A few years ago, I met Steve, a high school kid and professed atheist. He and I spent a week together on a mission trip, visiting old people and leading a Vacation Bible School for kids. Without meaning to, in the midst of serving, Steve encountered Christ, so much so that that week he came to believe in Christ.
It’s stories such as Steve’s that illustrate how, as Tony Campolo says, “Conversion can and does occur in the context of praxis. What young people do can determine what they think and believe.” For this reason, I have for years allowed any student who wants to attend a mission trip to do so, regardless of where he or she is in the faith journey.
The problem with this approach is that it has left me without a clear way of determining who can and cannot participate in mission trips. As a result, there have been years when the only thing my students had to do in order to attend a mission trip was turn in a deposit, something I fear fostered consumerism and a sense of entitlement.
Given this, I’ve often wondered, what’s a better approach for choosing your mission trip team?
The answer, I’ve found, lies in focusing on commitment rather than spiritual maturity. To do this, allow any student who wants to participate in a mission trip to do so, regardless of where he or she is spiritually, as long as the student is able to commit to three things:
1. Completing a written application. This forces students to reflect on their faith journeys and wrestle with why they want to participate in the trip and what they hope to gain from it. At the same time, reading these applications allows you to get to know students and figure out how best to lead and minister to them individually and as a team. This in turn, helps you spot red-flags so you can deal with potential issues before they become problematic.
2. Fundraising. By giving team members direct financial ownership of their trip, fundraising combats consumerism while also uniting team members by giving them a common goal to work toward.
3. Participating in trip meetings. This fosters unity by giving team members the opportunity to form strong relationships with one another, study Scripture together, and explore the culture of the area where they’ll be serving.
In addition to uniting team members, such a commitment prepares your team for the trip. As a result, your team members will be ready and able to support, encourage and challenge one another, deal with conflict and process the experience that awaits them, something that will increase the long-term impact of your trip on your team, congregation and community.
Rather than emphasizing perfection as measured by people’s spiritual maturity, the above approach allows you to focus on your students’ desire to serve, as demonstrated by their willingness to make a commitment to do so. This, in turn, mirrors how I believe Jesus chose His mission team of apostles. Rather than expect perfection from them, Jesus expected commitment, knowing that in honoring their commitment they would grow.
Indeed, they did. Just as Steve, the kid I met on the mission trip many years ago, also grew in his faith journey by honoring his commitment to serve as such a commitment will prompt growth in your kids’ faith journeys.
