How Ambassador trips help students grow deeper in faith and step into their Kingdom purpose

The week after Easter is often full of reflection. We’ve just celebrated the resurrection – now what? For many teenagers, this is a natural moment to ask deeper questions about their faith:

What does it mean to follow Jesus in everyday life?
What does He want me to do with my life?

For some teens, the next step isn’t found in a sermon – it’s found in service. It’s found when they pack their bag, board a plane, and step into a world that’s different from their own.

That’s the heart behind Ambassador, Adventures in Missions’ short-term mission program for high school students.

Ambassador is more than a summer mission trip. It’s an opportunity for students to grow spiritually, build lasting friendships, and live out their faith in real and practical ways. Designed specifically for high schoolers, Ambassador trips combine relational ministry, cultural engagement, and deep discipleship in settings that challenge and inspire.

Trained adult leaders lead each trip and include structured times of prayer, worship, biblical teaching, and intentional reflection – all in the context of hands-on mission work.

One Ambassador participant described her experience this way:
“Before I came on this trip, I put God in a box. But out here, serving and worshiping with new friends, I saw how big and personal He really is. I came home changed, and I know I’m called.”

She shared this after two weeks in Costa Rica, where she and her team helped run VBS for children in under-resourced communities, supported a local youth camp, and even spent one night interceding in prayer as rising flood waters threatened their camp base.

It wasn’t glamorous. There were bugs, cold showers, and long days. But it was in the discomfort that she discovered the beauty of surrender and the joy of stepping into God’s plan for her life.

Every Ambassador trip is different, but here’s what you can expect:

• Hands-on ministry like street outreach, VBS, community cleanup, or disaster response
• Spiritual formation through daily worship, devotions, and team debriefs
• Cross-cultural experiences that open students’ eyes to how the global Church lives and worships
• Leadership development and opportunities to practice sharing the Gospel and praying with others
• Real friendships with peers from across the country who are also pursuing God

   

Whether you’re building relationships with kids in a Guatemalan village or helping to rebuild homes in North Carolina, every moment is an invitation to listen to God and step into His purpose.

If you’re a parent, youth leader, or student looking for mission trips for teens in 2025, here are a few Ambassador opportunities to consider:

Washington, DC
Urban outreach and prayer ministry in the capital
July 5, 2025 | 21 Days | $1,750/person

North Carolina – Disaster Relief
Support families recovering from Hurricane Helene
August 7, 2025 | 15 Days | $1,195/person

Puerto Rico
Partner with local churches and serve in San Juan
July 5, 2025 | 21 Days | $3,595/person

View all Ambassador Trips here!

Ambassador trips don’t just teach students to serve – they teach them to listen to God, to lead with compassion, and to understand their role in His global mission. For many teens, it’s the beginning of a lifelong faith journey.

So if you know a high school student who’s hungry to grow, ready to be challenged, and open to what God might do in and through them, this could be their moment.

Let’s raise up a generation that doesn’t just talk about faith – they live it.