missionary trips in the united states

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mission trips

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Detroit, MI

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Minneapolis - Saint Paul

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Peru - Amazon

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The Carolinas

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Washington, D.C.

Get all the information you need about our mission trips and what your group can expect as they serve on mission with Praying Pelican.

Deepen your youth mission trip by doing ministry built on genuine partnerships, long term relationships, and sustainable ministry.

College students are looking for a place to make a meaningful impact. Amplify that impact by partnering alongside a local church.

Our customizable mission trips allow each person on your team of adults to find a place to serve, regardless of their interests or skills.

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Francis Githinji

Kenya | March 7, 2024

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Peru - Amazon | October 28, 2023

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When disasters strike, the Church is on the front lines of response and relief efforts, working with local authorities and organizing grassroots efforts to meet the pressing needs of their communities.

Follow along with teams as they serve in disaster areas around the world, and also read about the experiences of past teams who have served in those areas through Praying Pelican Missions. Our disaster trip journals are a great way to stay connected with those support teams as they work locally and internationally to offer encouragement and assist the local Church in what might be their greatest time of need!

trip journals

Mission Trip Journals

Follow along with teams as they go on mission, and read about the experiences of past teams who have served with Praying Pelican.

Recent Trip Journals

Fremont Alliance Church

Minneapolis - Saint Paul, MN | June 7, 2024

Young Adult/College Mission Trip - First Pres Fort Lauderdale

Nicaragua | June 7, 2024

Good News Youth

Valentine Missions

Peru - Amazon | June 7, 2024

FBC Salado Youth

Tulsa, OK | June 7, 2024

First United Methodist Church

Memphis, TN | June 7, 2024

Domestic Mission Trips

Spread god's love in the usa.

Domestic mission trips play a powerful role in the United States' relationship with the Church. When Jesus commanded us to go into the world and share the Gospel, he was quick to include instructions to go into our own backyard as well.

At Praying Pelican Missions, we believe in the impact of sharing the Gospel, both domestically and internationally. From our hometown of Minneapolis, to our fellow citizens on the island of Puerto Rico, domestic mission trips are diverse in opportunities to serve, cultural experiences, and community needs. Serve on a mission trip alongside a local pastor who is passionate about reaching fellow Americans with the love of Christ and impact a local community as you serve alongside established ministry partners doing incredible work in your host location. Chicago, Miami, Alaska, Appalachia, and Washington DC are just a few of the dynamic and engaging locations desiring teams to come and serve on a mission trip.

Oftentimes, mission teams think of international locations first when planning a mission trip, but we encourage you to consider serving domestically. We challenge you not to think of domestic mission trips as only a “stepping stone” for your group. Instead, we desire to see rooted, long-term partnerships established for your team here, just as they can be internationally!

Domestic mission trips are excellent for groups looking to stay closer to home, keep travel costs down, or to serve in an area of our country you feel particularly drawn to. Check out our list of locations and their various community needs and stay home this year, serving in the USA!

Locations Our Teams Serve In

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INTERNATIONAL

Our customizable mission trips allow each person on your team of adults to find a place to serve, regardless of their interest or skills.

Africa's many countries boast a wide array of beauty, culture and needs. Destinations include Kenya and South Africa.

Serve with Praying Pelican across the Caribbean—locations include Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico.

Serve with Praying Pelican across the Central America—locations include Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

This is your opportunity to serve alongside a local church and experience God in a different culture—from Belize, to Cuba, to South Africa and beyond.

From our hometown of Minneapolis to the island of Puerto Rico, USA mission trips are diverse in service opportunities, cultural experiences, and community needs.

Missionary Work in the USA: Trips, Organizations, and Opportunities

November 19, 2020 Missions

Missionary work is important. As Christians, we want everyone to get a chance to know Jesus and receive the gift of salvation. That’s where missionary work comes in.

What is missionary work in the USA? Missionary work in the United States is following Jesus and making disciples who know and love him. This is done through relationship building, sharing the gospel, and different types of ministry outreach in short to long term programs.

Jesus calls us to make disciples of every nation, including our own nation. And we are also called to love our neighbors, and we have neighbors living right next to us who are broken and hurting and in need of a savior.

Mission Trips In The USA:

Here are the best mission trips opportunities I found.

Praying Pelicans Mission Trips

Praying Pelican Missions is dedicated to seeing Jesus known both internationally and domestically.

In their domestic trips within the USA, participants get to work alongside pastors, churches, and ministry leaders in order to share the gospel as well as grow in their own relationship with Jesus.

These trips range from 5-7 days and individuals who go on them usually fundraise anywhere from $250 to $700 depending on the location.

Locations include Alaska, the Appalachian region, the Carolinas, Native American Reservations, New England, Washington D.C., Pittsburg, Chicago, Houston, Miami, and more.

There are multiple dates for these trips and ways to sign up as a group or family, so no matter where you serve, you’re sure to grow the relationships within your group, grow in your own relationship with Jesus, and most importantly, grow God’s Kingdom.

If you’d like to find out more about Praying Pelicans Missions Trips click here .

Mission Trips With World Race America

World Race America is an 11-month mission trip all across the United States which focuses on bringing revival and Jesus’ love to every state the participants visit.

Participants must be 18-35 years old and fundraise $11,000 for the trip for their travels.

During World Race America, racers get to travel to over 30 different states where they partner with churches and ministries to not just reach those in the Bible-belt but to also reach the homeless, the addicts, and the least of these.

This route across the United States changes each year, but each squad will get to travel in a World Race van.

Participants also get to connect with and work with other World Race alumni who traveled the world for 11 months learning how to serve and work with different ministries.

Of course, Racers will attend a 10-day training camp before they are launched on their trip and learn skills of how to evangelize, collect ideas for how to teach others about the Bible, and prepare for different types of ministry they will encounter on the road.

If you’d like to find out more about World Race America click here .

Global Frontier Missions Trips

Global Frontier Missions (GFM) is a missionary training program that offers three short term trips for individuals who wish to learn more about how to share the gospel, make disciples, and grow in their own faith.

The first opportunity that Global Frontier Missions offers is a one day tour in Atlanta.

During the tour, participants will be able to experience going to a Mosque or Temple and learn about how to reach different people groups within their own community.

The second trip consists of a more strategic approach to sharing the gospel cross-culturally. In this trip, individuals will spend three days with leaders and be trained on how to share the gospel with people of different cultures as well as be exposed to different religions.

They will interact with internationals, experience ethnic restaurants and religious establishments, and prayer walk and evangelize in multi-ethnic communities.

The last short term opportunity with GFM is a summer internship that focuses on training 18-25-year-old students on how to partner with churches, build relationships with international students, and engage their college campuses with the gospel.

If you’d like to learn more about Global Frontier Missions and their trips in the USA click here .

Organizations:

Here are the best mission organizations that work in the US.

Youth With A Mission (YWAM)

YWAM is an international missions organization that trains and sends missionaries through their Discipleship Training Schools and their University of the Nations.

They also provide different opportunities for outreach within their short or long-term trips.

Though YWAM offers many trips all over the world, they also do a great job of offering loads of opportunities for people looking to see revival spread across America.

In the USA, YWAM participants can sign up for Discipleship Training School (DTS) and spend five-six months being trained in missions and then practicing what they’ve trained at different sites all over America.

Apart from their DTSs, YWAM also has outreaches from the east coast to the west. These include skaters outreach, sports outreach, arts outreach, beach outreach, homeless outreach, and more.

Since YWAM has an overwhelming amount of opportunities, finding the best fit begins with asking God to lead you and pursuing what ministry he’s given you a passion for.

To find out more about YWAM and how you can get involved, click here .

Baptists on Mission

Baptists on Mission in a missions organization that provides training, mission trips, camps, and different types of ministry outreach in specific states within the USA.

These opportunities can be found in Hawaii, North Carolina, the Appalachian Coalfields, New England, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and the Rocky Mountains.

Baptists on Mission also have an incredible college mission trip where participants spend three days in any of Baptists on Mission’s locations where they can witness to college students and young adults.

If you’re passionate about college students or even a college student yourself, you’re sure to find opportunities with Baptists on Mission to also train college-age individuals on how to share the gospel and reach their schools for Christ.

These trips can be customizable and flexible and the leaders of these trips try to work with you to see the best results for each different campus.

Other types of mission trips and outreaches that Baptists on Mission offer are youth outreaches, disaster relief, construction projects, elderly outreach, sports and children outreach, servant evangelism ministry, and more.

If you’d like to learn more about Baptists on Mission and how to get involved click here .

Ethnos 360’s goal is to see a thriving church in every nation, including the nation of the USA.

Ethnos 360 has multiple opportunities within their organization. These include chances to apply for a local mission trip within the United States, opportunities for volunteering at one of their sites, and opportunities to work alongside churches in order to train and equip congregations to share the gospel.

The best part about Ethnos 360 is that on their website they have lists of long term opportunities in the USA for full time missionaries.

Missionaries can browse through different ministry options and apply for their career in missions at Ethnos 360 as they seek God’s will and ask for direction.

Some examples of these careers in missions include aviation, business administration, and childcare lead teacher.

Missionaries who partner with Ethnos 360 also get to work with local churches to find the best ways to engage with their communities.

To learn more about Ethnos 360 and how to get involved, click here.

World Gospel Missions (WGM)

World Gospel Missions is an incredible organization that partners with missionaries to equip them and get them ready for the field, whether that’s halfway across the world or right here in the USofA.

WGM has multiple opportunities for missionaries who want to serve in the United States, including a missions career database where missionaries can search career opportunities that fit their skill level and give them a chance to work with churches and companies that want to advance God’s Kingdom.

Other opportunities include short and long term mission trips, internships, and ministry outreaches in Arizona, Texas, and California.

Through their trips, internships, and ministries, WGM especially focuses on cross-cultural outreach and offers participants the chance to work with immigrants from Yemen, Syria, Bangladesh, and Hispanic countries.

Though people from these countries are vastly different from us and far from their original homes, WGM seeks to remind them that once they accept Jesus, they become a part of God’s family and their true home becomes heaven.

Other opportunities for participants and volunteers with WGM include partnering with churches, putting on Bible camps, caring for people in hospice care, and organizing after-school activities, all the while building relationships and serving those within the community.

WGM also allows their participants to work with and learn from already stationed missionaries and retired missionaries in the area.

Whether you’re wanting to plant a church, work with refugees and immigrants, or lead a youth ministry, WGM will be committed to helping you to get there through hands-on experience in missions right here in the USA.

If you’d like to learn more about World Gospel Missions and how to get involved, click here .

Mission Opportunities Within America:

Here are the best mission opportunities I found.

International House of Prayer

International House of Prayer (IHOP) is based in Kansas City and exists to praise and worship God.

IHOP has been leading 21 years of 24/7 prayer and worship in their facility, leading people to pray unceasingly for our country, the world, and for missions.

You can access their 24/7 live prayer room on their website, but also engage with their different ministry opportunities.

