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Seven Reasons Why Every Parent Should Send Their Youth on a Summer Missions Trip
- July 8, 2023
- Posted by: Marcel Sanchez
- Category: Building Teams and Developing Leaders Developing Spiritual Disciplines Mission Trips Spiritual Life
What is one of the most impactful experiences a youth can have in today’s world to grow their spiritual character, develop leadership skills, gain greater self-awareness, appreciate the rich cultures of other countries, learn new social skills, build teamwork, serve those in need, and accelerate their compassion?
Is it spending three days inside Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park? They would have a great time, but no.
Is it a 10-day cruise all around the world? That would be quite expensive, but no.
Is it Calle Ocho? They would certainly learn to dance within a matter of minutes, but no.
Is it a global virtual reality game? They may enjoy this considerably and invite their friends to join them, but no.
So, what’s the answer to the most impactful experience a youth can gain during their time off in the summer?
A summer missions trip is the answer. It's not a vacation. It's so much more impactful. These trips serve as a catalyst to build resilient character and infuse a unique global perspective. They have a unique way of shaping many hearts for God's eternal purposes.
In today’s article, let’s explore some of the benefits youth receive as they embark on a summer missions trip.
1. Spiritual Formation: It deepens their spiritual engagement with Jesus.
There’s something special about removing yourself from everything familiar, routine, and predictable to embrace the unfamiliar, the ever-changing, and the unpredictable. A measure of excitement and curiosity begin to develop almost instinctively.
And in the process, you’re much more aware of God’s presence and work around you. You begin to see God’s hand at work in the people you’re serving. What surprises you is the work that God begins to do in your life as you carry out His purposes.
As youth focus on Christ and seek to know Him more, they begin to ask a series of questions:
“How can I learn from my parent’s spiritual heritage?”
“What does God have planned for my life?”
“Where can I find answers to my spiritual questions?”
“What is God doing around the world?”
“Am I a selfish person?”
“What is this trip teaching me that needs to change in my life?”
“What does God want from my life?”
“How can I be more consistent in how I serve others?”
“How can I help my parents without complaining so much?”
“What do my parents need from me the most?”
“What can I do more regularly to show appreciation to my parents and my siblings?”
“How can I become a better student?”
“How can I become a better friend?”
“How can I become a better follower of Jesus?”
“What skills do I still need to learn to grow my character?”
“What skills do I need to learn and practice more intentionally?”
“Where does God want me to attend college, university, or technical school?”
“What does God want me to do for work?”
“Where would God want me to live?”
“How can I prepare myself for my future spouse?”
What changed? Well, now Christ is the One leading the conversation.
Instead of the goal focused primarily on what YOU want to do in life, it now shifts to what JESUS wants for your life.
This is the result of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.
Although you may have read this passage of scripture 1,000 times, now you’re in an environment that facilitates active listening skills.
Now you can clearly understand what Jesus is saying and what you should do next as a result of His words.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, ESV)
This is what we as parents long for our teenagers to experience.
We want them to experience an abiding relationship with Jesus, but are we willing to let them travel to a place where we have not first explored for ourselves?
Are we willing to relinquish “control” for them to experience all that God has planned for their lives?
You see, the faith formation of your teenager is shaped in your presence and beyond your presence.
There are some things that God wants to teach them, but He has to remove you temporarily to help them focus and grow their faith on their own.
2. Empathy and Compassion: It cultivates empathy towards others and a heart for serving those in need.
Helping your teenager find books, read articles, or watch documentaries about people in need can serve a good purpose. Serving those with spiritual, physical, and social needs is much more impactful.
There’s no greater learning than experiential learning. Serving those in need helps you to identify with their experience and understand their unique challenges. This direct interaction often grows a heart of empathy and compassion.
This reminds me when Jesus was about to feed the multitudes. His engagement with the people over a three-day period touched His heart in a special way.
“Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’” (Matthew 15:32)
What happens when you have this direct engagement as you serve people from other cultures?
Although you may not be very good at remembering names, your direct interaction of serving someone in need imprints their name on your mind and heart forever.
