International

Service Expeditions® broaden your group's horizon…

During your international adventure, you and your young people will encounter poverty firsthand. You’ll see the pain that true need brings and better understand the daily struggles that face much of the world’s population. As your teenagers engage one-on-one with people in need, you’ll see your young people develop a heart for service—and a deeper desire to pursue God.

Join with groups from other churches to live out God’s love in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Belize. Or accept the extreme challenge of Peru, where you’ll minister to people in the river villages of Peru’s exotic Amazon rainforests. Your home will be the boat “Evangelista,” built by a church in Pucallpa and outfitted for mission teams. You’ll experience bunk beds, river water showers, and a staff that cooks up dinner “rainforest style” as your group slides up and down the river.

Quick description:

A 5- to 10-day international mission experience
From 40-400 participants, depending on the trip
For ages 14-20 (senior high groups)
A unique cultural service adventure

You'll tackle projects like:

interior and exterior painting and repair
home repair and construction
working with children at a day camp
serving at a food bank or homeless shelter
leading a Vacation Bible School
assisting the elderly
tutoring struggling kids
working with disabled children
facilitating a sports camp

You can expect:

To work in small teams of typically four or five teenagers 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 well-trained staff as you enjoy faith-building programs that help your teenagers translate their international service adventure into life-changing spiritual growth

Additional Information:

We recommend that you check airfare, passport fees and inoculation requirements before registering for your trip.
Locations other than Canada and Puerto Rico include all ground transportation.
These 5 to 9 day mission trips trade the comforts of a familiar culture, customs, and maybe even language for a chance to provide meaningful service in another part of the world. Projects are often a blend of home repair, community service and outreach. Depending on the project needs, you may be asked to bring some basic tools and supplies. Check the mission trip description.
The “heart of the mission” is connecting with indigenous people and building relationships with them.
The number of participants can range from 40 – 400 people depending on the lodging facilities and the project needs.
You'll lodge at a school, college, church or other similar facility...or even a boat in Peru. Some facilities include beds. Other locations require participants to sleep on classrooms floors, eat, and shower at the facility. Check the mission trip description.
You’ll enjoy three meals a day…a blend of American and indigenous foods. Depending on the location, you may share in meal preparation, clean up, and caring for the facility…or it may be taken care of for you. Check the mission trip description.
So that you can more fully experience the culture, you may have opportunity to purchase an excursion for the last day of the trip. Check the mission trip description.
The size of project teams depends on the project and needs of the community. Regardless, you and your group will make new friends while serving on project teams with people from other churches. Or, if you desire, we can keep you together with people from your own group.
Safety is priority #1. A minimum of 1 adult is required for every 5 teenagers. You’ll be trained on 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 youth groups (minimum one adult and one teenager). Senior high trips are for ages 14-20. Plan to bring at least one adult (age 21 or over) for every 5 teenagers. Adults serve on project teams with teenagers.
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.
Minimum staff will include two highly-trained, college-age, ministry-minded project and program staff members…along with volunteers. Additional staff are added when dictated by number of participants and/or scope and complexity of service projects.

For locations and detailed trip descriptions, search trip locations. Or call 1.800.385.4545.