Ministry includes:

• Training kids at their Children’s Equipping Center
• Praying for others in their Healing Rooms
• Encouraging African Americans in their faith in their African American Forerunner Alliance
• Inspiring students on college campuses to start prayer rooms themselves in the Luke 18 Project
• Seeking justice for orphans and the marginalized in the inner city.

IHOP has many other opportunities for outreach as well, some of them allowing for work with youth and gatherings that focus on training others how to evangelize and reach the city and America with the gospel.

If you’d like to learn more about the International House of Prayer and how to get involved, click here .

ABWE International

Although ABWE International works all over the world, they also have a passion for equipping churches and Christians in the United States to reach people with the gospel outside of the church doors.

Now more than ever, large communities of other ethic people groups and other nations are coming here to America and adding to the population of unbelievers in the USA.

ABWE offers churches an opportunity to get involved in cross-cultural ministry even in their own cities.

ABWE trains these churches on how to share the gospel, make disciples, and collaborate with other churches so that together, they can reach the communities of different people groups that are the church’s next-door neighbors.

These training opportunities include biblical teaching, leadership and team development, sports ministries, student ministries, and even teaching on how to share the gospel to Muslims and other people groups in America.

Other opportunities with ABWE International include volunteering at one of their sites or leading their children’s or young adult’s ministry in different locations.

If you want to learn more as a church or as an individual about how to reach your neighbors through ABWE International, click here .

Envision Internships

Envision is a missions organization that hosts 1-11 month internships in over 20 sites in the United States.

Envision lets anyone that is 18 years old or older to participate and starts the internship process with a three day training weekend.

After that, participants are able to embark on their internship with a focused area of ministry in teaching, building relationships, and even coffee ministry.

Each site looks to grow the individual in discipleship, hospitality, and their own skills and faith.

Partnering with local churches and other Christian organizations is also part of Envision’s program, so participants are sure to learn communication and organization skills.

Other than internships, Envision also hosts multiple short term missions trips that are simply on a smaller scale compared to their internships. The trips last 7-10 days and also allow you to sign up as a church group or collegiate ministry group.

If you’d like to learn more about Envision and their Internships and other opportunities, click here .

TEAM Cross-Cultural Student Ministry Summer Internship

TEAM – A Global Alliance of Churches and Missionaries, has a unique opportunity for anyone looking to work in vocational cross-cultural ministry in America or even internationally.

TEAM’s internship focuses on community development, church ministry, and international student ministry.

Each year, over 1,000 international student workers make their way to Virginia Beach to work for the many tourist companies that make their home their.

Participants of this internship are able to spend up to 9 months in Virginia Beach with TEAM, but most choose to stay for the summer.

Participants focus on building relationships with these international students that will allow them to open up the conversation to discussions about Jesus Christ.

As much as it is an internship for evangelism, TEAM’s framework also trains and builds up the participant, giving them room to grow in their own faith and walk with God.

Leadership, discipleship, and organizational skills are learned through this internship as well as many others, and the trips are even customizable to the participant’s strengths and abilities.

To learn more about TEAM’s Cross-Cultural Student Ministry Summer Internship, click here .

Missionary Work In The USA Matters

No matter where God leads you within the United States and no matter what ministry you’ll be doing, know that missionary work in the USA matters.

It matters because it allows us to share the gospel with people and love them so that they can know, love, and worship Jesus for themselves.

Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to do this in our own nation.

There are many people hurting and broken, living without the knowledge that Jesus is Lord. Let’s go and be the hands and feet of Jesus in America.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA MISSION TRIP

By Mission Discovery | 2024-05-28T09:44:58-04:00 April 10, 2024 |

From providing essential resources like food and shelter to offering a listening ear and a helping hand, we can make a tangible difference. You'll dive into hands-on work while also spreading the gospel message.

WESTMORELAND, TENNESSEE MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T10:47:58-04:00 February 29, 2024 |

Your team can make all the difference by taking part in our mission trip to Westmoreland, Tennessee! You will not only improve lives through your hands-on service but also through sharing God’s love with those who are hurting around you. By providing a week of repairs and cleanup for this community, you will change lives forever.

TACOMA, WASHINGTON MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T10:51:47-04:00 February 28, 2024 |

Many people in the Tacoma area don’t have easy access to food, clothing and other basic necessities. You will help with a variety of outreach opportunities and partner with local churches to meet the needs of the community. Our focus will be connecting with residents through service projects and simple acts of kindness. Come see what God is doing in the Pacific Northwest!

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T10:53:44-04:00 February 28, 2024 |

Mission Discovery teams work with an organization that was founded in 1932 and has been providing high-quality care and support through preventive and family intervention programs. With four daycare and child development centers, a teenage care program, and a temporary foster care alternative, you will help ensure children and adolescents have the right to family and community coexistence.

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T11:03:20-04:00 February 28, 2024 |

For the past 10 years Mission Discovery has partnered with local ministries in an effort to offer hope to this area. Join us as we serve Rapid City through physical work projects and outreach initiatives.

PORT DE PAIX, HAITI MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T11:06:19-04:00 February 23, 2024 |

Due to violence, we are currently not able to travel to Haiti. Please continue to pray for the country and the unrest they are experiencing.

PUERTO RICO MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T11:12:33-04:00 February 23, 2024 |

Mission Discovery teams are needed to help restore hope. We will be partnering with local churches and other NGO’s to reach hurricane affected areas and assist as needed.

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI MEDICAL MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T11:16:01-04:00 February 21, 2024 |

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T11:28:43-04:00 February 21, 2024 |

NASSAU, BAHAMAS MISSION TRIP

By Hailey Watson | 2024-05-24T11:38:09-04:00 February 21, 2024 |

Mission Discovery offers a transformative trip to Nassau, Bahamas, where volunteers have the chance to profoundly impact the lives of individuals living with HIV. Volunteers will engage by sitting down with residents, sharing stories, and reminding them of their inherent worth, affirming their place in the community. Through participation in small-scale construction projects, volunteers will also contribute practical improvements and a symbolic message of renewal.

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Christ-centered Mission Trips

Empowering every teenager to know God and be like Jesus in the ways they love and serve others

Trip Finder

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Starting at $429

Weeklong fully set up summer mission trips in over 15 communities.

• Facilitated theme materials and evening activities
• Trained Summer Staff on-site
• Meals and snacks included

New! YW x Trips

Custom Pricing

Year-round custom service experiences that allow space for your discipleship strategy.

• Flexible start and end dates
• Any type of group (college, adult, youth, school, etc)
• Multiple price points

We fuel movements of God through Christ-Centered mission trips that

Disciple students.

We handle all the behind-the-scenes set-up, logistics, and on-site support so that you can lead the discipleship of your students.

Develop Leaders

We've built a mission trip structure that can spot, empower, and launch student leaders.

Serve Communities

We utilize a mission trip model based on servant-leadership that prioritizes what God is already doing through the local Church and community development organizations.

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Catholic Work in the United States

In the United States there is a great struggle with both physical poverty and spiritual poverty. About 46 million Americans live in physical poverty, and many more live in spiritual poverty. In both cases we need to alleviate their suffering and help them meet Christ.

“the future starts today, not tomorrow.” ― pope john paul ii.

Explore the tabs below to learn about the many ways our donors’ dollars are at work in the United States .

Feeding the Hungry

Fulfill the Spiritual and Corporal Works

Feeding the Children of Georgia

Sharing Love, Sharing Lunch

Forming Leaders in the Faith

Bring Souls to God

Parish Evangelization

50.1 Million Americans Struggle to Put Food on the Table

50.1 million Americans struggle to put food on the table. In the US, hunger isn’t caused by a lack of food, but rather the continued prevalence of poverty. In the United States, we struggle to realize the amount of hunger that is all around us. In every twenty people, there is a family of three that cannot put food on the table and goes hungry every day. We know proper nutrition is vital to a child’s growth. That is why Catholic World Mission has partnered with St. Peters Food Pantry in Yonkers, New York. Together with our donors, we have reconstructed the pantry to keep out the cold and provide food throughout the year.

Fr. José Félix, LC runs St. Peter’s Catholic Parish located in a very low income area bordering the Bronx in Yonkers, NY. As part of their way to help the community they operate a food pantry which distributes bags of food to 300 needy families every week.

The Food pantry serves over 300 families regularly and over 1000 families over the holidays when children are home and not getting their meals at school. Ending food poverty in the United States is critical for the future of our children.

Christmas Blessings from South Carolina!

January 2023.

This Christmas, YOU helped St. Anthony’s Mission Catholic Church and St. Andrew’s Kitchen in Hardeeville, South Carolina provide Christmas meals and care packages! The volunteers delivered these meals and packages to 200 homeless in the area. Elizabeth Redway, a coordinator for the project, only had high praise and left the service opportunity with a grateful heart.

“We met some beautiful souls, knocked on many doors, and gave out hugs to those who needed them. The smiles on the faces of those in need when we handed them a hot meal and a bag filled with essentials warmed my heart and made me realize that we are blessed to be a blessing to others.”

This included a family Elizabeth and other volunteers ran into which showed them the true reason for the season:

“We met a family that did not want to take the meals at first because they said there were others that were in a worse situation than they were…Once we assured them that we had plenty to go around, they cried and said that we were truly a blessing. They could not stop hugging us. The dad was especially appreciative of the meal. He said that they did not always live on the street but that they had fallen on hard times and that this meal meant more to them than we would ever realize.”

The team is already eager to help again for the next Christmas season as they saw how many lives were touched firsthand by their servant’s hearts. We thank YOU and your generosity in feeding and providing for Hardeeville, South Carolina!

The Entire City of Hardeeville Benefit from this Local Food Pantry

Christmas 2019.

Thanks to a very generous supporter, this past Christmas – 2019 – we partnered with St. Anthony Mission in South Carolina with the feeding of over 100 people at their Christmas Eve Dinner Event.

St. Anthony Mission in Hardeeville, SC, is a mission parish of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton, SC. St. Anthony Mission is a small diversified parish supporting a food pantry, The Mercy Mission.

The local parish and school, John Paul II Catholic School, hosted a Christmas Eve dinner event for local homeless in their area. The parish provided a hot meal for over 100 people along with gift bags stuffed by the local students from John Paul II Catholic School with personal hygiene items and a gift card to Wendy’s for another hot meal over the holidays.

The entire city of Hardeeville benefit from this local food pantry, which through its services create community and assist those in dire need of help.

Building a Better Pantry

November 2018.

St. Peter’s food pantry has operated the last few years out of an old garage. The roof was caving in, and holes in the siding let in more than the weather. St. Peter’s came to us to ask for help rebuilding their food pantry to serve the immediate needs of their community. We were able to help transform St. Peter’s food pantry from a dilapidated garage, to an insulated and safe structure to work and store food in.