Although you may not be the kind of person that cries easily, you’re often surprised by how deeply you’ve been touched as a result of your personal interactions.
Although you may not know the names of popular global political figures, you’ll never forget the genuine appreciation local leaders demonstrated as you served their communities.
And there’s usually one specific person, often a child, that expresses their gratitude in culturally relevant ways.
It shakes the very thread of your heart while disarming you completely of any misguided thinking you may gripped in your mind.
What kind of impact would this have on your life today? It would be nothing short of powerful.
Now imagine what could happen in the life of your teenager if their lives were touched by God at such a young age as they served people from different cultures.
Imagine how that might change the trajectory of their lives for a more impactful future.
This becomes one of those unforgettable moments. It reminds us of Paul’s powerful charge to the believers in his letter to the Colossians.
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12, CSB)
3. Global Awareness: It increases their awareness of global issues while challenging them to act on behalf of others, fostering a sense of responsibility.
Many teenagers today can easily become overwhelmed by watching the news online or scrolling through news apps on their mobile phones.
With that in mind, how can parents increase global awareness?
Summer missions trips serve to answer that question.
Hearing the challenges faced by people in different countries and cultures can serve to cultivate personal responsibility and greater involvement.
Here’s the beautiful part in all this. Now, when one of your teenager’s friends says something about “people in those countries,” your teenager will think and respond differently.
Why? Well, because the world has become more personal to your youth.
They ate the food in their restaurants, experienced unusual hospitality and kindness.
They laughed together with the locals, celebrated events together, and shared the message of Christ through their performances and collaboration with local churches.
This experience is not something they’ll ever forget. And it is one they will hold close to their hearts.
Who knows. They might start businesses with a global impact or decide to study education with the goal of teaching at an international school within a foreign country. Wow! That would be amazing right?
God may use this trip to help your teenager explore different career paths. Since it exposes them to different professions and potential career paths, the Lord may use this summer experience to help them discern their passions and His will for their lives.
It all starts with being present and engaged with people from other countries and cultures.
An obviously, what precedes this is your willingness and support in helping them get there.
4. Cultural Exposure: It allows them to experience and appreciate different cultures, producing a broader perspective in their lives.
Cultural Exposure develops cross-cultural communication skills. It serves to enhance their ability to communicate effectively across diverse backgrounds.
Even if your teenager doesn’t speak the language of the culture fluently, they will intuitively pick up on common phrases, facial gestures, hand expressions, local traditions, street signs, excellent food, and so much more.
And these “small things” will give them a unique advantage as they return home and build their lives.
This list below provides a glimpse into the diversity of popular cultures worldwide, but it is by no means exhaustive as there are countless other fascinating cultures to explore.
Japanese culture Indian culture Chinese culture Peruvian culture Brazilian culture
Mexican culture French culture Italian culture British culture African culture
Russian culture German culture Spanish culture Korean culture Canadian culture
Australian culture Thai culture Greek culture Egyptian culture Turkish culture
Jamaican culture Irish culture Swedish culture Argentine culture Indonesian culture
Culture is one of God’s gifts to us.
The more you experience and understand different cultures, the more you will appreciate all that God has created.
By itself, one culture is not the full expression of God’s wisdom and glory.
But collectively, once we combine every culture, we have a broader understanding of God’s infinite wisdom and eternal purposes.
Heaven will consist of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. This is intentional and it is by God’s perfect design.
“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10, CSB)
5. Personal Growth: It fosters personal development, independence, and self-confidence.
Personal growth is a process not an event.
Every young person grows at a different pace spiritually, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially.
What helps is when our teenagers can find ways to accelerate or boost their growth in these key areas to later adjust at a sustainable pace.
Do you want your teenager to thrive?
Of course you do. Doing everything for them will stop this desire in it’s tracks.
For your young adult to develop in each of the five aforementioned areas, you have to deliberately get yourself out of the way.
Your kids need to hear another voice of wisdom, see another example of godliness, and embrace new challenges on their own.
How can you make a BIG contribution to the personal development of your teenager?
Send them on a summer missions trip.
How can you make a BIG contribution to developing independence in your teenager?
