Each year we send out youth groups not only around the world, but
to domestic locations to experience many different types of ministry.
Most walk away remembering not only the physical labor, but the
relationships that have been formed and how God has moved.
Gayle Reese, a mission trip leader from Illinois, has taken groups
on Adventures in Missions short term mission trips for 11 years. Because
of the long term commitment AIM has with ministry contacts, she's been
able to see a friendship flourish even though her original intent was to
take a group to do construction.
"We
thought we were going to Mexico to build a family a house, but we were
actually there to build a strong relationship with a woman named Maria.
She and her 4 children lived in a home made of abandoned materials.
She did not have a job. She had recently given her life to Christ, and
her husband left her for that reason. We treated her youngest son in
the medical clinic, taught all 4 children in Bible School, made an
emotional relationship with the family and the pastor of the church...
We encouraged
Maria to trust in the Lord. We still visit Maria and her family every
year and we have seen her grow
from a timid, questioning Christian to a strong woman who is a leader in
her community and now witnesses to us!"
According to the Barna study, 85 percent of the youth that were
surveyed felt more loved by God and more than 80 percent said they
learned new things about God and Jesus.
The same can be said for our participants. Gayle went on to say, "We
may be physically tired when we return home, but we are spiritually
filled. We come home praising God for allowing us to experience
focusing on him 24/7; for putting a new perspective into our lives about
what is important and what is unnecessary; for getting to know our
fellow Team members better, for being able to hear God more clearly, and
for humbling us."
- Posted in Youth Missions by Marissa Villa on 1/14/2011
While there are plenty of great reasons to go on missions, there are some ways in which Adventures in MIssions is uniquely positioned as a mission organization to make your mission trip as meaningful as possible. These uniquenesses are why AIM has been doing ministry for over 20 years and why many groups continue to go with us year after year.
7 Reasons why our mission trips are unique
Customization: You can choose the location and duration of your trip. If you don't see what you're looking for on our trip list, contact us, and we'll help you customize your own unique mission trip experience.
Listening Prayer: Everything we do at AIM begins with asking God; throughout your trip you'll be led by this prayer-dialogue that we call listening prayer.
Commitment: We're in it for the long-haul with
local ministries in the field and with our participants. This means that
we're not only committed to long-term work all over the world, but also
to the growth of the individuals on the mission trip. This is one of
our core passions as a ministry: using short-term missions as a
discipleship vehicle.
Quality Leadership: We provide passionate, mature followers of Christ who understand how to be led by God in responsible ways.
Flexibility: Though we create a schedule and
plan the ins and outs of your trip, we give God permission to set aside
our agendas and show us what he's up to. In other words, we're open to his surprises.
Relational Focus: Similar to Jesus' ministry,
we focus more on people than tasks. This, of course, includes those
within your group, as well as those whom you will serve while on the mission trip.
Smaller Groups: We welcome smaller-sized
groups, because so much of the relational work we do hinges on the
importance of cultivating trust and intimacy in ministry. This
doesn't mean that we won't work with larger groups, but it does mean
that you won't be stuck in a camp setting with several other groups.
Recently, Anthony Hargrove of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints went to Swaziland on a Vision Trip with Adventures In Missions. Check out the video:
Today and tomorrow, our team is flying to Santo Domingo, D.R., and
traveling up past our base in San Juan, close to the Haiti border. This
reconnaissance team will begin taking food, water, and medicine in to
the clinics and relief stations with whom we're partnering. Our overall
efforts will be directed by a group of Haitian pastors whom we trust
with our safety and spiritual covering.
We have been working around the clock to mobilize these teams. While on
the ground, they will also be preparing for a second wave of teams who
will travel to Haiti to interceed and distribute food and medicine. Our
third wave of help in Haiti will begin in June as we partner with
churches and send down bigger teams for relief work and begin in more
long term rebuilding efforts.
If God is calling you to go, please check back soon. In the mean time, if you would like to help, you can donate to the Haiti Relief fund. The situation in Haiti is dire. We covet your prayers.
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