The Diocese of Gallup in the Pandemic

The Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico, is harshly affected by the pandemic. As the poorest diocese in the United States, it serves seven Native American Nations including the Diné (Navajo), Hopi, Zuni, White Mountain Apache, Jicarilla Apache, Laguna, and Acoma nations. It spans over two state boundaries to completely encompass the boundaries of these distinct Native American Reservations and Sovereign Nations.

Resources like running water and electricity are scarce on the Reservations, creating a perfect storm for COVID-19 to run rampant. Without electricity or running water, how are people supposed to wash their hands–one of the simplest defenses against the virus?

You can help today.

“We are, and have always been, ‘a poor Church serving the poor’, as Pope Francis desires.” – The Diocese of Gallup

Unlike the majority of Catholic World Mission’s past projects, The Diocese of Gallup has a combination of 20 parishes/schools, each with their own unique needs due to COVID-19 . Because they are a mission-based diocese, they are heavily reliant on the generosity of others to sustain the ministry.

The spiritual works.

•  To Admonish the Sinner – Some parish confessionals need to be rebuilt to comply with the social distancing regulations. This will provide a safe space for reconciliation.
• To Instruct the Ignorant –  Some parish catechism and RCIA programs, as well as schools, will need to reformat classrooms for social distancing and are in dire need of extra cleaning supplies.
• To Counsel the Doubtful and to Comfort the Sorrowful – In order to continue safe pastoral outreach and visitation, pastors, religious sisters, and lay ministers are in need of protective personal equipment.
• To Bear Wrongs Patiently and to Forgive All Injuries –  Postage funds are needed for parishes to mail uplifting prayers to those who are at risk or suffering, without access to online masses and homilies.
• To Pray for the Living and the Dead –  Additional bulletin funds are needed to announce mass intentions and parish news, as many bulletin advertisers are no longer sustaining ads in parish bulletins. Bulletins will be mailed to parishioners without the internet in remote regions.

The Corporal Works

• To Feed the Hungry –  Some parishes host food banks. Due to a greater need for food because of pandemic-related job losses, parishes will be distributing supermarket gift cards to those in need.
• To Give Drink to the Thirsty – Because many of the Native Americans don’t have running water at home, the parishes allow parishioners to use the church’s water supplies. To provide safe and reliable water, many hoses and equipment must be replaced.
• To Clothe the Naked – Some parishes provide thrift shops, which will be hosted more frequently due to the increased need. More personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies are needed, as well.
• To Visit the Imprisoned – Pastors, religious sisters, and lay ministers are in need of protective personal equipment to continue safe pastoral outreach and visitation.
• To Shelter the Homeless – Some parishes use “rectory annexes” to house the homeless overnight. To provide a safe space, parishes are increasing their regular cleaning schedules and are in need of additional supplies.
• To Visit the Sick – In order to continue safe pastoral outreach and visitation, pastors, religious sisters, and lay ministers are in need of protective personal equipment.
• To Bury the Dead – Additional personal protective equipment is needed for pastoral visitations and funerals.

Getting Help to Those Who Need it Most

You helped 11 churches and 9 schools hit hard by the pandemic, who struggle during normal times. These churches and schools decided how best to serve their community getting help to those who need it most. Like St. Paul’s Catholic Church, a small predominately Navajo parish in Crown Point, New Mexico. Without running water or electricity this rural parish depends on wood as a fuel source. The elderly use wood for cooking their meals and to provide warmth. Your donation helped supply wood and impacted the community in two ways; the person providing the wood earned money for their work and the recipients benefited. One elderly women exclaimed, “I’m so glad you came. I don’t have any more wood and no money to buy any.”

Your generosity also provided hand sanitizing stations for their church, food and other supplies. Sanitizer stations eliminate the need to handle bottles-further preventing the spread of germs and keeping the elderly and handicapped safe.

You helped Sacred Heart Cathedral provide 7 families with $100 each when they needed it most and meals to many who come to the church for help during these unprecedented times. You provided urgently needed water, sanitizer, food boxes and food coupons to provide for families’ nutrition in Christ the King, St. Jude, and Our Lady of Fatima parishes. In doing so, you helped others to share in the collection, distribution, and sharing of these gifts. You facilitated a culture of empowering the poor and sharing the Gospel through acts of works of mercy. Thank you!

In the schools, you stocked food pantries and helped food insecure children receive the weekend bag program where meals are prepared and distributed to children so they have food for the weekend. The daily lunches and to go bags helped my family tremendously! I don’t have to worry whether they have brain food or not. I am super grateful our school is able to help families like mine.” Again, by your grace, you helped others to reach out and help their neighbors. Many of the children picking up meals were local school kids who needed help. You ministered to them through their neighbors. Thank you!

You also provided volunteer teachers who give their time with stipends and PPE equipment like masks, gloves and cleaning supplies – all needed to resume learning activities. Each school community within the larger community choosing where and how to help each other. Because of you so many lives were impacted. “We extend our gratitude and that of our people to Catholic World Missions and their donors for blessing us with their care and generosity.”

Mercy Missions Atlanta

Mercy Missions Atlanta is a faith-based, youth organization that is committed to serving the local community, forming disciples, and evangelizing the Gospel.

On a monthly basis, Mercy Missions Atlanta purposefully hosts mission opportunities for young adults and high-school teens. Through their missions, teens and young adults gather in community to share testimonies and become empowered to encounter strangers with the same compassion that Christ has for each of us.

For example, some missions include distributing “hygiene kits” to the homeless that contain an assortment of socks, soap, toothbrushes, food, water, and more.

In order to further extend their helping hands, Mercy Missions Atlanta partners with other local nonprofits in hopes of serving even more brothers and sisters in need.

Providing Meals to Young Students in Georgia

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the United States, it has become especially important to stay healthy, safe, and well-nourished. Unfortunately, many families were unprepared to stay home for an extended period of time and are currently struggling to put food on the table.

This Summer, in partnership with Smart Lunch Smart Kid (SLSK), Mercy Missions Atlanta is taking action by  providing meals to children who rely on the government and school systems for food during the school year. Since the pandemic, regular in-person school years were cut short, extending the need for those dependent on the school system for food.

With your help, Mercy Missions Atlanta and Smart Lunch Smart Kid can provide 1,200 children with meal-boxes that provide nourishment for an entire day. Each meal-box contains prayer cards and 3 nutritious meals, for a total of 3,600 meals! This mission will directly serve school-aged children across the state of Georgia including the cities of Smyrna, Atlanta, Roswell, etc. Furthermore, the project will teach young missionaries to serve through teamwork and hands-on activities.

COVID-19 has made it difficult for many organizations to reach the same volume that they would under normal circumstances. To combat this limitation, all meals will be collected and packed by Mercy Missions Atlanta’s young adults to then be distributed by Smart Lunch Smart Kids at designated “drop sites”.

At Catholic World Mission, we support the initiative of Mercy Missions Atlanta and Smart Lunch Smart Kids (SLSK) to alleviate the hunger of young children around Georgia.  Click on the green button on this page to donate.

At Catholic World Mission, we support the initiative of Mercy Missions Atlanta and Smart Lunch Smart Kids (SLSK) to alleviate the hunger of young children around Georgia.

Thanks to your generosity, the 2020 Meal-Boxing Mission was a wonderful success! As seen in the “Thank You” video, 15 young adults safely participated in the mission and packaged over 1100 meal boxes. Your support was instrumental in providing nourishing meals to young students throughout the state of Georgia.

Serving the Homeless During the Coronavirus Outbreak

We are all being hit hard in different ways due to the spread of the Coronavirus, but one group being hit in a drastic way is the homeless. Many food banks and charitable organizations are no longer able to provide support to the homeless. The homeless are therefore without basic necessities such as food, water, and hygiene products.

Thanks to the generosity and quick response of three sisters and their family in Atlanta, GA, the local homeless are being taken care of!

The three sisters are: Natalie , a medical student from the Medical College of Georgia; Sophie , a college student from the University of SC graduating this year with a Psychology Degree; and Taylor a high schooler from St. Francis High School.

Each week Sharing Love, Sharing Lunch prepares 80-100 packages, which include a sandwich, cereal, snacks, hygiene products, and an encouraging message each week. These packages get delivered to the homeless around Atlanta every Thursday.

“The kind deed that one person in a desperate situation does for another – if we can’t get to someone in a wheel chair or unable to walk (we don’t leave the Jeep) someone always offers to help.”

“One child that had the biggest smile and started dancing around because he was given a bag of food.  His mother and his baby brother were happy, but he was over the moon with excitement!”

“Serving the homeless during the Coronavirus outbreak has been quite a unique experience due to all the precautions that need to be taken to ensure the safety of the team and those being served. Normally, when we work with the homeless, we spend most of our time trying to encourage and embrace them (often literally) and when possible share the Good News; providing a meal is almost secondary. With the Coronavirus outbreak many services for the homeless have been reduced or stopped altogether so we find ourselves in a situation where the primary need today is to provide a meal in a safe manner.”

Local parishioners of the Catholic Church of St. Ann in Marietta, GA band together each week (observing the social distancing directive) to pack and provide over 200 sandwiches and over 400 bags of cereal to be passed out to the local homeless in Atlanta every Thursday.

*Please note: all COVID-19 protective measure guidelines are being followed during the execution of this project. We at CWM support and honor the CDC guidelines and local shelter-in-place orders issued by the government.

Supply Physical and Spiritual Nutrition to the Less Fortunate

Sharing Love, Sharing Lunch has partnered with Lady T’s Homeless Ministry to ensure Atlanta’s homeless population still receives meals and encouragement during this tough time.

Teresa “Lady T” Hamilton was greatly moved by the homelessness she encountered while visiting Nigeria. Her heart was so moved that she knew she had to help the homeless in her local community of Atlanta, GA. When she returned home to the United States she left DeKalb Medical to start her own catering business. Every catering contract indicates that all leftovers will be donated to feed homeless people, and “Lady T’s Homeless Ministry” was started. She has been feeding the homeless for over 20 years.

“The mission of Lady T’s Homeless Ministry is to supply physical and spiritual nutrition to the less fortunate individuals who live on the streets, in the parks, behind alleys, in the woods and those that have found a place in the battered women, children and men shelters. Our objective is to give them the basic necessities of life to lift them up and encourage them.”

Through Lady T Ministry, over 300 homeless people are served a hearty meal every week. She serves homeless living on the streets and homeless families living in extended stay low income hotels, which includes over 100 children.

In addition to a weekly meal, she provides clothing, blankets, toiletries, stuffed animals to children, cereal snacks, crayons and coloring kits. Each homeless person she serves is given two pairs of socks and a daily devotional.

See pictures from this wonderful program below, and our very own Senior Manager of Operations, Roxanne Haslach, and her daughter, Sophia, assisting in packing lunches.

70% of Catholics Will Leave the Church

Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we are responding to the many prayers requests we receive every day for your daughter, son, niece, nephew, granddaughter, grandson, neighbor’s child, etc. who have left the faith once they entered college.

70% of Catholics will leave the church after high school and will never return. We must help build the bridge that has seemed to collapse carrying faithful Catholics through young adulthood. This is the least served group within the Church, but the group that can make the most difference.

