Family Mission Trips: 8 Ways to Prepare

by Sally Matheny

This post covers 8 ways to prepare for family mission trips. Perhaps you’re considering your first outreach as a family.

Remember the mission field begins first in our homes and then extends everywhere else—our community, country, and world.

There’s something very unifying and special when a family ventures together to serve others in the name of Christ.

Many mission organizations require team members to be at least twelve years old, sometimes even older. However, there are several, especially in the United States, who welcome younger children by planning mission trips to include the entire family.

Plus, you can always plan your own outreach event without going through an organization.

If you choose to venture outside of your immediate area, here are a eight ways to help your children prepare.

Prayer and Purpose

Essential for a successful trip, with all its details and decisions, is earnest prayer. Through prayer and discussion, focus on the purpose of the trip.

A trip planned for serving others, rather than ourselves, puts our faith into action.  Flexibility and working as a team strengthen the family. Leaning to trust God with the details, and most of all, with the results, prepares us for further service.      

Remind one another of the Great Commission and the need for Christ. Pray continually for the people your family will serve. Every detail—the victories and the snags—must be entrusted to God.

Ask others to keep your family in their prayers as you prepare for the trip, as you travel, and as you serve.

Reading and Sharing

During family devotion times, include scriptures on the Great Commission as well as those on serving others. Share stories from the Bible about people who told others about Jesus.

Perhaps read some of the biographies found at Christian Book.com. My children and I have especially enjoyed the ones by YWAM Publishing. The ones about how missionaries grew in their faith and how God used them to spread the gospel are so inspiring!

Regularly share with one another how God is working in your lives and it will become easier to conduct these same conversations with those outside of your home.

Give older children opportunities to practice sharing their faith in a comfortable environment before stretching beyond their comfort zones. Remind the family of how God works through our weaknesses.

Destination

Show your children the destination on a map. If possible, let them highlight your travel route and allow them to take this map on the trip.

Whether it is within or outside the United States, research the culture of the area you will serve. Always be mindful of the laws and customs of the area you visit. Do you need to learn some phrases in a new language? Conduct a special family night. Serve foods commonly served at the place you’ll visit. Watch a movie or read a book about the area.

Discuss how this is not a vacation. It’s not all about our comfort and pleasure. While there will be fun moments, the focus is on the mission. Most likely, there will be times that challenge their patience and endurance.

Packing and Traveling

Allow children to help with some of the packing. If there is a required packing list, let children help check off items. Give them choices, when possible. This will be another opportunity for children, and parents, to practice flexibility and sacrifice.

Will you be taking items to the people you will be serving? This may be Bibles, VBS materials, candy, or other supplies. Enlist the help of your children in collecting and packing the items.

Ask children what they can do in route to your destination to be an encouragement to others?

Our family enjoys filling plastic storage bags with packaged crackers, juice pouches, Christian magazines, and other items. We leave them for the housekeeping staff at each hotel when we depart. We also hand them out to the downtrodden people we see sitting by the roadside when we are stopped at intersections.

Encourage your children to journal or draw pictures about the mission trip. Help them collect mementos at each stop. Collect items such as brochures, tree leaves, and photos, when permissible. When you return home, these can be transferred to a scrapbook or a lap book. Mementos provide opportunities for your kids to share about their mission trip.

Service Opportunities for All

If possible, plan service opportunities that include every member of your family. Running errands, assisting with laundry or just befriending another child are areas of ministry. Stress how God uses all things (big and little) for His glory.

Remind your children they are there to serve others. Talk about how to do that in a way pleasing to God. Perhaps role-play appropriate and inappropriate ways such as serving with humbleness vs. haughtiness.

Also, remember to include Jesus. Repairing a roof for someone benefits him now but sharing Jesus Christ with him offers an eternal reward as well. Be intentional and pray for opportunities to witness about Christ’s love.

Spiritual Warfare

If your children are old enough to understand good and evil, then they will understand that obstacles and difficulties will arise. Discuss the importance of prayer, staying in the Word, and not giving in when difficulties arise.

Before the trip, talk about possible trials and temptations and how the family can help each other.

Testing comes when the unexpected occurs. Understand that the spiritual maturity levels vary in each family. Teach by example by showing the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Although no one wants difficulties, they produce great opportunities for spiritual growth.

Zeal

Address any of your children’s concerns about the trip with patience and clear communication. Let your love for the Lord and enthusiasm to serve overflow to your children.

Plan for times of rest and for play during your trip. Both will be needed.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:10-12 (NIV)

Resources

Excited about planning a family mission trip? Below are a few links to get you started!

Baptists on Mission – Children’s Missions Education

I highly recommend this family mission camp. They have two locations in North Carolina. They offer opportunities to serve for a few hours or longer. Their statement about weekend experiences for families: “Join one of our Mission Camps for an overnight FAMILY Mission Weekend!  Register your family now as there is limited space available! Come as a family to serve together as a family (children 5 and up). Lodging and 3 meals (and snacks) included in the cost! There will be a time of worship together as a family, games and activities, age appropriate mission projects on Saturday, and fellowship time for all! Arrive on Friday for dinner and depart Saturday afternoon! Registration at 4:00 pm on Friday!” Cost:  $21 (over 12 yrs old) $10 (5-12 yrs old). 

Praying Pelicans Missions

We Are Family – Preparing Your Kids for Global Missions

Has your family ventured on a mission trip together? Share with us some of your helpful tips or resources!