Adventures in Missions

Are Mission Trips Just Another Fad?

Lately, there seems to be a lot of criticism about the effectiveness of short-term missions. To be sure, there are pros and cons to short term missions, and there have always been critics. But I wonder if the seemingly growing number of these discussions recently is an indicator of an entirely new season of missions for the church. In other words… Are we approaching the end of short term missions? This thinking has prompted us at Adventures to ask some critical questions that are really challenging us: Are mission trips becoming just a passing fad, or do they...

College Missions: What Kind of Passporter Will You Be?

Just what kind of Passporter will you be? There’s a quiz for that. As followers of Christ, we’ve all been given the same mandate: go into all the world and make disciples. However, we’re not all wired the same and might accomplish this differently. Some of us are advocates, or creators, while others adventurers, or caretakers. We love and minister differently, with one united purpose: fill the earth with God’s glory and love. So, who are you? “That’s not okay” slips out of...

Do One-Week Mission Trips Do Any Good Any More?

As a missions organization, we are keenly aware of the objections and criticism surrounding our industry. The worst part? Some of them are true. Although we still believe in the benefit of short-term mission trips, we are learning the importance of the potential for these trips to be nothing more than glorified vacations. Short-term missions get a bad rap for three reasons: One, the missionaries allow their needs and agenda to supersede the local needs. Two, the missionaries are poorly equipped to do what needs to be done. Three, what...

High School Missions | A Summer to Brag About: AtlantaFest

Will your summer fit the following definition? ep·ic: heroic or grand in scale or character Jimmy Walker’s summer would (take a look); he’s going on an overseas missions trip. You still have time to have a summer worth bragging about; yours could be even more epic. Imagine you and your bestie going to AtlantaFest, the three-day (June 14-16, 2012) Christian music festival featuring: Casting Crowns DecembeRadio Jamie Grace Jeremy Camp KJ-52 Lecrae TobyMac Trip Lee and many more! Mark Richt, UGA’s head football coach, and others will be...

No Passport Required: Refugee Ministry in St. Louis

April 6, 2012
Adventures
Youth Missions

Looking for a way for your youth group to serve internationals this summer without ever leaving the country? Look no further than St. Louis, MO. That big, iconic arch stands here. That fizzy pop we loved to drink on hot summer days as kids, 7UP, was invented here. That one Doobie Brother grew up here. That moment in education between preschool and 1st grade with its fair share of naps, recess and storybooks started here. That big event that happens every four years with athletes from all over the world was hosted by the U.S. for the first time here. When it...

No Passport Required: Refugee Ministry in Atlanta

April 4, 2012
Adventures
Youth Missions

Second star on the left, then straight on till morning… Talk about jet lag. Far and away may be where Neverland is, but how about a culture-filled mission trip without ever leaving the U.S.? Did you know that the United States takes in between 60,000-80,000 foreign refugees each year? Political unrest has led hundreds of people groups to the United States. Refugees from around the world have sought America for safety and freedom. Most of these refugees come from Iran, Burma, Somalia and Bhutan, often practicing the Muslim faith. Your youth group can be...

It’s Not Too Late: Mission Trip Giveaway

March 22, 2012
Adventures
Youth Missions

Are you ready for your students to move from consumer to contributor? As a youth leader, you dream of the moment when your students step out and actualize their faith in Christ. You have a heart for them to serve the less fortunate, support communities, love on kids and each other. You have had enough lock-ins, now it is time for them to serve. It’s time for a mission trip. And it’s time for a giveaway. Right now, Adventures is Missions is offering the perfect way to make this hope a reality for your youth group. This deal requires no card. No...

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...

Author: Adventures