Mission Trips

Mission Trips

Research suggests that, by the time they’re 13, your kids’ basic value systems are set for life. What your kids believe when they’re 13 is pretty much what they’ll believe at 63.

Helping your preteens explore their faith is one of the most important—and fulfilling—responsibilities you have as a children’s minister. And there’s no better way to convey what Christ’s love looks like than by helping somebody in real need.

Quick description:

A 5-day community service experience
Up to 99 participants per trip
For ages 10-12 (Preteens)
You and your preteens will share in meal preparation, meal cleanup, and facility maintenance
Programs led by a well-trained staff leader—but you, your young people, and other participants will take the lead in sharing music and other program elements

You'll tackle projects like:

collecting food for local food banks
serving residents in assisted living facilities
sprucing up the facilities of financially strapped human service agencies
facilitating a sports camp for little kids
working with social service agencies in many other ways

You can expect:

To work on age-appropriate projects with kids from your church, typically in teams of four or five preteens with one or two adults, each person fulfilling an important role. You’ll be supporting the ongoing efforts of local churches, human service agencies, and homeowners.
To provide one adult (21+ years) for every five youth you bring
To be supported by four ministry-minded people, including two highly trained college-age leaders
To enjoy faith-building interactive programs packed with Scripture, worship, video, and drama—all designed by the children’s ministry experts at Children’s Ministry Magazine. And all designed to help you shape your preteens’ service experience into a spiritual growth experience.

Additional Information:

Arrive on Sunday afternoon and depart the following Friday morning.
Expect a close, connected experience—with your group and participants from other churches.
You'll lodge at a school, college, church or other similar facility. Be prepared to sleep on classrooms floors, eat, and shower at the facility.
Enjoy continental breakfasts, picnic lunches, and hot suppers. Be prepared to share in meal preparation, clean up, and caring for the facility
You'll be given a half day to explore the area, please be prepared to purchase your evening meal on that day.
To provide the best possible supervision for this age group, children will be placed in crews with adults and other children from your church. Crews from your church will most likely be working on projects in different locations (your entire church group may not be together on the same project site) and, in some cases, may be joined by crews from other churches participating in the mission trip.
Safety is priority #1 and woven into the very fabric of our mission trips. A minimum of 1 adult is required for every 5 preteens, and the adult/student ratio is maintained on project sites. Plus, we’ll train you on any important safety issues. And, all adults (staff and participants) 21+ are required to be screened with formal background checks through a National Criminal Indicator Database.
Trips are for preteen groups (minimum one adult and one student). Preteens ages 10-12, or entering the 5th grade in fall of 2008, are welcome. Plan to bring at least one adult (age 21 or over) for every 5 preteens. Adults serve on project teams with teenagers. No special skills are required…just a willingness to serve.
Additional adults (beyond the 5-to-1 ratio), may apply online for a staff position. If chosen as a volunteer staff member, your registration fee is waived.
Registration includes lodging, meals, construction materials and/or project supplies, a theme t-shirt, development of program and devotions, comprehensive project preparation and online leader manual, program supplies, Mission Handbook, project selection, project organization administration, staff, and unlimited customer support.
You’ll need to provide transportation for your group to and from your lodging location…and your vehicles will be used to provide daily transport back and forth from the project sites.

Registrations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no closing dates for mission trips, but many trips fill quickly. So, register soon to get your preferred location.