Churches and agencies are increasingly offering mission trips that families can take together

BY CHRISTIE STORM
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE 

Standing on the banks of the Zambezi River, Susan Phillips kept a watchful eye on the water, searching for crocodiles, as her husband, Mike, baptized their son. The moment—a dripping-wet Matthew smiling as a rainbow from nearby Victoria Falls graced the sky—was a highlight of the family's mission trip to the south African country of Zambia last year.
   
The Phillipses took then-8-year-old Matthew with them as part of a team from Grace Point Church in Bentonville, joining a growing number of families seeking mission opportunities together. The experience left its mark and instilled a desire for future mission work in the entire family.

"For us it changed our lives and what we want to spend our time and finances on," said Mike Phillips. "It was the best trip we've ever had."
   
While in Zambia, the Grace Point team helped local residents start construction of two church buildings. Matthew, the only child on the team, spent his time playing and worshipping with the neighborhood children. Slightly built, with red hair and a sprinkle of freckles, Matthew made quite an impression on the children of Livingstone, and he was also drawn to them. He was impressed by their strength and endurance. Barriers of language and culture seemed to disappear as they played soccer together, or sat shoulder-to-shoulder sharing a small Bible during the church service.
   
The Phillips family is one of many interested in missions opportunities for families, and churches and missions organizations are offering more options.
   
For example, the growing interest in family missions led the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to start a specialized initiative this year. A test-run of the Families on Mission program was done last year, with family teams working in Lynch, Ky. Rick Head, a volunteer mobilization senior associate, said the program was started to meet the needs expressed by Southern Baptist churches searching for family opportunities.
   
This year, families have five missions opportunities - two in St. Louis and one each in New Orleans, Lynch and Mobile, Ala. Children must have completed kindergarten to participate in the trips. Head said the prepackaged trips are ideal for families. Not just mom, dad and the kids go: Grandparents, aunts and uncles are also welcome. During the pilot program, Head said, three generations of one family participated.
   
"We are excited about that," he said. "That's the thing we're trying to do... to leave a legacy. We're hoping to help families pass on a legacy of mission and understanding to the next generation."
   
Head said the mission trips offer families the chance to be what he called an "Acts 1:8 family," or a family that spreads the Gospel to the world. [The verse says Christians will be witnesses "unto the uttermost part of the earth."] It's also an opportunity to teach children about missions work.
   
"We hope families will respond to it in a way that's very positive, not that we're giving up vacation time, but here's an opportunity to do something as a family and serve the Lord in a unique way and have fun, too," Head said.
   
The mission board Web site (www.namb.net) provides pre-trip planning that includes discussion topics for families, as well as prayer suggestions and Bible studies to help them prepare for their six-day excursion. This year's theme is "Are We There Yet?"
   
The trips differ, but can include light construction work, painting and yard work as well as evangelism, prayer walking and time for family devotions, worship and small group discussions. Families will be together the entire time, except for about an hour each day for training by age group.
   
"It will be a week of fun," Head said. "There will be a lot of humor and laughter and great relations built between families spread across the country."
   
It's not just national organizations planning family mission trips.
   
Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock also offers missions opportunities for families in the congregation. Rosie Stephens, international ministries director, said it can be challenging to find places for families, but a definite interest exists.
   
Of the missions opportunities offered by the church, Guatemala is one of the most popular destinations for families. The church sends teams to the country every year.
   
"We keep the team size to about 15 to 25, the size most conducive to working together and getting to know one another," Stephens said, adding that the location is more practical in terms of travel for families than some of the church's other mission locations.
   
Safety is always a factor, and some of the partner organizations that work with the church have age restrictions for team members, but opportunities do exist for families interested in serving together.
   
Stephens said feedback from the family trips has been encouraging. She said families are able to serve side-by-side with each other.
   
"What it does to a family as a whole is show how God really knits their hearts together. They have great memories when they come back."
   
In July, families from the church will travel to Guatemala to work at an orphanage. They'll paint and do some tile work and install cabinets, play with the children and conduct Vacation Bible School.
   
Stephens said the benefits of a family trip include seeing how God works in each member in a different way.
   
"It really does draw the family together," she said. "Being able to serve together can be a great opportunity for a family to really know what God's heart is for people in different countries.
   
"To have those memories will be a legacy they will have forever."
   
Family vacations offer lasting memories, too, but a family mission trip is unique, Stephens said.
   
"Your vacation is to have fun and relax and play, but when you're on a mission trip you are focused more on developing relationships," she said, adding that watching family members stretch and learn as they discover their spiritual gifts is a special opportunity.
   
David Armstrong is director of Mission Data International, based in Siloam Springs. The organization serves as a missions clearinghouse through www. shorttermmissions.com. The organization has partnered with missions organizations of all sizes to offer a resource for individuals and families seeking short-term missions opportunities. The agencies post trip information, including overseas missions and opportunities in the United States.
   
Armstrong said a third of the participants select outreach opportunities in the United States, while another third travel to Mexico for various missions. The final third travels to more remote locales for service.
   
Armstrong said he has also noticed an increased interest in family trips, and the site has a handful of partner organizations that specialize in family missions. He said a family mission trip can bond a family together, something he says is difficult to do in today's culture.
   
"Here, the culture pulls the family apart in all directions," he said. "When you go overseas together or even in the [United States] you are all pushed together. It has the opposite effect. You are depending on each other."
   
Armstrong said families need to do their homework when searching for a trip. Some agencies don't allow young children, and others do, but the type of work might not be suitable for the ages of the children.
   
"You really need to think through some of the issues and negotiate with the group to adjust activities to fit families and little kids, because they do get tired and need naps and you need the freedom to say what you'll do," Armstrong said. "Some groups don't like that and others make a point to really mesh with families."
   
He suggests families look into trips offered through International Family Missions, Adventures in Missions, World Servants and STEM (Short-Term Evangelical Ministries). All, he said, are family-friendly and offer specialized opportunities.
   
As for the Phillipses, they are looking forward to another trip, possibly to Mexico. This time Matthew's younger sister, Joy, will be old enough to come along. They would also like to return to Zambia some day.
   
"We loved the people," Susan Phillips said. "They were very warm and friendly."
   
The Phillipses said the trip showed them that even though they are from different countries they are united by the same God. They also believe Matthew's presence made a difference.
   
"It made it really special for us and he learned a lot," Phillips said. "He was able to see that what we're teaching him in the Bible isn't just in Rogers. It's everywhere."