Tips for the Journey

Preparing for a Mission Trip: Where is God Leading You?

While knowing the purpose (the mission) of your mission trip and recruiting the right leadership are the first two keys to a successful mission trip, without a place to serve there is no mission and there is no need for a leadership team. Both of these keys depend on the church or mission team identifying the place God has prepared for them to serve.

For a church that has never undertaken a mission effort the best place to start looking is outside the front door. Look for people in need and find a way to begin meeting those needs. Is there a senior adult who needs a ramp built to make it easier and safer for them to get in and out of their home? Are there children in an apartment complex with nothing to do all summer? Perhaps the church around the corner needs a new roof, or the local nursing home needs an outdoor sitting area. Ask God to show you the lost in your community and the door He is opening to provide you with an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with them. Feed a hungry teen and tell her about the Bread of Life. Teach a child to read and give them a Bible so they can read the greatest story ever told. Mentor a new father and teach him about the Father who loves unconditionally. Look for places in your community where people are in need and then look at the people in your congregation. Do you have people with the gifts, skills and talents required to meet the need? If you do, then maybe the Go d who has equipped you, is calling you to meet the need and join Him is changing lives for all eternity.

If your mission team is already actively working to meet needs and share Jesus with the lost around you and you want to do more then look a little farther out. It is time to expand your search from your Jerusalem into your Judea and Samaria. Ask the local Associational missionary or your state convention leadership for ideas. There are Southern Baptist Missionaries and Ministries across North America who have opportunities for volunteers to join them in meeting needs and introducing people to Jesus Christ.

Another place to look for volunteer mission opportunities is TheBridge. This is a web-based database where Southern Baptist Mission teams can find places to assist Southern Baptist Missionaries and ministries across North America. To learn more about TheBridge visit the website rhebridge.namb.net.

As you begin considering all of the opportunities there are some questions you should ask that will help you identify the opportunity God has uniquely gifted your mission team to meet.
   How far are you willing to travel?
   What skills does the project require?
   What is the cost of the trip and the project?
   Does the project have clearly defined goals and objectives?
   What evidence do you have that this is a project God is leading you toward?
   How will the skills acquired through the mission trip strengthen your church or mission team?
   Is the project coordinator responsive to your questions or need for information?
   Is this a project that arouses the passions of your church or group?

© 2009 Adult Volunteer Mobilization Team, NAMB. Portions taken from the Volunteer Mobilization Project Logistics Manual. You can download the entire logistics manual from the AVM website.

If you want to read previous Tips for the Journey visit the Mission Trip Tips webpage.

Tips for the Journey are published in the Volunteers in Motion eNewsletter. To recieve future issues via email click here to subscribe.