For those of you that have been on a mission trip, it is something indescribable that you experience. You grow not only closer in your personal relationship with God, but to the people that you are serving with and those you are serving for.

As Christians, we are called to spread the word of the Lord and to show acts of service to one another. Our God is a sending God. In the bible there are many stories of Jesus telling His disciples to go and spread the word of the Lord; for example, Jonah being told to go to Nineveh and Abraham being called to go to a new land, etc. It is our duty to bring others to Christ that may have not experienced His word. Not only are we called to go to other lands to spread the word, but we are also called to help our brothers and sisters through acts of service.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

By God calling you to go on a mission trip, it puts you out of your comfort zone of your own, small, Christian culture and widens your view to all the glorious places that God has created. That being said, you also experience how people live in impoverished areas. Although the people may not have much, it is amazing how happy and grateful they are receiving your love and just basic items. It puts into perspective that we are so, so blessed. After experiencing new cultures and places, you begin to appreciate everything that you are blessed with and are so privileged to have.

Most importantly, it brings you not only closer to the ones that you serve with, but with God. A week that purely revolves around God is life changing. A week that is dedicated to serving and worshipping Him is indescribable and that you can only experience if you go on a mission. You grow closer to God in ways that you cannot imagine and it forever changes you. When you go back and look through your mission trip journal you cannot help but tear up because the things that you feel with God are so raw and so deep. Not only do you experience God at a deeper level, but also with the people that you serve with. At the end of the mission trip, you’d have laughed together, cried together, and experienced life changing memories together. You have gained another family.

Mission trips are something every Christian should experience because it is amazing and indescribable the things that you gain from missions. Whether you fly to another country, travel to another state, or do a local mission, each gives you a chance to discover a passion for serving God and giving back to different communities.

Please continuously pray for the upcoming missions this summer for safe travels and for allowing God to speak through them to others.