Has God placed mission work on your heart, but you don’t know where to start or what’s the first step to serve in this way? Fortunately, there are several ways you can minister to people in need of God’s love and the Gospel whether it’s a just week-long missions trip, a trip taken once a year, or right in your own community!
What Is A Short Term Mission Trip?
A short term mission trip is any mission trip that ranges from a few days to up to a year. It can be a trip to another country, or to those in need closer to home. Oftentimes, individuals will decide to go in groups, usually with a church group or a service specializing in mission trips.
What Do You Do On A Short Term Mission Trip?
This completely varies based on which mission you choose, and where in the world you go! You could choose a remote village in the mountains and help build stoves or wells to ease the hardship of life there.
You could serve in a soup kitchen, or minister at a Vacation Bible School in an urban city and reach a whole new generation. No matter where you decide to go, you will be touching the lives of others and being the hands and feet of Christ.
Your relationship with God will also grow deeper as you form new friendships across language barriers, continents, and societies.
How Do I Get Involved?
There are many ways to get involved in missions. If you currently have a church you attend, they may have one or more trips they offer each year for youth or adults.
If you’re currently not involved in a church, or you feel led to minister in a specific place, there are several services where you can find groups to go with.
ShortTermMissions.com is one good search engine to find a trip! There you can search for mission trips by region, ministry type, and length.
There are many organizations with amazing mission trip opportunities as well, including Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), Jesus Film Ministries, and the Center For Short Term Missions, just to name a few.
How To Raise Funds
Almost all mission trips, whether with a church or through a different group, will cost money. You’ll need a passport if you’re traveling out of the country, and will need to pay for airfare, lodging, food, and souvenirs! This can be very costly if you are paying by yourself, but don’t let this discourage you; if God has placed something on your heart, He will provide the way for it to happen!
But there are also several ways to raise money so you don’t have to pay for the entire trip on your own. If you are going with a church group, churches will usually hold fundraisers to raise enough for part or all of the trip expenses. Scholarships may also be available for those who wish to go, but don’t have the financial means to do so.
You can also write letters to friends and family telling them about your mission trip and ask for financial help and prayers. Try having a bake sale, selling crafts, or having a carwash. Get friends involved who want to support you by having them help plan a fundraising event.
You will be amazed at how God will provide if He has called you to short term missions work.
Pray!
Spend time with God as you’re looking to get involved in mission work. He will lead you where to go, give you the means to do so, and give you peace throughout the process.
Short term mission trips are a wonderful way to minister and show God’s love to our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world, as well as bring the Good News to the lost.
Remember, God can use you to do amazing things for His kingdom no matter who you are, what talents you have, or how long you serve for!
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