By partnering with Catholic Campus Ministry programs we will help bridge the gap in hopes of forming future leaders in our faith. We don’t want lack of finances to prevent students from participating in the many faith formation opportunities helping them foster a stronger relationship with Christ.

Read more in the tabs to see how we are beginning to answer this call by partnering with the Catholic Student Union at Florida State University. Together we can help young people find their community, their purpose, their faith and their mission.

“With Christ as the center of your life, you will never be disappointed” – Pope Francis

Catholic center program at florida state university.

We are partnering with the Catholic Student Union (CSU) at Florida State University in forming future leaders in our Catholic faith. CSU has been meeting college students where they are at and inviting them into a relationship with Jesus Christ since 1947. CSU is run by the Brotherhood of Hope, a community of religious brothers, and staff.

The CSU is a college campus ministry that reaches out to thousands of students each year from The Florida State University (FSU) and the Tallahassee Community College (TCC). CSU provides several opportunities for students to experience an encounter with Jesus Christ. CSU does this by hosting and facilitating various events throughout the semester, incorporating St. John Paul ll’s vision for the “New Evangelization”, relational evangelization and discipleship formation and preparing them for the next steps after graduation.

CSU offers many opportunities for the students  who are “poor in spirit” to become immersed in their faith. The projects are designed for students to encounter Christ through “relational formation” and eventually “discipleship formation”. As they deepen their own relationship with Christ they become disciples for Christ. Fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commandment: “You shall love…God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31).

CSU provides many programs for students including:

• A Spirit Nite (Faith Formation/Hot Topics discussion) every Wednesday when schools is in session
• Men’s and women’s small groups – weekly meetings
• Bible study
• Two annual retreats
• Men’s and women’s retreats
• International and national mission trips
• Attend March for Life
• Volunteer in the local area to serve the poor and homeless
• Invite students to participate in a conference entitled  School of the New Evangelization  (SNE) every August
• Social Events: Halloween Party, Christmas Party, Sports events

Each of these different forms of “relational formation” and “discipleship formation” are designed to assist the student to continue to grow in their faith, gain leadership skills and continue in deepening their faith in Christ.  So as they graduate from college they are able to go out and change the world through the new found calling to holiness and in particular to marriage, to priesthood or religious life. 

The formation begins when they encounter Christ through our campus ministers and student leaders. One of the major avenues they experience this encounter is at the CSU bi-annual retreat. CSU has on average 200 students who attend a given retreat. The students are provided with opportunities to share their faith by listening to talks given by CSU Staff/other guest speakers and student leaders, praise and worship, small groups and fellowship. It helps them to get connected with their peers who are growing in their faith to become selfless in love, to have a personal prayer life and evangelistic outreach. They experience this love for Christ also in our Men’s and Women’s retreats and small groups. With this deepening personal relationship with Christ, the Light of the world, they will be able to bear His Light into a world darkened by sin.

As the students grow in their faith they want to act on it. CSU provides the students multiple opportunities to serve. CSU provides this growth through our service projects and mission trips. They offer every year, three different mission trips that we hold during FSU’s spring break. This year, they had 16 men head to New York to serve the poor and homeless. They had 16 women who served the poor and homeless in Alabama. The international trip went to Haiti where 12 men and women served with the Missionaries of Charity. Each trip provides the student to grow in appreciation, understanding and of giving oneself to Christ. A big part of the students growing in their understanding of true selfless love is by serving the homeless and the poor.

CSU also provides student leaders the opportunity to experience and deepen their faith and grow in their understanding of their baptismal call to discipleship by attending the School of the New Evangelization (SNE) conference in St. Paul, MN hosted by St. Paul’s Outreach. It is a one week conference that is held at the beginning of August right before a new college school year begins. The conference gives the students the opportunity to deepen their faith through orthodox teaching, prayer and community living with over 200 other teachers and college students across the country. The response from the students who want to attend the conference has been overwhelming.

“I arrived in Tallahassee in 1999 to begin my studies at Florida State University. Initially, I visited numerous churches around the area and was seeking a place to call home. My roommate, who was my good friend from high school, began attending the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More and got involved with the Catholic Student Union. Eventually, he attended their Fall Retreat that semester, and I saw the incredible impact it had on him when he returned. As he shared about it and I observed the change in his life, it stirred my heart to want to attend a retreat myself in the Spring… I continued to be very involved with the Catholic Student Union as a student leader until I graduated in 2004, and it was during a Spring Break Mission Trip to serve the materially and spiritually poor in Boston, MA, where I realized that I really loved sharing my faith — I experienced such great joy when doing this sort of work! This realization on that unique mission helped me discern a call to the priesthood by steering me in the right direction. I eventually entered the seminary and was ordained a priest on June 4th, 2011 for the mission Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.”

READ FULL STORY +

“ Spring Break Mission Trip to New Orleans; Women’s Spring Break Mission Trip to Ohio; Break Mission Trip to Haiti  – Through these experiences and many more with the Catholic Student Union, I have been formed and shaped in countless ways… I knew what the life of a disciple looked like, in following Jesus, but my heart has been changed to longing not only to be a disciple, but to become an apostle, to be able to share this love with others and to make my life truly focused on working for Christ… I have recently accepted an offer to do a year of medical mission work in the South Sudan and the Dominican Republic of Congo. Going into college, I never thought this would be a part of my life, but I have learned so much about what it means to serve.”  

“After graduating high school in 2012, I decided to attend Florida State University… Over the course of my first year and a half of college, I was confronted with the reality that the current college culture is often directly opposed to a life of faith. As a result, my unpreparedness led me to a time of desolation and spiritual poverty… I heard an announcement that the Catholic Student Union (CSU) of FSU was going on a weeklong Spring Break Mission Trip to Haiti… Through this, God revealed to me my own spiritual poverty, and I realized God was reaching out to me — and always had been… Experiencing God radically change my life through CSU has strengthened my faith beyond what I ever thought it could be. I am so thankful for the Catholic Student Union, and I pray for other students to experience God as I have through this wonderful ministry.”

Brother Clinton

“I wasn’t raised Catholic: my dad was a non-practicing Catholic and my mom a non-practicing Protestant through most of my childhood, but God’s grace slowly began to capture my heart… It wasn’t until college that I encountered God’s love for me… As I continued to grow in my relationship with Jesus, it became clear that He had been preparing me to consecrate the entirety of my life to Him as a religious Brother in the Brotherhood of Hope – to live a life with God First and God Alone… Currently, I am the director of the Catholic Student Union at Florida State University, and  it’s impossible for me to tell you of the countless lives changed by God’s grace here…  but it’s happening! College students are entering into a vibrant, life-giving relationship with the Lord and His Church.” Click here to read Brother Clinton’s journey and the impact CSU is making

“As I entered college, surrounding myself with people of faith wasn’t a priority of mine. I began to develop friendships with some good people, but as with many college students, they were atheists who didn’t have a positive view of religion or the Catholic Church… my parents forced me to go to the Catholic Student Union’s (CSU’s) Spring Retreat… My mentality upon arriving at the retreat was one of survival — making it through the weekend, tell my parents I had a miserable time, and then never have to face another boring, ignorance-filled camping trip… Well, I survived retreat (if that isn’t already obvious). Life continued, and retreat was quickly forgotten… but not for long. The Brother that I had conversed with at the Spring Retreat contacted me some weeks later and invited me to chat again. I could not pass up an opportunity to debate, so I got together with him and had another fantastic conversation… With continued guidance and support from the community, I was able to grow in conviction for my newly acquired faith, and I am proud to say that it has only grown stronger since.” Click here to read Monique’s full story

By God’s Grace, CSU has Produced Abundant Fruit

There have been hundreds of beautiful marriages and many who have responded to His invitation to the priesthood and to religious life. Specifically, CSU has helped form approximately 30 men who have entered the seminary with nine having already been ordained priests within the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and with men in seminary formation for another five dioceses; eight women have entered vowed religious life; four women are currently at the novitiate or postulant level; five religious men (two of which are priests as well) have entered religious communities; and one man is a religious novice. These men and women serve all over the world. All of these inspiring vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and marriage have had a major impact in diocesan offices, public and private schools (education), the business and medical fields, parishes, family life, and more. We also have men and women who currently are part of missions to the poor in Haiti, Honduras, Peru, and the United States.

Across the country, we have alumni who are serving their parishes in different capacities, including youth ministries, liturgical ministry, marriage preparation, elderly care, and ongoing men’s and women’s groups to carry on the relational evangelization and discipleship formation that they received here in the CSU outreach.

“I started going to daily Mass while I was in college at Florida State University. No one required this of me, and no one had to. It was attractive because CSU made it easy to recognize the friendship and community that was generated by sharing in the Church’s prayer together each day. To pause and listen together to the Word of God and to be fed by Christ’s Body and Blood:  it was the rhythm of this prayer life of the Church that gave a foundation to my closest friendships .”  –  Reverend James Grebe – Alumnus – Class of 2005

“I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Bible Study small groups when I was involved in CSU during undergrad.  It was in these small groups that we were able to really explore how God was calling us to live out our faith through scripture.  We gained insight into the history behind each reading and then discussed how it related to us in our own lives. The Bible study fostered a sense of real community for me; the group both encouraged and challenged me to grow in my faith!” –  Claire Butler – Alumna – Class of 2012

“ My involvement with the Respect Life Committee of the Catholic Student Union laid the foundation necessary for the work God has called me to in the medical profession.   As an Ob/Gyn physician today, my practice motto “Respecting the Dignity of Women and Building a New Culture of Life,” can be traced to my formation and involvement with CSU.” –  Damon Cudihy , MD – Class of 1999

“When I reflect on my experience at CSU, weekly Spirit Nites, retreats, service trips, etc., I am reminded how deeply grateful I am. It has been 1 years since I graduated and there are two main lessons I learned that have helped me immensely in my family and professional life.  At CSU I learned how to pray and I learned how to lead . While I continue to learn lessons in both prayer and leadership, I can definitely say they have their origin in my experience at CSU. As a husband, father of five, and business owner, I can tell you that without the foundation I received at CSU, I would not have been nearly as well prepared for the challenging adventure of life.” –  Justin Biance – Alumnus – Class of 2001

Spring Break Mission to Jamaica

This Spring Break, 16 students from the Florida State University Catholic Student Union spent their time in Jamaica – not relaxing on the beach as one might expect, but giving of themselves wholeheartedly as they worked alongside the Missionaries of the Poor.

These inspirational students devoted themselves to the poorest of the poor, serving in five homes in the community (two for women, two for men, and one for children) for residents with mental and physical disabilities, patients with HIV, and elderly men and women who had been abandoned by their families. In their own words, each day the students, “served at a different center, and the residents of each house welcomed us with enormous hugs, hand-holding, and shouts of joy. Throughout our time of service, we cleaned, prepared meals, helped feed the residents, made up beds, folded laundry, cleaned wounds, and –most of all –spent time with the people we were serving, which was full of prayer, moving conversations, and overflowing love.”

