Service Expeditions® — international service
View Trip Locations
Service Expeditions teach your group the language of love…
Pack your passport and broaden your youth group’s horizons. During these 5-9 day adventures, you and your teenagers will touch the lives of people in another part of the world. The only requirement: a willingness to serve and reach out to people in need.
You’ll join with groups from other Christian churches to work in teams, living out God’s love in Canada, Belize, Puerto Rico and Peru.
You’ll make new friends. Forge stronger relationships within your group. Build community. Even better: your teenagers will develop a heart for service—and deepen their desire to pursue God.
Each of your youth will serve in meaningful ways as they interact with local people in need. It’s fun—and an adventure that pulls your teenagers out of their comfort zone and into a greater reliance on God.
International travel gets complicated—fast. But relax: we’ve done the planning for you. We’ve handled the logistics. Arranged for materials and housing. Lined up the ministry projects. All you’re left to do are the most important things: serve others and help your young people and volunteers grow spiritually.
Whether you provide home repairs, community service, or a combination…your service will be a clear expression of God’s love to those you serve. You may paint and weatherize tired, aging houses. Build and repair porches and steps. Conduct a sports camp or VBS for kids. Assist the elderly. Or, meet other important needs of the community.
And each evening you’ll enjoy heart-warming, interactive worship. Scripture, music, videos, devotions, prayer…they’re all here. All designed by the youth ministry experts at Group Magazine, to ignite the faith of your youth. Programs are coordinated by a staff member, but you, your young people, and other participants will take the lead in sharing music and participating in other program elements.For Service Expedition locations and detailed trip descriptions, search trip locations and choose “Service Expeditions” when choosing Type of Trip. Or call 1.800.385.4545.
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 – 450 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 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. Check the trip description.
- Service Expeditions range from $399 - $1699 per person.
