Finding the right mission trip is similar to finding the best airfare for a trip. Every place you look online has a slightly different selection, and you have to know where to look to find what is right for you. There are at least 16 search engines on the Web devoted exclusively to mission opportunities. Perhaps you have students graduating from your ministry, and you are looking to help them find a place to serve. Here are some of the best places to look when it comes to locating an international ministry.
MissionNannys.org
Have some graduating seniors or collegiate who love kids? This is a site where a person willing to serve can be connected to missionary families interested in some help. This may not be Bible translation, but it sure can be a helpful way to encourage some of those front line ministries.
GapAdvice.org
Do some of your students have the bug to travel the world on their own before heading to college? This is a secular site devoted to helping people plan a gap year. Europeans commonly take a year in between secondary school and college to travel and learn. Many American youth are rather mesmerized with the possibility of hostelling Europe. If they are going to do, you might as well help them do it well and wisely. If you’re interested, connect them with a growing network of Christian hostels such as The Shelter in Amsterdam (YouthHostelMinistry.org).
RightNow.org/ServeNow
The RightNow Campaign challenges students to trade in their pursuit of the American dream for opportunity to show the world Christ’s love. As such, their database of short-term listing tends to include organizations focusing on students, as well as smaller, more specialized ministries. This is a great place to steer students who are passionate about investing their lives.
ShortTermMissions.com
Undoubtedly, the most thorough and most-used mission search engine of any on the Web, this listing database has the advantage of being current and widespread. While not as specialized as some of the ones mentioned above, I recommend that everyone searching stop by this site before landing on an opportunity.
For a full listing of mission opportunity search engines, surf over to STMToolbox.org/resources. Wherever you send your students to look for opportunities, be sure to model the importance of prayer and include the input of wise mentors in their decision-making process.
David Bosworth is the Executive Director of STM Toolbox, an organization devoted to equipping, connecting and serving coordinators of short-term mission by reviewing published resources and collecting/distributing unpublished resources in short term mission. More resources for short-term mission can be found at STMToolbox.org.
