The New Year is coming, and so are new goals. People are making plans to eat healthier, work out more, spend less time on social media, and travel more. Did you ever consider adding short-term Christian mission trips to your list of goals? It could be a great idea! I went on one, and it was life-changing. I got to see the sights, smell the smells, and taste the tastes of another culture. It was also so eye-opening. I saw the need for the gospel in a different part of the world than what I’m used to. You can read more about my experience in Africa here.
When coming up with goals, our hearts should be in line with God’s heart. John 3:16 says God so loved the world. Our hearts should also be for the world. We should desire to see God made known among the nations. Because God’s heart is for the world, I believe it’s good for believers to take at least one trip outside their comfort zone and into other parts of the world. I’ll talk in this post about why short-term Christian mission trips are important, who should go, what you can learn, where you can go, and how you can sign up for one.
Why are short-term Christian mission trips important?
Missions should be important to us because it’s important to God. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) is to go into all the world making disciples. You can carry out the great commission in your hometown or workplace as well as in other countries. Even if your plan is to do stateside ministry, there’s still value to spending some time overseas. Every Christian should be familiar with the need for missionaries and the reality of unreached people groups. If you’re not planning to go as a missionary, consider being part of sending missionaries. William Carey said, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes”. Will you be someone who holds the ropes for a missionary? Going on a short-term trip could allow you to rub shoulders with long-term missionaries. As a result, you’ll better understand their prayer and financial needs.
Who should go on a trip?
Anyone. I went on one for 6 months in my early twenties. That was a neat time to do it because I had so much flexibility in my schedule as a single young adult. But trips could also be great for married couples, high schoolers, or even families. I went on my first trip when I was only six years old. As a child, I loved making friends with other little kids even though we didn’t speak the same language. It’s easy to be comfortable where we’ve grown up and not think about what the rest of the world is like. At any age, it’s good to step outside of our comfort zones and see what else, and more importantly who else, is out there.
What can you learn on short-term Christian mission trips?
There’s so much to learn! During a trip, you’ll learn about aspects of different cultures and religions. If you’re working on a project during a trip, there could be new skills you learn. I once learned how to put electrical wiring in a house we were building in Mexico. That’s something I never thought I’d learn how to do. And then there’s the spiritual side of it. The Lord will teach you so much through short-term Christian mission trips! While I was in Africa, He taught me to rely on Him more. Everything was so different there, and I sometimes felt isolated. Those elements forced me to rely on the Lord, and that was so good.
How can you go on short-term Christian trips?
There are many ways to find short-term Christian mission trips. You could ask your church if they have any available. It’s through my church that I got connected to each trip I went on. Here at Ethnos360 Bible Institute, there are many opportunities. We’re part of a greater organization called Ethnos360. Ethnos360 offers short-term trips for people 18 years and older varying in length from two weeks to a year. Our students go on them, but people outside of Bible college do too. The two-week trips offered are called “Encounter”. Encounter trips have three distinctives- learn, serve and experience. Through an Encounter trip, you’ll meet long-term missionaries and learn about their various roles on the field. You might also have the opportunity to serve those missionaries. Any service projects done on the trip will be ones chosen by the missionaries on the field. And finally, you’ll experience the realities of ministry in an indigenous people group. The goal of these trips is to help you consider the answer to this question, “What will my role be in making disciples of all nations?”
Where can you go for short-term Christian mission trips?
If you do choose to go on a short-term Christian mission trip through Ethnos360, we have several options for 2025. You can always check the Ethnos360 short-term trips website for updated information as well. These are the current opportunities for 2025 and the deadlines for signing up.
Summer Trips (signup by February 1):
- Mexico
- The Philippines
- Southeast Africa
- Brazil
Fall Trip (signup by April 1):
- Papua New Guinea
Winter 2025/2026 Trips:
- South Asia (signup by September 1)
- Southeast Asia Mainland (signup by September 30)
What’s the next step?
Now do you think you’re ready to take the next step? Is going on a short-term Christian mission trip going to be one of your 2025 goals? Visit our short-term trips page here! There you can ask for more information or apply for a trip. Also, consider looking into Ethnos360 Bible Institute if missions interest you. It’s a two-year Bible college and the first step in missionary training with Ethnos360. During the two years, teachers walk students through the Bible chronologically. Students also take classes that introduce them to missions. You can request more information below.
