While on a youth group trip to Nicaragua, Taylor Escott‘s team had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a group of men. When four of them accepted Christ, it was so exciting! But then something even more amazing happened.  On our third day in Nicaragua, we went to a village to do Vacation Bible School. At the same time, a doctor from our host ministry held a medical clinic.  While my teammates prayed with adults waiting to see the doctor, a group of us taught the kids about Noah’s Ark. After everyone was prayed for and the VBS had ended, we just hung out and played...

While leading a student missions trip to the Dominican Republic, our Adventures Staff saw something that took her breath away: the next generation of the Church rising to the challenge of what it means to live out the Kingdom of God on earth. As Adventures staff, I have the opportunity to lead short term trips every year. While praying about where God was calling me this summer, the Dominican Republic wasn’t originally on my list. Yet I felt a nudge I couldn’t explain every time I saw the trip. Eventually, I requested to go as a leader. However, by spring of 2016, there still...

While passing out water on a hot New Orleans day, two teenagers met a woman who had literally just prayed, “God, do you even care about me?” Their meeting changed her life. It’s amazing how something as simple as a bottle of water can change a life.  When this group of 109 students and volunteers came to New Orleans, they were ready for anything. So we split them into smaller groups and sent them throughout the city. Some painted and sorted clothes. Others did doing VBS clubs. Some went prayer walking. But all groups at some point in the week, got on the street trolleys...

While on a youth group trip to Nashville, Olivia MacIsaac realized two very important things: 1) God wanted a relationship with her and 2) she didn’t have to hide her heart. I went to Nashville expecting to interact with others and God in a somewhat mundane and quite general way. Never did I think I would gain so much knowledge on who God is, nor did I think I would see a worship leader practically jump out of her skin to pray for a stranger. My adventure in Nashville was not nearly as mundane as I had expected, and I learned a lot more about God than I ever thought I would. Being a teenager,...

Trip leader Dayna Bickham saw some of the most powerful ministry in Western PA happen in a skatepark instead of a church. They flew past us with the whirl and bump of practiced skaters. Grinding the rail and landing the ollie. But more than that, these guys exuded Jesus: all from the deck of a skateboard – or on top of inlines. There was even a 10-year-old dominating a scooter in ways I have never imagined. Tricks were happening everywhere. In the middle of rural Pennsylvania, these kids are given a crime-free place to skate. and in return they listen to a quick 15 minute sermon. The...

While helping a local church in Puerto Rico, Ashton Hamlett experienced one of the greatest mysteries of mission trips – finding those she went to serve teaching her more than she ever could have imagined. It’s funny the things we take for granted – the things we don’t realize are truly special. The church my team partnered with in Puerto Rico wasn’t going to be able to have a VBS this year. They had 15 children who wanted to attend, but no volunteers to run it. So that’s what my team did. Everyone in the church was so excited to have us there. They kept...