Families use summer vacation to participate in missions


O'FALLON, Ill.

While most families spend their summer vacations soaking in rays at the beach or sightseeing, 20 families were hard at work on a July 14-19 mission project sponsored by the North American Mission Board in the Metro East communities of Illinois.  

Fifty-four family members from across the United States worked on various projects, which included light construction, recreation and college ministry. During the day, the families also participated in worship, Bible study and family-building activities.  Throughout the week, Families on Mission participants learned what being an "on mission family" really means.

"It was amazing to see families come together to serve others. The families not only grew closer individually, but they really grew spiritually as well. Families learned the importance of a ministerial lifestyle," Amy Byrd, Mission Communication Specialist, for Families on Mission, said.  "The importance of the family is often times overlooked, Families on Mission really brings the significance of a tight knit family back together."

During the week, families worked with the East St. Louis Christian Activity Center, McKendree University Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Swansea Baptist Church and Metro East Baptist Association. 

The Street family of Mahomet, Ill., was one of the families that participated.  "My wife and I had been looking for a missions opportunity for our family for several years.  Families on Mission met our need to teach by example," said Steve Street.  He and his wife, Fran, have served as Journeymen missionaries in Scotland and taken a mission trip to Romania.  They have four daughters, but due to other commitments only one, Catherine, was able to attend.

The Streets painted and cleaned carpets at Swansea Baptist Church. Street described their week of ministry saying, "We were working together with other believers to meet the needs of others."  

Nate Adams, Illinois Baptist State Association Executive Director, and his wife, Beth, brought their sons, Caleb and Noah, to Families on Mission.  Adams said, "Our family has been on two 'family mission trips' now, and they have not only been great missions experiences, but they have pulled us together as a family and given us memories and points of reference for understanding missions that will last the rest of our lives."

Adams was tasked with one of the week's more unusual projects. He said, "One of my assignments during the week was to shovel horse manure out of a pasture at Cornerstone Farms, so that cars could park there that night for Vacation Bible School. It didn't 'feel' much like 'missions' at the time, but the next day the church planter told me that he had talked for two hours with three unchurched and unsaved couples while their children enjoyed VBS there on the horse farm.  I thought to myself, 'those folks parked their car in the pasture that I helped shovel.' I didn't realize it at the time, but that pasture was 'holy ground.' I'm just glad God didn't ask me to take my shoes off."

This summer, more than 150 families participated in four Families on Mission projects in East St. Louis, New Orleans, La. and Lynch, Ky.