Thanks to your support, these student were able to not only bring the love and light of Christ to those in desperate need, but felt God moving in and around them – filling them with love and enabling them to serve as Christ’s hands and feet. These students have had an encounter with Christ that moved them deeply and will stay with them, deepening their faith, for their whole lives, teaching them to see God in every aspect of life. Through you these Catholic youth feel the call of Christ, not only towards their work in Jamaica but a call they bring home with them to share the Gospel and Christ’s love everywhere!

“We are called to be missionaries and disciples of Jesus wherever we are. We were exhorted to “be the bridge” when we return home. As we sit in the graces of this trip, we are to take the love of Christ that we encountered through this experience and share it with others who have not encountered that love.”

Spring Break Mission Trip to Jamaica

16 students from the Florida State University Catholic Student Union headed down to Jamaica to spend their Spring Break on a mission trip serving the people there. The group served at a preschool, as well as communities of elderly, orphans, and children with disabilities.

Student Kevin McNaughton shares his profound experience, “An experience that significantly impacted me in Jamaica occurred at the final visit we made… One of the elderly residents joined us outside for praise and worship. Although we had brought a guitar to play, the gentleman and his friend picked up the bongo and tambourine and started belting praises to the Lord. [We all] danced with the residents with tears in their eyes. I remember standing behind the man and seeing the strength that he had in the Lord while proclaiming His name. It was at that moment, that I realized the dignity and beauty that every person there possessed. This man wasn’t in full health, nor was he living with his family, yet he still praised God for the life he was given. I realized that in whatever circumstance I find myself, my mouth should always proclaim the graces the Lord has given me and how truly good my heavenly Father is.”

Thanks to your generosity, young people in the United States are experiencing the love of Jesus Christ in new and profound ways. The students from the Catholic Student Union go on mission trips every Spring and Summer break; for many it is where they decide to include Christ in their lives for the rest of their lives. You can continue supporting this mission by visiting our United States donation page.

“The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty — it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” – Mother Theresa

Regnum Christi Mission Corps

The RC Mission Corps program is an apostolate of the Regnum Christi Movement which seeks to help young people have an authentic experience of Jesus Christ through active Apostleship in communities, schools and parishes throughout the world.

Since Regnum Christi has the unique purpose to be at the service of the Church and mankind, the RC Mission Corps Program seeks to reawaken others to the mystery of Christ’s love for them and to their commitment of living out their An RC Missionary is a committed apostle of Christ and the Church who through the charism and spirituality of Regnum Christi seeks to bring souls to God by giving one or more years of his/her life in service of God’s people vocation in Christ.

The RC Mission Corps Program seeks to form Missionaries in  Spiritual, Social, Intellectual ,  and  Apostolic  dimensions so that he/she is educated and formed in the teachings of the Catholic Church so as to empower them to go out and “travel on the path of love” which God has called them on.

Working through parishes, schools and service organizations, young missionaries touch up to 4,000 people in their time of service.

The RC Missionaries serve in: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Washigton, and Manila, Philippines

RCMC Alumni ’14

“People everywhere need Christ, the world is starving because we have removed God from the center of society so there is nothing sustaining in it. Your donation is not simply a gift of money, it is a gift of Christ.”

“This program gives you the opportunity to work with all kind of people: young, old, local, and international. Already being here has amazed me how much my friendship with Christ has grown which has led me to discover myself deeper. We live in a world that is screaming for love and hope, this program gives you the tool to go and spread God’s live. So help us to bring that joy!”

“During a retreat we read the passage when Christ gives the keys to the kingdom and the leadership of the Church. This was very powerful to one 8th grader because he realized that Christ did not give the keys to the Kingdom to Peter and then make it impossible to attain heaven. He realized that Christ wants us to join Him in heaven and for the first time he realized he could get to heaven one day if he fought for Christ.”

“People ask me how I can give a whole year of my life but I don’t see it as giving. I feel like I am receiving this year as a gift. I’ve learned to love my faith and share it openly with everyone I encounter. My heart is transformed and I’ve found a joy for serving others. I have two goals: to grow and to give. I hope to grow in my relationship with Christ and to give all I have back to Christ by serving others.”

“I’ve realized that the smallest action can have the greatest impact on somebody. After serving the poor I got the privilege of helping an elderly man get his food to his apartment. It made me want to serve more and have an impact on the community no matter how small.”

23 Young People Dedicated Themselves to Give a Year of Their Life to the Lord

In the Fall of 2016, 23 young people dedicated themselves to give a year of their life to the Lord through Regnum Christi Mission Corps. This program allows young people to experience Christ by serving others. Before the missionaries enter into the program they spend six weeks in training, learning Catholic Skills and ECYD methodology. ECYD methodology is  forming conscious decisions, experiences, and convictions with Christ at the center. Prayer is at the center of their mission, ensuring that they remain close to Christ to live the missionary life fully. Regnum Christi Missionaries have the unique opportunity to go deeper spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally through leadership development, vocational discernment, prayer life, and Catholic formation. This year the missionaries are spreading the Gospel in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and The Philippines.

The team in Houston recently completed their first retreat; Ana Paula Sanchez, an RC Missionary, shared, “We just had our first retreat for 6th & 8th grade, and the theme was “He Looked at Me and He Loved Me”. In the retreat, the girls were able to see how Jesus saw them and how much He loves them. One of the moms told me that her daughter’s favorite part was being able to go to a chapel to pray her morning and night prayers, and she hopes to have a chapel in her house when she grows up so she can pray.”

The missionaries in Philadelphia go door to door in their community to promote the Healing/Adoration Service the team will organize. One of the goals is to revitalize the struggling local Parish. The Regnum Christi Mission Corps program provides young people with the opportunity to be witnesses of Christ to others.

Fr. José Félix, LC runs St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, located in a very low-income area bordering the Bronx in Yonkers, NY, is a vibrant community with average weekend Mass attendance of almost exactly 2,000 people, a religious education program of over 450 students and about 300 kids active in youth groups. Hispanic immigrants make up over 80% of our community.

Last year, in order to empower the faith formation of the community, they created for the first time small groups that meet weekly in houses to pray and receive formation. In October 2013, about 90 small groups were created with about 900 participants in total. Though many of the groups persevered for a couple months, by the end of the year only about 20 groups were still active. The spiritual fruits seen in those groups, however, were astounding.

This drop-off can be attributed to many factors: they’ve learned a lot about the infrastructure necessary for the leadership of the initiative, how to get all parish groups on board, and what forms of follow-up are effective, but most of all what hurt them was the almost complete lack of good  Catholic  material for small group formation.

Three Weeks of Healing

With Fr. Shane Johnson, LC

Adore the Lord Your God, and Only Him

• What area(s) of my life need healing?
• What are the temptations in my life that are leading me to sin?
• Which side (good or evil) am I on when I make decisions?
• How is evil getting into my life? Are there habits, secret habits, sinful habits, that are tearing me apart? Am I a slave to any things that are leading me to sin and that I need to be freed from?
• Read Deuteronomy 5:6-10. Am I fully living out the first commandment? Is God my only God? Do I truly trust God with my whole life? Where do I put my trust?
• If I need to break bonds and chains of evil that I have allowed to enter my life, have I realized how critically important Confession and Communion are for this? Have I asked a priest to bless my house, my car, my children, the sacred objects in our house, etc.? Have I gone to a healing Mass to ask God to cure me, and have I taken other people so that they can be cured?
• Examine my day every evening and recognize the areas of my life that are causing me to sin, the areas that are evil in which I’m a slave to.
• Go to Confession right away to break any bondage in my soul, and receive Communion at Mass.
• Say this prayer as often as needed throughout my day to combat the evil, “I renounce every influence and every way that this spirit of ___________ (jealousy, envy, lust, greed, etc.) has influence over me.” Then invite God into my life and into my heart to fill that hole of whatever was damaging me and my relationship with God.
• Recite the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel daily – every morning when I wake.
• Do 30 minutes of Eucharistic adoration at church.

Jesus Is Alive and Heals Your Heart

• Have I discovered the root of the sin or the trauma that is holding me back in my life?
• Do I feel guilty for the bad decisions I have made? Do I suffer from fear, insecurity, addiction, abuse or violence in my family?
• Why is it hard to forgive from the heart those who have offended me, freeing ourselves from desires of revenge?
• Do I truly and fully believe that Jesus wants to heal me, just as he healed those who came to him in the Bible?
• Do I fully trust in the love and mercy of Jesus to heal my mind, my soul, and my heart? Do I show it by going to Confession and Communion?
• Have I ever asked a priest or a trusted friend to pray over me that the chains I bear be broken? Do I want to attend a healing Mass?
• Pray together in a spontaneous way as a group to ask forgiveness from God for all the offenses we have ever committed.
• Seek to forgive from the heart everyone who has offended you in your life, praying for them and giving all that suffering to God.
• Attend a healing Mass as a group, to ask God’s mercy and healing from any resentment or inner wounds.

Jesus Is Alive and Heals Your Illnesses

• If you have ever received healing at a retreat, a prayer session, or a healing Mass, can you share your story?
• Why do we sometimes believe that God causes our illness or the suffering that we and our families go through? Why is it hard for us to realize how infinite his mercy is, and that he is not a Father who punishes, but who wants us to approach him to be healed?
• Do I truly have faith and trust in the power of Jesus Christ to heal me completely in soul, mind, spirit and body, or do I still doubt him?
•  Do I care for the sick and the elderly, praying for them, visiting them, and helping my own sick and elderly relatives, or do I forget all about them?
•  Have I ever seen the full power of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
•  Do I truly trust in the powerful motherly intercession of Mary? Is there a testimony of healing through her intercession that I can share?
•  What is God asking you to do right now to make a change in your life for continual healing? What is God asking you to do to continue healing in your life? Write it down and how you will accomplish it.
• If you have someone sick in your family, call the parish office so that a priest can go administer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for them.
• Pray sincerely to remove any obstacle to physical healing that is in your heart – hatred, anger, resentment, envy and jealousy – through a sincere repentance, since a healed heart is often a condition for physical healing from God.
• Mothers who have sick children can pray over them every night by laying hands on them and praying that Jesus heal them.

