Author: Adventures

Mothers, We Celebrate You

Ever since you became a mom, you haven’t gotten much sleep, have you? You had to sleep on your side during the latter months of your pregnancy. You endured hours of labor (or Caesarean section?) to bring us out to the world. You hardly slept those first few months feeding us while all we did was eat, sleep and poop. You wouldn’t be able to rest when chicken pox or the flu kept us up. You stay up when we stay out, even though by now, most of us are too old for a curfew. You get up early to prepare some of our favorite home-cooked meals. You share in our insomnia when we...

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So I Go

Do you feel…  discontent? stuck in the status quo? unfulfilled by the ordinary? like you’ve outgrown your life? You’re not the only one.  Right now, 31 year-old Chicago native and spoken word artist Michael Perez is in India, the ninth country of eleven on his World Race, which he began in September 2010.  While growing up in the inner city, amidst gangs and violence, he encountered God in an apartment building; he was 13 years old.  He’d witnessed everything from a homicide to God introducing himself to gang members on the...

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Is Your Life Too Small?

Do you feel…   discontent? stuck in the status quo? unfulfilled by the ordinary? like you’ve outgrown your life? You’re not the only one. After you watch this video, featuring the poetic genius of Mike Perez, share it on Facebook and Twitter by setting this as your status and/or tweeting this: Your life feel too small? You’re not alone http://bit.ly/dZKQgb

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Celebrating 90,000

At 6 years old, “I was AIM’s first employee; my job was licking stamps,” said Talia Barnes. On September 1989, Adventures in Missions (AIM) was first formed as Seth Barnes (Talia’s father), his family and a few friends got together in a garage in Florida to mail invitations to join them on a short-term missions trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica. This spring, AIM has reached a milestone: 90,000 people have been mobilized onto the missions field. Rosie Watson was the first person AIM sent out; originally from Jamaica, she suggested the location. “It’s pretty...

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Adventures in Missions | Spring 2011 Newsletter

Adventures in Missions | Spring 2011 LOCATIONS SERVED | YOUR IMPACT Since AIM’s inception more than 20 years ago, 89,389 missionaries have prayed for the sick, loved the unloved, and given hope to the hopeless in 50 countries all over the world. While we celebrate the growth we’ve seen, we know there’s more to be done. Will you be a part of this story? MADE-FOR-ME MISSIONS | YOUR CALLING You were made for more – more than the daily grind, paying bills and living paycheck to paycheck. You were made to see the world changed. You were made to...

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Short Term Missions: The City that Loves You Back

The fifth-largest city in the U.S., Philadelphia, Greek for “brotherly love” (from philos, “love” or “friendship”, and adelphos, “brother”), was founded in the 17th century by William Penn. A Quaker, Penn had been subjected to religious persecution and wanted this colony to be a place of religious freedom.* Do you remember the 1990s sit-com The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring Will Smith? The whole series begins with Will Smith’s character being shipped off to live with his aunt and uncle in a southern California suburb because his...

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High School Summer Missions: Erin Go Bragh

Éire go Brách   Roughly translated, that means, “Ireland forever.” And this St. Patrick’s day, whether you have Irish roots or not, why not consider being Irish not just for today but for the summer? St. Patrick’s Day (in Irish, “Lá Fhéile Pádraig”) isn’t just about wearing green, eating green gelatin dessert, or decorating with shamrocks. Patrick was a real person, who was born in Britain when it was part of the Roman Empire: Little is known of Patrick’s early life, though it is known that he was born in Roman Britain in the 4th...

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Short Term Missions: Serving the Least of These in Appalachia

Appalachia.  Most of us see the word and wonder how to read it aloud (we hear it’s pronounced “Apple-latch-ah”). Some of us may have hiked the Appalachian Trail. But we’d be hard pressed to point out this region on a map. And perhaps if we were honest, we don’t know why Appalachia is considered a mission field. First, where is Appalachia? According to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), The Appalachian Region… is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern...

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High School Summer Missions: It Ain’t Summer Camp

“We love Jesus, yes, we do! We love Jesus, how ’bout you?” It’s been a long time since you’ve been to vacation Bible school (VBS), but chants like this bring you right back. Sure, there’s something refreshing about being able to shout your love for God across the dining hall to your fellow/rival campers, but now that you’re 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old… you’re starting to ask yourself… What if someone actually replied, “No”? I’d say no only to see how everyone would react (I really do love Jesus). How would...

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No Ordinary Summer: Real Life College Missions vs. Summer Job

Are you about begin a summer that’ll make you wish you were back in school? Perhaps you’re landed a gig nannying three of the spunkiest kids you know for a few weeks. The kids’ dad has to go on a business trip and you’re there to lend a hand or two. They’re cute and fun… for the first four hours. Then the stinky diaper changes and refusal to eat anything green takes the shine off real quick. Maybe you’re applying for a job at [insert major clothing retail store]? True, you’ll get that sweet employee discount and you’ll be styling...

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Short Term Missions: Sharing Christ’s Love in Chicago

Chicago is one of the most exciting cities to visit in the U.S. It has the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, Wrigley Field, and many other exciting attractions. There are many reasons to visit the Windy City.   And one of those reasons is the city’s people.  Although the city is both beautiful and culturally diverse, it also has pockets of people who are in need of Christ’s love. There are people around the city who struggle to get by, and people whose hearts are hurting and spirits are dry. One youth group from...

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Teen Summer Missions: It’s Not Summer Camp

You lucked out with getting the bottom bunk and have settled in nicely. You’re glad that your camp bff is in the bunk right next to you. You’ve come up with the best name for your camp small group. You’ve planned your extracurricular activities. Maybe this will be the summer you’ll do the giant swing into the lake (but that tree looks kinda old and that rope is kinda thick and heavy…) or maybe do the zipline stuff again. You can literally go through the obstacle course blindfolded, both hands tied behind your back. If camp offered AP Origami, you’d...

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