It’s that time of the year. Sometime soon, if it hasn’t happened already, people will begin to either root in or leave your church. It can wear you down… even if you attempt to see it all through a healthy metaphor.…
Recently I was in a meeting of the youth ministry minds where this question was asked: “How often does your group, your youth or your church think of missions?” The answers ranged from weekly to monthly to an honest, “never.” It was a great question that I felt was poised around “opportunities” to “go and serve” both locally and abroad.…
Your summer mission trip is on the launching pad—the countdown is on. Maybe you just completed your last leg on the fund-raising marathon (who knew teenagers could sell that many over-priced balls of cookie dough?). Your spreadsheet mapping the intricate details of the trip is filling up.…
Once upon a time, going on a mission trip wasn’t about taking a selfie. If you were alive back then, you may remember how boring this was. One or two people on the trip might have been snapping photos through a now-archaic rectangular device that used film.…
In case you haven’t realized it yet, mission trips are messy. Despite all our planning, screening, and noble intentions, every trip involves some really flawed people (including us) who tend to swing from one bit of drama to the next. Even when we’re being leader-like, such as ensuring that people serve for the “right reasons,” we’re pushing values that recipients may struggle with.…
“Should I turn left or right?” Eventually I asked that simple question of each teenager who sat in our van’s passenger seat during the mission trip. We had no idea where we were going; instead, we believed that Jesus would use us in accordance with his will anywhere we ended up.…
I’ve had the same love-hate relationship with service projects that you have over the years. On one hand, we love how a single day of selflessness can wake students up to Jesus-centered priorities that their normal routine stifles. On the other hand, we hate how easy it is for youth to get a circumstantial high off the event and stop just short of tuning into Jesus through the event.…
I can’t believe how many opportunities I’ve wasted taking students on mission trips. I know I’m not the only one. Mission trips are an amazing idea…but what we tend to do with them (or not do with them) is the real issue.…
Lately my heart has been pulled to one position in the church. This person is often full of heart for ministry; a position that is necessary but so often left out; overworked and underpaid. If you feel like I’m talking about you, most likely you’re a part-time youth worker.…
You’ve likely heard the debate about mission trips. On one hand, books and blog posts have cited their potential to do more harm than good. A handful of people with significant platforms have argued that it’s better to send money and prayer-fueled encouragement than a short-term team to do tangible work the locals can do themselves.…