Con P. José Helio Cantú, LC

Adorarás al Señor tu Dios y Solo a él Darás Culto

• ¿Me había dado cuenta de que cuando las personas confían su familia y su futuro al espiritismo, están rechazando a Dios y entregándose a espíritus que quieren el mal para ellos?
• ¿Cuáles son las tentaciones que llevan a las personas a la superstición: por ejemplo, las pulseras de energía, las herraduras, el horóscopo, etc.?
• ¿Por qué tenemos tanta dificultad en confiar en Dios que la gente recurre a veces a brujos, curanderos, baños, botánicas, santería, vudú, la santa muerte, etc.?
• ¿Mi familia está completamente libre de objetos para la suerte: como por ejemplo la manita negra, el ojo para cuidar el mal de ojo, los demás amuletos, los billetes de 2 dólares en la cartera, las patas de conejo, etc.?
• En cambio, ¿he pedido que un sacerdote bendiga mi casa, mi coche, mis niños, los objetos sagrados en nuestra casa, etc.? ¿He ido a una misa de sanación para buscar que Dios me cure, y he traído a otras personas a que lo experimenten?
• Si tengo que romper ataduras o cadenas del mal que hemos permitido que entren en nuestras vidas, ¿me he dado cuenta de la urgencia de confesarme y comulgar?
• Hacer un examen de conciencia, e identificar las areas donde se necisita la curacion de la brujeria u otros espiritus que no sean el Espiritu Santo. Escribirlas y llevarlas al sacramento de reconciliacion.
• Acudir inmediatamente al sacramento de la confesión ara romper cualquier atadura que tenga en mi alma y recibir la comunión en la Misa.
• Si no me puedo confesar, pedir con sinceridad el perdón  Dios, haciendo oración de perdón y renuncia frente al Santísimo Sacramento.
• Asistir como grupo 30 minutos a la adoración al antísimo los martes o los viernes.

Jesús está Vivo y Sana tu Corazón

• ¿He descubierto cuál es la raíz de mi pecado o el trauma que llevo arrastrando en mi vida?
• ¿Me siento culpable por las decisiones malas que he hecho? ¿Sufro de miedo, inseguridad, adicciones, abuso o violencia en mi familia?¿Por qué es difícil perdonar de corazón a los que nos ofenden y nos hacen mal, liberándonos de deseos de venganza? ¿Cómo se hace para entregar a Dios este dolor?
•  ¿Creo de verdad que Jesús me quiere sanar, igual que sanó a las personas que vinieron a pedirle la sanación en la Biblia?
•  ¿Confío de verdad en el amor y la misericordia de Jesús para sanar mi mente, mi alma y mi corazón? ¿Lo demuestro acercándome a la
• confesión y la Eucaristía?
•  ¿He pedido alguna vez que este grupo o un sacerdote ore por mí para romper las cadenas que llevo? ¿Quiero asistir a una misa de sanación?
• Hacer una oración espontánea en grupo pidiendo perdón al Señor Jesús por las ofensas que hemos cometido en la vida.
• Buscar perdonar de corazón a todas las personas que me han ofendido en mi vida y entregarle a Dios todo mi dolor y sufrimiento.
• Asistir como grupo a la misa de sanación e invocar la misericordia de Dios para que nos sane integralmente de todo resentimiento o rechazo.

Semana Tres

Jesús está Vivo y Sana tus Enfermedades

• Si usted ha participado en algún retiro, grupo de oración o misa de sanación etc. y ha recibido sanación, ¿nos puede contar su experiencia?
• ¿Por qué motivos podemos creer que Dios causa nuestras enfermedades o las desgracias que nos pasan en la vida o en la familia? ¿Por qué no nos damos cuenta de su misericordia infinita y que no es un Padre que castiga, sino que quiere acercarse a nosotros a sanarnos?
• ¿De verdad creo que la enfermedad y la muerte son fruto del primer pecado de Adán y Eva, o tengo mis dudas?
• ¿Tengo fe y confianza de verdad en el poder de Cristo Jesús para sanarme completamente en alma, mente, espíritu, cuerpo, o tengo mis dudas y mis reservas?
• ¿Me preocupo por los enfermos y los ancianos, hago oración por ellos, les visito en sus casas u hospitales, ayudo a mis padres enfermos y ancianos, o los tengo olvidados?
• ¿He visto alguna vez el poder del sacramento de la unción de los enfermos?
• ¿Confío de verdad en la intercesión poderosa y maternal de María, nuestra Madre Santísima? ¿Hay un testimonio de sanación por su intercesión que puede compartir?
• Si tengo algún familiar enfermo, llamar a la oficina de la parroquia para que un sacerdote le administre el sacramento de la unción de los enfermos.
• Remover todos los obstáculos de mi corazón, odios, iras, resentimientos, envidias, celos, por un arrepentimiento sincero, pues al sanar mi corazón se sanarán también mis enfermedades.
• Si tengo algún hijo enfermo yo como madre le puedo hacer oración todas las noches imponiéndole mi mano y pidiendo a Jesús que le sane de su enfermedad.

Launching the Initiative

October 2014.

In October 2014, St. Peter’s Catholic Parish relaunched the initiative. Once again they had 90 groups meeting and the first campaign began which was FOCUS founder Curtis Martin’s “Made for More” with videos of St. Peter’s priests and discussion questions that they developed themselves. This year’s plan was developed in coordination with all the priests on staff and the entire parish council. They have also added more “coaches” to help the leaders of each group and pledged to the people that we will use only Catholic materials, but for any given campaign of 4-6 weeks, they need materials both in English and Spanish. The campaigns are planned to fit the Catholic liturgy and their homily themes as closely as possible.

The topics for last years campaigns were the following:

• ADVENT: Reasons for Hope (4 weeks)
• CHRISTMAS SEASON: The Family God Planned (5 weeks)
• ORDINARY TIME BEFORE LENT: God is My Doctor (healing) (3 weeks)
• LENT: God is Faithful, though I am a sinner (5 weeks)
• EASTER: Basic Apologetics (5 weeks)
• SUMMER/OT 1st campaign: Praying with the Psalms (5 weeks)
• SUMMER/OT 2nd campaign: The Eucharist, leading up to the “Siege of Jericho” parish adoration event (5 weeks)
• SUMMER/OT 3rd campaign:  My Relationship with My Brothers and Sisters (Letter of St. James) (5 weeks)
• FALL RELAUNCH CAMPAIGN: We are Lost and We Need Help (5 weeks)

Participants attending weekly Masses, requests for Sacraments, and children enrolled in Religious Education classes have increased. Father Ortega is convinced these increases are the fruit of the small group/faith-formation programs.

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Youth at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Salem, Oregon, join a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance-organized mission trip in Rockaway Beach, New York. Presbyterians Today photo by Vik Schaaf

If you’re interested in organizing a short-term mission trip, download World Mission’s toolkit resource . For information about forming a long-term mission partnership, go here .

The Presbyterian Mission Agency also offers many study and education trips. Presbyterian Peacemaking Program  offers Mosaic of Peace trips to the Middle East. You can find other study, prayer and educational trips in our events calendar.

The Presbyterian Hunger Program is promoting experiential trips which analyze the root causes of hunger and poverty while calling participants to engage in solidarity actions with our local and global partners. Recent trips have included journeys to Nicaragua, the U.S./Mexico border, and El Salvador. We welcome your participation. A Peru trip is planned for 2019, as well as trips to various U.S. destinations. Find out more here. 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance sometimes sponsors mission trips to help communities impacted by disaster. Read more here .

Presbyterian Women also coordinates hand-on mission tours. Get details here .

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” — Luke 23:42

Baptists on Mission exists to Glorify God by involving churches and Christians in meeting human needs in Jesus’ name

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Disaster Relief

United states.

Volunteers are serving all across the United States in a variety of ways. Join us for strategic and exciting ministry opportunities across our nation! Teams are serving in North Carolina, the Appalachian Coalfields, Pennsylvania, Vermont, the Rocky Mountain Region, Alaska, Hawaii and other places.

Our participation in missions in Alaska provides needed resources, leadership, and possibly most importantly, - encouragement. Be in prayer about this exciting Partnership and your participation in it!

Baptists on Mission has developed the Appalachian Coalfields Ministry. The purpose is to minister both physically and spiritually to people in some of the poorest areas of our nation. The ministry will cover the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

We are delighted to continue our relationship with the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. Project requests from Hawaii congregations may include VBS, backyard Bible clubs, music, sports, construction, and more.

NEW ENGLAND

North Carolina Baptists have enjoyed a fruitful partnership with churches and church planters in New England since 2005. In that time, thousands of volunteers have served in a variety of ways - from construction to evangelistic outreach. The need is still great. New England is annually recognized as the most unchurched region in our nation. But God is at work here! Come see how!

Volunteers are serving all across North Carolina in a variety of ways. Join us for ministry in a variety of ways and in a variety of places. There are many opportunities right in your community through Local Projects and "ServeNC". There are also great opportunities and needs through Hurricane Florence Rebuild, Impact NC and at our Mission Camps in Red Springs, Rose Hill and Shelby.

Mission teams are serving throughout Pennsylvania in many ways, including sports camps, Vacation Bible School, backyard Bible clubs, block parties, prayer walking, renovation, new construction, music outreach, and much more. Many projects involve service in areas where church planters are establishing new work.

Since 2005, Baptists on Mission have sent teams to serve in the Rocky Mountain region of our nation. Projects have been completed in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Volunteers are serving through construction, VBS, servant evangelism, prayer walking, camp ministry, and more.

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PLEASE NOTE: IMMERSION Staff will be out of office Sept. 11-15. After submitting a form, use the link in your email to schedule a call for Sept. 18-22!

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Serve together on a family mission trip with Experience Mission! Meet practical needs and build authentic relationships in communities across the U.S. and around the globe. Serve, learn, and grow together, as you learn to truly love your neighbors, wherever they are. Explore EM's mission trips for families below!

You must have a group size of at least 6 members to join this trip. Please view the Small Team trips or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414 .

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United States

The Spiritual Need in the United States

The United States was built on principles of justice, equality and liberty, paving the way for the religious freedom that is experienced today. Known primarily as a Christian nation, 77% of its population of 336 million people consider themselves followers of Christianity. Yet, according to the Hartford Institute of Religious Research, less than 18% of Americans attend church, and less than five percent of churches reproduce or multiply.

In fact, the US is becoming more unchurched—and unreached—at a faster rate than ever before. As the nation becomes an increasingly post-Christian, post-church society, research from the International Mission Board states that of the 502 people groups living in the US, more than 184 of them are considered unreached people groups.

The US has led the world in sending overseas missionaries for decades, but these statistics are reflective of an urgent need here at home—a need that ABWE is committed to meeting.

Church Planting In United States

Since 1927, we’ve been helping churches equip their missionaries for cross-cultural service. Now, we’re also offering our decades of expertise by giving local churches the tools they need to be effective disciple makers, reaching the unreached through church planting in the United States.

Our missionaries partner with local churches throughout the country and use our Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship tools to help church leaders raise up a new generation of Christ followers. By empowering churches through our Heart, Mind, and Soul Seminars , we equip Christians with the confidence to share the love of Jesus with those around them. The EveryEthnē initiative exists to be on mission with North American churches to reach diverse people groups through a disciple-making movement—it is our team’s vision to give every person in the US, from any nation, repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the good news.

The time is ripe for us to come alongside American churches in our pursuit of the Great Commission—helping them reach the people groups in their neighborhoods and training them to make disciples and plant churches. Will you join us?

We'd love to talk with you about how God is leading you.

Opportunities, assistant community church leader.

The church-planting team in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is looking for long-term community group leader to help with their thriving church plant. 

