Why Send Your Teen on a Mission Trip?

1. “It wasn’t about us.” In other words, they spent their week off focusing on other people, not indulging themselves. For American boys, that’s a sacrifice. They could have slept late or vacationed like they’ve done in the past (and likely will in future years). But this one time, they stepped out to serve others. They shared the gospel of Jesus—that he had forgiven and saved them and he could do that for their listeners, too—and endured the challenges of a different culture in order to bless others.
2. “The people were amazing!” Both boys came home with stories about specific people. Jack says that Lenny “is the coolest kid ever.” His family doesn’t attend the church, so he goes alone. He joined the American kids as they traversed the city, went to their worship services, hung out with them during siesta time. He and Jack just clicked. Nate swore he would have taken the 3-year-old daughter in his host home if the child didn’t already have parents. “She was the cutest thing ever!” he gushed. Both of them were impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of the people, recognizing that their personal evangelism style would not work well in most American cities. “You could tell when some of them were just being polite, but they still invited us in and listened anyway.” And sometimes, those reluctant listeners found a new life…
   1. “Seeing God work right in front of us.” In a previous post, I shared Nate’s experience preaching an evangelistic message to a large group of children. But much more happened. One morning, as they visited a home, several older teens/young men were there with their parents. The local pastor had briefed Nate’s group that one of the youth was a drug dealer and the parents were very worried about him. During their gospel presentation, the young men appeared bored but resigned to the encounter. But as they continued talking, one of the young Nicaraguan men started shaking and sweating. The Americans concluded with a prayer that included the gospel invitation, and that young man–the drug dealer, as it happened–gave his life to Christ. At another home, the wife suffered from alcoholism and was not completely lucid, but her husband listening from the back of the room accepted Christ after the visitors presented the gospel. On both occasions, Nate said he’d never seen anything like it before. “The Spirit was so obviously there, working right in front of us,” he said.

Why teen missions? To change lives, of both the visited and the visitors. Whether they build, repair, or beautify practical structures for local communities, or walk door to door sharing the gospel, the visitors bring blessing to their host communities. Individuals lives are drastically changed, blessed, challenged, encouraged. And for the teens stepping out in service and faith, their perspective on God changes. Their view of the world, and of themselves, undergoes an attitude adjustment.

So, imagine your teen, or your friend’s child, wants to join a team going overseas later this summer. How can you respond?

1. Encouragement—Help them prepare, bolster their confidence, address their fears.
2. Support—Emotional and financial resources show you really mean it.
3. Prayer—Don’t forget God’s role in all of it.