Men's and women's recovery programs
One-year, Christ-centered restoration for people recovering from homelessness, addiction, or prostitution, with daily Bible classes, counseling, and life skills training.
Mission trips to
Colombia Mission Trips
Serve with City of Refuge in Medellín, where people coming off the street find a year of restoration.
- Length
- 7 days
- Ages
- 11+
- Group size
- 15+
- From
- $895
The story
Why Medellín.
Medellín calls itself the City of Eternal Spring, and the climate lives up to it. The city has also absorbed an influx of Venezuelan refugees, carries the weight of drug-related violence, and has children living on its streets. Your team will serve with City of Refuge, known locally as Ciudad Refugio, a ministry that exists to be exactly what its name says for people who have nowhere else to go.
City of Refuge runs one-year, Christ-centered recovery programs for men and women coming out of homelessness, addiction, or prostitution. Residents go through daily Bible classes, counseling, and life skills training, and your team will spend time with them, pray with them, and hear what God is doing in their lives. For your students, meeting someone eight months into a hard recovery is a lesson no youth talk can give.
The rest of the week puts you in the community. You will help with the feeding program that serves meals to the neighborhood, join the weekly street outreach to people experiencing homelessness and invite them back to the shelter, and spend time in the youth development program that gives at-risk kids a safe place to be. The ministry recommends this trip for participants 16 and older because of the people you will be serving, so talk with us about your group's ages.
You sleep on site at Ciudad Refugio, with 60 bunk beds, sheets and pillows provided, and separate sleeping areas for men and women. Staff pick you up at the Medellín airport and handle all local transportation, and the host's cooks feed you three times a day. Adventures in Missions has been sending teams since 1989, and Colombia is one of the places where you will see a local ministry staying for the long haul.
Part of International Mission Trips · Also offered as a Beauty for Ashes women's trip
The work
What you'll do.
Community Service
Feeding program
Help serve community meals.
Homeless ministry
Weekly street outreach, with an invitation back to the shelter.
Youth development program
A safe haven for at-risk youth.
Programs
Who this trip is for.
Colombia is for youth groups and adult teams of 15 or more. The trip is listed for ages 11 and up, but City of Refuge says it is best for participants 16 and older given the recovery and street ministry involved, so it suits older students, college groups, and adults. Groups under 15 should ask us about other options.
The details
Upcoming trips & cost.
| Location | Length | Cost | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Mar 6, 2027 – Mar 12, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Mar 13, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Mar 20, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Mar 27, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Apr 3, 2027 – Apr 9, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Apr 10, 2027 – Apr 16, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Apr 17, 2027 – Apr 23, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| Apr 24, 2027 – Apr 30, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| May 1, 2027 – May 7, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| May 8, 2027 – May 14, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
| May 15, 2027 – May 21, 2027 | Colombia | 7 days | $895 | Request |
Logistics
Where you'll stay, eat, and get around.
Lodging
You will stay at Ciudad de Refugio’s ministry site. Beds, sheets, and pillows are provided for each participant. The lodging site has 60 bunk beds. Men and women will be split up. There are plenty of showers and bathrooms, a large meeting room and other smaller meeting spaces as well.
Meals
The host's staff cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner, mixing Colombian dishes with basic American food. Food allergies are accommodated; food preferences are not, so come ready to eat what is served.
Transportation
Fly into Medellín. Airport pickup is included and all local transportation is provided for the week. You will arrange your flights with a Missions Advisor about two months before departure.
Travel tips: Trips run Saturday to Friday from March through August in 2027 and 2028, plus a December 26, 2026 departure. Download the site packet for the packing list and visa guidance.
Your destination guide
Plan your trip.
Download the Colombia destination guide
PDF, 3 pages, 4.4 MB
Who Has God Called Me to Serve?
From the Andes Mountains to the Caribbean coastline and the Amazon Rainforest, Colombia is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world. Colombia sits at the crossroads of Central and South America, allowing for a widespread diversity of cultures. Currently, there is a large influx of Venezuelan refugees coming through Colombia, putting a strain on its economic resources.
Many in Colombia have been affected by homelessness, drug addiction, or violence from drug trafficking, but God is bringing hope and restoration. It is also home to unreached tribes, a large student population rapidly rejecting the Gospel, and thousands of children living on the streets.