Centurion Project Military Area Administrative Specialist

The Position We are “Looking for a few good leaders!”…Men and women who have military experience, giftedness in supporting and providing administrative support, and a love for the local church. The Centurion Project exists to network and empower churches around military installations to disciple and support military leaders in their mission and the Great Commission.

Centurion Project Military Area Catalyst

The Position We are “Looking for a few good leaders!”… Men and women who have military experience, giftedness in networking and hosting training experiences, and a love for the local church. The Centurion Project exists to network and empower churches around military installations to disciple and support military leaders in their mission and the Great

Children’s Ministry Leader

If you have a heart for reaching the next generation with the gospel, we have a place for you in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Church Planters

In partnership with Hope Street Missions, the ABWE North America team is looking for someone to identify, start, and grow a home church group in apartment complexes in impoverished, immigrant neighborhoods.

Great things are in progress on the mission field through this ministry! Our missionaries will be sharing more project details shortly and look forward to how you might get involved. If you need to get in touch immediately, let us know at [email protected]…

ABWE International Worker Fund: Afghan Initiative

After the US withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban quickly took control of the country. This left thousands of people exposed to terrorists, and Christians were in danger. Afghan pastors and ministry leaders were persecuted. Others were forced to flee for their lives. Still others gave their all for Christ because of their faith.…

Africa Pre-Field Retreat

The Africa pre-field retreat is designed to encourage our missionary family as they navigate the challenges of pre-field ministry. This special environment allows them to engage with other pre-fielders, deepen relationships with those in leadership, and provide training specifically related to common issues faced on the field.…

Beautiful Feet – General Fund

Beautiful Feet exists to spread the good news of God’s love by founding, training and equipping pregnancy ministries worldwide. Beautiful Feet has more than 85 pregnancy ministries in more than 25 nations. Beautiful Feet trains churches around the world to use pregnancy ministry as a means of reaching communities with the gospel.…

Beautiful Feet – Short Term Missions Trips

A small team with Beautiful Feet will be attending a conference in Zambia with the Association for Life of Africa June 25th – July 1st. Executive Director, Melissa Heiland, will also be training nationals from across the continent. This is a wonderful opportunity to network and find out the needs of the pro-life mission in Africa.…

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Medical mission trips in USA and how you can serve.

• Resource Library Medical mission trips in USA and how you can serve.

Does being a medical missionary mean you have to go overseas? Is serving in the United States any different than just living your normal life in America? In this post, we want to cover all things related to medical mission trips in the USA. I want to give you three areas where you can serve and some options for you to consider as you think about your role. My hope is that you will be encouraged and challenged to serve and use your skills in the US.

Here are several areas where you can serve in medical mission trips in the USA:

#1 Rural hospitals and clinics

For one example, see Dayspring Health Center in Appalachia where GMHC speaker and resource contributor, Geogy Thomas serves. God started to impress upon Geogy the plight of the rural poor and the disparities of the healthcare system in America. That took him to a rural clinic on the Kentucky/Tennessee border.

In 1952, times were tough in rural Appalachian communities due to the closing of many of the local coal mines. Medical services were meager at best. The story of Dayspring began in this setting. The United Mine Workers Association and the American Medical Association worked with local community leaders to address the lack of adequate health care.  The first full-time physician began seeing patients in August 1954, charging $2 a visit.

Today, patients are still being seen in this underserved area, where the staff promotes full health—physical, spiritual, mental, and economic—of the communities they serve.

#2 Urban clinics

One example of an urban clinic is Christ Community Health Services , where healthcare staff are filling the physical, spiritual, emotional needs of the underserved, the uninsured, and the homeless in the Memphis, Tennessee region.

Christ Community strategically entered Memphis communities over 25 years ago that had become deficient in resources and services. Many of the neighborhood residents lacked access to healthcare resulting in manageable health issues going untreated and undiagnosed.

Christ Community is standing in the gap, delivering quality healthcare and spiritual healing to those in their community who need it most. When patients enter the doors of Christ Community, they feel the love and hope for their lives and their healing. Patients who enter the doors of Christ Community are treated with dignity and respect, along with spiritual healing and the opportunity to experience God’s love in prayer.

#3 Faith-based clinics

One example is Lawndale Christian Health Center , where the mission is to show and share the love of Jesus by promoting wellness and providing quality, affordable healthcare for an under-resourced community in the Chicago area. The median income in Lawndale is $22,383 and the clinic was started because members of a local church had virtually no access to healthcare in their area. 

Members of the church and neighborhood began to hold meetings to discuss ways they could meet the needs of their own community. At the top of their list was a desire to address the lack of affordable, quality healthcare services in North Lawndale and on the West Side of Chicago. 

The church was able to buy a building, a small clinic, and a full-size basketball court for the community to enjoy. Today, that dream has expanded to over 100 medical providers across six clinic locations. The organizational values of Lawndale are an extension of the Christian Community Development philosophy, embodied by the “3 R’s”: Relocation, Reconciliation, and Redistribution:

• Relocation is a focus on ‘living among’ in order to clearly understand the issues that face a community.
• Reconciliation is the value at the heart of the Christian Gospel and includes both a reconciled relationship with God and with each other.
• Redistribution happens when resources are fairly and justly distributed among a community facing injustice.

Additional options for service in the USA.

The Center for Disease Control has statistics in infant and maternal mortality by race in the US.

In 2018, infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity were as follows:

• Non-Hispanic black: 10.8
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 9.4
• American Indian/Alaska Native: 8.2
• Hispanic: 4.9
• Non-Hispanic white: 4.6

The U.S. has an official maternal mortality rate of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 births in 2018. Wide racial and ethnic gaps exist between non-Hispanic black (37.3 deaths per 100,000 live births), non-Hispanic white (14.9), and Hispanic (11.8) women.

Now, according to Healthy People 2020 , health disparities, such as infant and maternal mortality, are health differences that are closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage. 

The social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health. Resources that enhance the quality of life can have a significant influence on population health outcomes. 

Examples of these resources include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, local emergency/health services, and environments free of life-threatening toxins. There are many options to serve in the US. Noting the statistics above, the US is in desperate need of loving, compassionate healthcare providers.

Join a community like Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF), where about half of the people who make up the CCHF community work in secular settings—community health clinics, universities, residency programs, and so on.

They are there because of a conviction that this is where they are meant to serve Christ’s mission to bring healing and comfort to the poor, and to represent His kingdom in word and deed. The other half of the CCHF community work in faith-based clinics that strive to provide distinctively Christian care. Each clinic has a unique idea about what it means to deliver Christian care, but everyone strives to be authentic to their calling in Christ.

Lastly, for a few more ideas on how you can serve in the U.S., if you are considering a residency program, consider a faith-based program such as In His Image Family Medicine Residency , where they focus on the underserved, Via Christi Family Medicine Residency, where they train doctors to effectively serve the poorest and most underserved people of this world., or Cahaba Family Medicine Residency Program , which has both an urban and rural track.

My hope in reading this post is that you note that being a medical missionary doesn’t mean you have to go overseas. You can serve in medical missions in the USA as well. There are so many needs for your skills and giftings, so consider how God might be calling you to serve in the United States on His mission. The above options and ideas will help you get started in knowing where some of the greatest needs are.

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Family Mission Trips

Treasure the lasting and meaningful connections made as a family serving a christian mission together.

Jesus modeled servanthood by washing his disciples feet.  While modern short-term missions rarely has missionaries washing feet, children seeing their parents engage in sacrificial service helps them to relate to Jesus in new and meaningful ways.  

The shared experience of coming together to serve God strengthens relationships and deepens family members love for one another while also helping them grow closer to God.  Families will experience Bible study, prayer, service projects, new people and new places which is a great way for children to learn about the world and gain a deeper understanding of their faith.  

Doing missions together can also be fun and rewarding. When families come together to serve others, they often experience a sense of joy and fulfillment that is hard to find elsewhere. This is especially true for children, who often enjoy serving others and making a difference.

Short-term missions is a great way for families to create memories and traditions that will last a lifetime.

Sample Trip Schedule

The cost of your trip covers your food, lodging, Adventures t-shirt, journal, ministry expenses, international health insurance (if applicable) and other associated costs.

For mission trips in the U.S., you are responsible for your round-trip airfare/transportation to the trip location and transportation during the mission trip. For overseas trips, you are responsible for your round-trip travel/transportation to the city that corresponds to your location. Adventures will provide ground transportation upon your arrival.

Participant minimums vary based on location.   Due to the limited number of family trips that Adventures in Missions hosts each year, space is limited.  Apply for your family as soon as possible to reserve your space.

We are not doctors and have no medical training so we are not qualified from a medical perspective to say you should or should not get certain vaccinations. We suggest that you determine which vaccinations you may need by visiting the CDC website or consulting your local travel health specialist and reviewing their recommendations based on the country(ies) you will be visiting. Some countries require a Yellow Fever Certificate to enter, so pay particular attention to that.

You may or may not choose to receive all the vaccinations recommended by the CDC or your physician. It is your personal decision what vaccinations you receive, but we recommend you seek a medical professional’s advice concerning that decision.

Do not purchase your airfare until you are directed to do so by your Admissions Representative. If a trip cancels due to lack of interest, Adventures will refund all money paid to Adventures but is not responsible for airfare and will not refund it.

Your Mission Leader will be wearing an Adventures t-shirt, similar to the one you will receive prior to your departure date. You will be sent additional information from your Mission Leader directing you to a central meeting location.

On the field, lodging varies per location. You may be provided a bunk bed or cot or you may be asked to bring an air mattress to sleep on the floor of a local church. Males and females will be separated for lodging. You will receive more information regarding your housing arrangements prior to your trip.

Yes, however accommodations vary by location and it may not be in a traditional shower. You will have access to clean water.

You are welcome to bring your cell phone to take pictures, use as alarm clock, an ipod, etc. However, your cell phone may or may not have reception in overseas locations.

Please evaluate your reasons for bringing phones or ipods on this trip. You are on the trip to minister to others, to serve God, and develop a deeper relationship with God. Phones and other electronic devices may be a distraction to what God is trying to tell you.

That being said, we also realize phones can be great ministry tools! We want you to take pictures and video of your trip. And don’t forget to tag them with #adventuresinmissions when you post them to social media. Please note: Adventures is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged electronic devices.

How much spending money you bring depends entirely on your personal spending habits and financial situation. Remember, all your meals will be covered by Adventures. So, extra personal money would be entirely at your discretion.

Remember when you’re on the field in ministry, you represent God, Adventures, and local missionaries. Modesty is the key in guiding decisions of what clothes to pack; a good rule of thumb: when in doubt, don’t bring it. A general packing list and our dress code will be provided for you.

Be prepared to cover up tattoos or remove piercings if the host cultures/ministries find them offensive. If this is necessary, your leaders will let you know this before you get in country.