Send them on a summer missions trip.
How can you make a BIG contribution to building up the self-confidence in your teenager?
You know the answer: Send them on a summer missions trip.
This is how they can grow in knowledge and wisdom.
This is how they can learn to discover their unique identity in Christ.
This is how they can build favor with other students and community leaders.
This is how a young boy can start forming into a godly man.
This is how a young girl can start forming into a godly woman.
And most importantly, this is how they can experience God’s favor in action as they see His hand working through their acts of love, mercy, and service.
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52, NIV)
6. Leadership Development: It provides opportunities to develop leadership skills and take initiative.
One of the unique advantages of being away from home, especially in a new culture, is that it forces you to take action as part of a team rather than wait to be told what to do by your parents.
In most mission trips, students are given specific roles and responsibilities to manage throughout their entire trip.
This may involve serving as support staff to manage technology, audio equipment, costumes, tools, food and water, resources, and others.
Although it may be a new experience for youth to develop, trip directors are often amazed at how quickly students assume full responsibility for their assignments and perform each one with excellence and attention to detail.
Leadership skills are developed in action rather than in inactivity. But a key component here is the opportunity to lead.
How can you grow leadership skills when you’re not given the opportunity to lead?
You can’t when no opportunity exists.
How can you grow your leadership skills when you’re never given the opportunity to fail or succeed?
You can’t when there’s no training to test and develop your skills.
How can you develop your leadership skills when the people around you do everything for you?
You can’t because you become almost co-dependent and get yourself out of the way before taking the first step forward to act.
You get the point.
Even if your youth is mocked because of their faith in the process of serving people from other countries and cultures, as hard as it may be for you to believe, this will serve to develop greater endurance, strength of character, and confident hope in their salvation.
They won’t have to read another book or memorize an entire book of the Bible to get this.
All they have to do is show up and be fully present in the space that God has placed them in to grow and become more like their Savior, Jesus Christ.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4, NLT)
7. Teamwork and Collaboration: It promotes teamwork, cooperation, selflessness, and problem-solving in a cross-cultural setting.
Working together is better, but not always common practice for today’s teenager.
Let’s be honest. Most adults have difficulty working together with other adults. Ouch! That hurts right?
What could happen if your teenager learned key soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, cooperation, time management, and problem-solving to name just a few?
Well, they can. Here is yet another benefit of participating in a summer missions trip: character development.
Not only do students learn about the beauty of other cultures, but they also learn about the importance of developing their character to make these mission trips a success.
Students learn the value of teamwork and the importance of everyone “pulling their own weight” and getting things done.
When one student is being lazy, the others can challenge them to step up and focus on the priorities at hand.
Most of these trips require constant interaction with other students.
Let’s face it; we can all get frustrated or impatient at times.
These cross-cultural experiences allow our students to see things and respond through a different perspective and solve problems together as a team.
As they learn from their leaders and learn from one another, the Lord may show them how areas of selfishness continue to get in the way of serving others and making progress.
And when this happens, the results can be life-changing experiences that shape their character for many years ahead.
Conclusion
If your son or daughter is on a missions trip this summer, I hope this article serves to encourage you in your faith.
Pray for the spiritual formation of your teenager.
Pray for them to learn how to abide in Jesus and enjoy His presence.
Pray that God would use this trip to produce lasting spiritual fruit in their lives.
Pray for your teenager to grow in God’s compassion and empathy for others around them.
Ask the Lord to enlarge their heart and mind.
Ask God to develop their spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, and experiences to be used for God’s kingdom purposes.
Pray for their heart to be a global heart, focused on doing their part to reach the nations for Jesus with the message of the Gospel.
Ask God to give them a broader understanding, appreciation, and love for people of different cultures.
Pray for the Lord to give them a burning passion to leverage their studies and career paths for God’s global mission.
Ask the Lord to develop their character along with their soft skills to continue developing into a godly leader.
And as they return home this summer, plan to encourage them more, call out what you see God doing in their lives, and continue to serve as a godly example for them to follow.
For more information on how these trips can serve to strengthen the faith of your teenager, please visit Time International.
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