Your team will serve in Medellin, known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its temperate weather and host of beautiful native flowers. Nestled in the Andes mountain region of Colombia, Medellin boasts incredible views of Colombia’s lush green landscapes and rugged natural beauty.
What Should I Bring?
In addition to the packing list, do not forget your passport. You will not get very far without it!
Dress Code Policy
It is important to remember that when you are on the field ministering, you are representing God, Adventures In Missions, and local missionaries. Modesty is the key to all clothing you decide to bring with you. If you are questioning whether or not you should bring it, then leave it at home. Here are a few guidelines for clothing choices:
- Bring something modest to sleep in.
- No short, tight, or clingy clothing is permitted. This means no yoga pants or leggings.
- Sleeveless shirts and tank tops that are 2” wide are permitted on girls. No sleeveless shirt of any form is permitted for guys.
- If you cannot raise your arms above your head or touch your toes without showing your stomach or lower back, leave it at home.
- Shorts must come to the top of the knee. Capris and loose fitted joggers are great options.
- Skirts and dresses should be below or close to the knee.
- Make sure clothes are not stained and/or torn (except for clothes for painting/heavy manual labor). You do not have to wear your best clothing, but make yourselves presentable. It may be offensive to the locals if you look sloppy
- Fly into
- Jose Maria Cordova International Airport
Ground transportation details are in "Where you'll stay, eat, and get around." above.
What not to pack
- Any item that supports a focus on appearance
- Any item that isolates people from participating with the rest of the group
- Anything you aren't willing to part with
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What Will I Do?
- Men’s & Women’s Recovery Programs
- Feeding Program
- Homeless Ministry
- Youth Development Program
- Refugee Ministry
- Street Evangelism
Fun Activities
- Guatape Tour
- District 13 - Graffiti Tour
- Botanical Gardens
- Coffee Tour
- Horseback Riding
- Pablo Escobar History Tour
Schedule
| Time | Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | BREAKFAST + DEVOTIONAL | BREAKFAST + DEVOTIONAL | BREAKFAST + DEVOTIONAL | BREAKFAST + DEVOTIONAL | BREAKFAST + DEVOTIONAL | BREAKFAST + DEVOTIONAL | |
| AM Ministry | Church + Worship | Bible Study Program | Life Skills Training | Bible Study Program | Free Day | Departure | |
| 12:00 PM | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | LUNCH | ||
| PM Ministry | ARRIVAL | City Tour + Prayer Ministry | Children's/Sports Ministry | Children's/Sports Ministry | Children's/Sports Ministry | Free Day | |
| 6:00 PM | DINNER | DINNER | DINNER | DINNER | DINNER | DINNER | |
| 7:00 PM | ORIENTATION + WORSHIP | DEBRIEF + WORSHIP | DEBRIEF + WORSHIP | DEBRIEF + WORSHIP | DEBRIEF + WORSHIP | DEBRIEF + WORSHIP | |
| 8:00 PM | |||||||
| 9:00 PM | TEAM TIME | FREE TIME | FREE TIME | FREE TIME | FREE TIME | FREE TIME | |
| 10:00 PM | LIGHTS OUT | LIGHTS OUT | LIGHTS OUT | LIGHTS OUT | LIGHTS OUT | LIGHTS OUT |
How we keep teams safe is covered in the "Safety." section above.
- AIM office, toll free: 800-881-2461
- AIM office, local: 770-983-1060
Peace of mind
Safety.
The safety of our participants is a priority for us. We have an internal Risk Management team and external Risk Management consultants. We monitor information from reporting agencies and rely on the knowledge of our ministry partners. Teams will follow both AIM safety protocols and location specific guidelines provided by our ministry hosts. Adventures In Missions (AIM) Mission Leaders are well-trained and experienced leaders. Their purpose is to plan, prepare, and direct your mission team. Your group leaders and chaperones are responsible for the safety and security of the participants under their care. AIM Mission Leaders will lead and advise the group leader on how they can best lead, care for, and protect the participants in accordance with their Mission Leader training, and cultural constraints for the location in which you are serving.
Your guide
Your Mission Leader.
Watch
See Colombia.
Gallery
Photos from Colombia.
Questions
Good to know.
Plan this trip
Plan your Colombia trip.
A Trip Advisor will help you pick a destination, dates, and budget. No commitment.
from $895
Plan this trip