Adventures in Missions

High School Missions | A Summer to Brag About: Going Green

Yes, that’s right, we’re wanting to send a team of teenagers to Ireland. Leprechauns? Unlikely. Yes, there are Lucky Charms; Ireland consumes the most cereal — in the whole world. No, pots of gold nor emeralds do not dot the landscape. Yes, they speak English in Ireland but it’s different from America, and it’s not just the accent (and they do have their own language, too — Irish). Yes, Ireland has ministry needs — you’ll reach out to teens faced with making healthy life choices, maybe you can relate. No, you’re not going on...

World Race at Catalyst 2011 [Video]

March 12, 2012
Adventures
World Race

We’ve mobilized over 1,000 young adults to the mission field via the World Race; Brandon Boyd was one of them. He just happened to launch his World Race six months ago in front of thousands of people. At the previous Catalyst Conference, which is held annually to raise up next generation leaders in the church, we also had the opportunity to facilitate an experiential exhibit on social justice and the gospel. Brandon’s in the middle of his sixth month of the Race, over halfway through. We believe that before we can change the world, we ourselves must be transformed. The...

High School Missions | Have an Awesome Summer (Video)

Ten Steps to An Awesome Summer: Get off the couch. Turn off the TV. Avoid the mall. Text “brag” to 69302 / visit us online. Ask God. Get for your parents’ permission. Apply for a trip. Tell yer friends about us on Facebook and get them to go with you (’cause sharing is caring, ya heard?). Get on the plane. Be alive, represent Jesus, have fun. Ambassador is our summer missions program for high school students; we send 14-18 year olds abroad to serve for 2-4 weeks. And maybe this is the first you’ve heard of us but...

High School Missions | A Summer to Brag About: Living National Geographic

Let’s be honest — anytime we hear the word Africa, we hear the opening theme of The Lion King playing in our head. Or the TV could be off but in our mind’s eye, scenes from shows on Animal Planet or the Travel Channel play. What if you actually go to Africa — specifically Uganda, Kenya and Swaziland — and experience Africa for yourself? Because it’s one thing to see the desert or a lush jungle-scape, and it’s quite another to feel the arid or moist air on you skin or the grainy sand or green grass below your flip-flopped feet. ...

High School Missions | A Summer to Brag About: Yo Hablo Español

Maybe you’re a math person; you truly enjoy algebra and trigonometry. But you barely grasp the grammar of the English language. Foreign language in general is your Achilles heel; the Everest that stands between you and your science-y, techie career. And, quite frankly, you are super annoyed. Those conjugation drills! The subjunctive — isn’t that some kind of eye disease?! THIS IS SUCH A WASTE OF TIME!!! you shout — in your head, of course, not actually out loud (though it would be really funny, but not advantageous) — as you struggle through the...

It’s Not Too Late: Summer Missions for Youth Groups

February 8, 2012
Adventures
Youth Missions

God is inviting your youth group to come away with him. There’s still time to sign up for our 6 or 9-day urban, rural, or international missions trips. You’ll lead children’s ministry, coach sports (in select locations) and serve communities (under your and our leaders’ guidance, of course). This is your chance to get away for awhile. Being around the same people all the time will bond you quickly and strongly. You won’t be able to avoid one another; you’ll begin to understand how amazing God’s grace is — especially when you...

Parents, We Believe in You!

Kelly Chadwick is the Program Coordinator for both our Ambassador (high school) and Passport (college) programs. She worked with high school students full-time for 6 years as a youth director before going on Adventures’ eleven-month trip called the World Race. She has been on staff since 2009. Dear Parents, While your high school student may believe that they’re the ones setting out on this adventure, we know that you are probably taking the biggest risk of all! Sending your student on a mission trip, away from home, and possibly to the other side of the world...

Haiti: Two Years Later, We Tarry On

January 12, 2012
Adventures
Haiti Missions

I want to say Haiti has changed a lot over the past two years. But I can’t. The emergency aid effort and the donations that flooded into Haiti after the quake undeniably helped save lives and provided basic and essential services, including food and water, to millions. But rapid progress in Haiti’s reconstruction and rebuilding has been quite another issue. Yet the thing that struck me when I first visited and continues to strike me today is the energy, creativity, and the intelligent spirit of Haiti’s people – despite the daily difficulties and the...

Expect Nothing But the Miraculous

January 9, 2012
Adventures
World Race

We often begin a new year with expectations, some new and some carried over from the previous year. Maybe we begin without any because we can’t bear the possibility of disappointment of unmet expectations. We approach ministry and missions similarly. Is there a discrepancy between what you anticipate from missions and what you read of Jesus’ ministry in the gospels, e.g. Matthew 10? When you think about being a part of a church community, is it like the early church as described in Acts? Stephanie May of the September 2011 A squad shares what she’s learned...

Going on a Matthew 10 Mission Trip

December 16, 2011
Adventures
Short Term Missions

When Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had no place to stay so Jesus sleeps in a trough. Could you imagine then, over thirty years later, Mary being surprised at the way Jesus leads? We read in Matthew 10 how Jesus sends out the twelve disciples; similarly, Jesus sends out another seventy or so followers, as found in Luke 10. Both times he instructs them to: proclaim that the kingdom of God is near heal the sick travel light. He also tells the twelve to cast out demons, cleanse people from leprosy, and raise the dead. Do you wonder what it’d be like to...

I AM HIS BELOVED AND HE IS MINE

December 12, 2011
Adventures
Guatemala

After three and a half incredible months in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, our time has come to an end. What a blessed journey it has been. My life will never be the same. Before this trip if you had told me how hard it was going to be, I most likely would not have come…but praise God I had no idea, because I am so thankful for God’s work in my life. My life will never be the same. God truly transformed my life and my love for Him has blossomed into something so beautiful. The Christian journey is not always easy, but it is so rewarding. If...

Following His Will with JOY in my Heart

December 11, 2011
Adventures
Guatemala

It’s hard for me to grasp the concept that my time in Puerto Barrios is done, at least for a little while. I won’t be holding orphans, teaching them how to walk, and playing with Dalia every Monday. I won’t be at the Children’s Hospital every Tuesday coloring with sick kids and talking with concerned parents. I won’t be talking to prostitutes or walking through garbage dumps every week anymore. Some things I’m happy are coming to an end- cold showers, constantly sweating, power outages, water shortages, rice and beans, pila washing, and language...

Author: Adventures