Parenting Points
Mission trips offer transformative experiences for families to gain a heart for others and step out in faith, but not every family can embark on a traditional mission trip overseas. However, you can create a meaningful mission trip experience right at home, serving in your community.
Discuss the Importance of Mission. Start by discussing what serving on mission means to your family. Engage your children in conversations about serving others and why it matters. Share stories of Biblical figures who demonstrated selfless service, such as Jesus washing the disciples’ feet or the Good Samaritan. These discussions can help inspire a heart for service and prepare them for the hands-on activities you’ll undertake together.
Select a Mission Project. Choose a specific focus for your home mission trip experience. Consider areas where your family can make a tangible difference in your community. This could involve volunteering at local shelters, food banks, or elderly care homes. Research opportunities that resonate with your family’s interests and passions, ensuring that everyone feels excited and engaged in the process.
Plan Your Mission Project. Once you’ve identified a few projects, plan for your mission trip. Dedicate a weekend or a week to immerse your family in service. Start each day with a prayer, asking for God’s guidance and blessings over the work you will do. This reinforces the spiritual aspect of your mission and maintains a focus on serving others for His glory.
Reflect on Your Mission Project. Additionally, don’t forget to reflect on your experiences together. At the end of each day, gather as a family to discuss what you learned, how you felt, and what impact your service had on others. Encourage each member to share their thoughts and feelings, reinforcing the idea that every act of kindness, no matter how small, carries significant weight in God’s kingdom.
Make It a Regular Mission Project. Consider extending your mission service beyond the initial home experience by establishing ongoing community involvement. Encourage your children to take initiative in organizing monthly service projects or finding ways to support causes they are passionate about. This can instill a lifelong commitment to service and help them recognize that mission work can happen anywhere.
Creating a mission trip experience at home allows your family to grow closer to each other and to God as you serve your community. By investing in the lives of others, you get to be a part of building God’s kingdom in your city.
–Dr. Ben Birdsong
Director of European Expansion for First Priority Global Ministries