For information on applying for a passport for the first time, visit the website below or make an appointment at your local post office. Generally, it takes approximately 4 – 6 weeks from the time of application for you to receive your passport. We must have your passport information before airline tickets are purchased so please get your passport ASAP. Sometimes it may take longer than 6 weeks to receive your passport, so apply now.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html

Generally, Mission Leaders are adults who have led or participated in previous Adventures trips, and some Mission Leaders are Adventures staff. During your trip, your Mission Leader will be the liaison between your team and the ministry host, coordinating daily ministry schedules. The Mission Leader also facilitates nightly debrief sessions, encouraging your team to respond to what God is doing during the trip. Our goal is for you to have contact with your Mission Leader roughly 1 month prior to your trip.

We at Adventures In Missions take the responsibility and care of our participants very seriously.

The reality is the world can be an unsafe place. That truth is not limited to overseas travel. While we cannot guarantee safety, safety and security is a top priority for our programs. We set protocols to minimize risk while expanding each student’s exploration of God’s Kingdom.

Our staff monitors safety concerns and issues around the world, including organized protests, political uprisings, medical alerts, and natural disasters. We maintain active communication with our international contacts and will change locations if we believe the risk level in an area is no longer appropriate for our participants.

A deposit of $75.00 per person is required to secure each participant’s space on the mission trip. The remaining trip balance will be due in two equal installments. The first payment is due approximately 3 months prior to your trip start date and the second payment is due approximately 2 months prior to your trip start date. Please refer to our Financial Policy in your online profile for specific any additional financial deadlines and policies.

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6 Beaches for Budding Swimmers, Surfers and Castle Builders

For families with children, we found half a dozen beaches in the United States and Mexico, each tailored to a particular summer activity.

By Freda Moon

A family beach vacation is an American classic. But depending on their children’s ages and inclinations, some families may be drawn to different kinds of shorelines: those featuring clear, calm water for snorkeling and learning to swim; or, for shell collectors and young naturalists, sandy stretches carpeted with seashells or bordered by tide pools. For castle builders, fine sand is a must, while would-be surfers need tidy waves, ready to ride. Here are six great beaches in the United States and Baja California for family-favorite summer activities.

For castle builders: Mission Beach , San Diego

San Diego’s temperate climate allows for barefoot beach days year-round. For those who’d rather build with sand than lie in it, Mission Beach has another advantage: San Diego Sand Castles and the sand sculptor JT Estrela. Mr. Estrela, a former math teacher, offers lessons in the art of sand castle construction on this family-friendly Southern California beach, where the sand is perfect for castle building: The grains are fine but not too silty, clean below the tide line, free of shells and rocks, and pack hard.

In his two-to-three-hour sessions (starting at $160 for two people, $20 for each additional person), Mr. Estrela works with families to build elaborate five-foot-tall castles. The goal is for participants to “feel like this insider of arcane knowledge,” he said.

While the best sand in the San Diego area is at the offshore city of Coronado in San Diego Bay, Mr. Estrela prefers working with families at Mission Beach. Known for its boardwalk amusement park, Belmont Park ; historic beachfront swimming pool, the Plunge ; and excellent playgrounds, it’s particularly fun for kids. The smell of cotton candy and hot dogs hangs in the air, mingling with shrieks from the Giant Dipper, Belmont’s 1925 wooden roller coaster, squawking sea gulls and salt spray. Its biggest downside is its popularity, which means parking can be a challenge.

For new swimmers: Onekahakaha Beach Park , Hilo, Hawaii

In an archipelago known for spectacular beaches, Onekahakaha Beach Park , on the rugged, volcanic coast of the Big Island, may seem a counterintuitive choice. At Onekahakaha, with its two large, sandy-bottomed ocean pools enclosed by lava rock walls and backed by palm trees and an expansive grassy lawn, the sand is mostly below the surface.

Separated from the Pacific Ocean’s notoriously powerful waves and rip currents, the seawater within the pools is warm and placid, protected and shallow, which makes it excellent for little kids learning to swim, as well as for older kids to snorkel. It’s also home to nonthreatening marine life (no sharks here), including green sea turtles.

Though the water is only about waist-deep on an adult, there are lifeguards, adding to Onekahakaha’s reputation for safety. And without a wide swath of sand between the pools and the shoreline path, the water is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. There’s also a swing set, picnic tables and proximity to the lush Hilo area.

As long as you’re on the Big Island, the site of several active volcanoes, visit the thermal pools alongside some of its beaches, including Pohoiki Black Sand Beach at Isaac Hale Beach Park , 40 miles south of Onekahakaha. The ocean there may be a bit rough for young swimmers, but it’s a great place to show children a fresh lava flow.

For would-be surfers: Wrightsville Beach , N.C.

Wrightsville Beach is considered by many surf historians to be the home of East Coast surfing and one of the first places outside Polynesia and the Pacific Rim for the sport to catch on .

It also has some of the best beginner’s breaks in the United States , said Sean Griffin, 37, a surfing instructor and the father of a 5-year-old, who started riding the local break when he was 8.

He points out that Wrightsville is the only surfing beach in the state that has clear, blue water. Being able to see one’s hands and feet and the sandy bottom “makes anyone feel more comfortable in the ocean,” he said.

At Surf With Sean , Mr. Griffin offers private 90-minute lessons ($95 to $120) to surfers as young as 3 and into their 80s, as well as surf camps for kids ($425 per week). “There’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to learn or give it a shot,” said Mr. Griffin, who provides all gear in all sizes, including adaptive equipment.

There’s more to the area’s kid appeal than its waves. Mr. Griffin points to Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier , at the center of the beach, where his son “loves seeing all the salty fisherman pulling in fish,” and the big, modern playground at Wrightsville Beach Park .

For tide pool explorers: Carkeek Park , Seattle

Naomi Tomky — a lifelong Seattleite, author of “ The Pacific Northwest Seafood Cookbook ” and mother of two daughters, 6 and 8 — recommends Carkeek Park in Seattle for an immersive experience in Puget Sound marine life. At low tide, Ms. Tomky said, the narrow beach “just goes out for ages,” exposing tide pools filled with starfish, sea snails, anemones and “many, many crabs, from the size of your fingernail to the size of your hand.”

Unlike tide-pooling elsewhere on the West Coast, where the powerful Pacific Ocean requires caution because of dangerous sneaker waves , Puget Sound is rich with life but calm enough for Ms. Tomky to let her daughters explore on their own.

Just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, Carkeek is part of the Seattle Aquarium’s Beach Naturalist Program , which sends naturalists to various shorelines around the area.

Along with the below-the-tide-line intrigue, Carkeek is also known for an annual spectacle: spawning salmon. In the fall, it’s possible to stand over the park’s Piper’s Creek and watch the fish — a sacred Indigenous symbol of the Pacific Northwest — on the run.

“It’s one of the coolest things you can see,” said Ms. Tomky, “to understand how these fish share the city with us as they swim back into their former home.”

For shell hunters: Tigertail Beach , Marco Island, Fla.

Sanibel Island, a barrier island just off Fort Myers, Fla., is one of the most famous shelling destinations on the planet. That popularity comes with a downside: It’s often picked over by enthusiasts who hit the shoreline at dawn. The island is also still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which badly damaged its infrastructure in 2022.

As an alternative, the shelling guide Evan Kuperman (a.k.a. Captain Evan) recommends Tigertail Beach on Marco Island, about an hour south.

Mr. Kuperman, a Florida master naturalist , operates Sand Dollar Shelling Tours . His tours ($125 per adult, $90 per child, and families of up to six people for $650) take guests by boat to places like the Ten Thousand Islands , a mangrove mud flat habitat and National Wildlife Refuge.

For visitors unable to join one of his trips, Mr. Kuperman said that Tigertail, a publicly accessible beach ($8 parking fee), offers exceptional shelling.

Marco Island is more built up than Sanibel, but Tigertail, at the island’s north end, is a county-owned park with a lagoon and a position facing the Gulf of Mexico that lends itself to accumulating seashells, including rare and striking ones, like the spiny ornamented lace murex and reddish brown banded tulip .

But everyone is hoping for a junonia, or Juno’s volute, a sea snail that has to travel far in churning waters to reach the beach intact. “You don’t find it,” said Mr. Kuperman, “it finds you.”

For young snorkelers: Playa el Chileno , Los Cabos, Mexico

About halfway between bustling Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, Playa el Chileno is no longer an undeveloped local secret. Now backed by the sprawling Auberge resort Chileno Bay Resort & Residences , the beach remains public and comparatively tranquil. Awarded the Blue Flag certification for meeting stringent environmental standards, Chileno is exceptionally well maintained.

While catamaran snorkeling tours come and go from Chileno Bay, it’s also possible to reach the reef from the shore, which makes it good for inexperienced snorkelers who might find it intimidating to leap into deep water without easing their way in. High Tide Sea Expeditions offers snorkeling excursions via kayak that start at nearby Playa Santa Maria, hug the coast and arrive at Chileno by water. For younger kids and anyone who prefers more time in the water, there’s a guided two-hour tour that visits both beaches by car ($95 to $130 per person, including equipment).

Among the roughly 50 species of fish that snorkelers might encounter along Chileno’s rocky outcroppings and coral reef, there are large tuna, sea turtles, puffer fish, Panamic green moray eels, Cortez angelfish and blacknosed butterflyfish — among many other colorful creatures. The coral here is less vibrant than some places, but the number and variety of fish are thrilling.

Freda Moon, a frequent contributor to the Travel section, lives on a boat in San Francisco Bay with her husband and two kids. Her upcoming National Geographic book with the coauthor Ashley Harrell, “100 Beaches of a Lifetime,” will be published next year.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

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6 Great Beaches for Families:  For families with children, we found half a dozen beaches in the United States and Mexico , each tailored to a particular summer activity.

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HSI conducts federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons and sensitive technology into, out of and through the United States. HSI’s investigations are wide ranging – our cases include drug and weapons smuggling, cyber and financial crime, illegal technology exports and intellectual property crime. We also play a crucial role in investigating crimes of exploitation. This includes combating child exploitation, human trafficking, financial fraud and scams and other crimes against vulnerable populations.

Global crime requires a global response. HSI has offices in 235 cities across the United States and an international presence that spans over 90 offices in more than 50 countries. HSI identifies and stops crime before it reaches the United States. Crime doesn’t stop at our borders, and neither do we.

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Biden will mark D-Day anniversary in France as Western alliances face threats at home and abroad

P ARIS (AP) — United States President Joe Biden will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in France this week as he tries to demonstrate steadfast support for European security at a time when some allies fear Donald Trump threatens to upend American commitments if he wins another term in the White House.

The trip comes as the deadliest fighting on the continent since World War II continues in Ukraine and allied countries struggle to find ways to turn the tide against Russia, which has recently gained ground on the battlefield . It is also set against deepening cracks between the U.S. and many European allies over how to manage the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Biden arrived in Paris on Wednesday morning, and he was welcomed by French officials and an honor guard. On Thursday, he'll visit hallowed ground near the beaches of Normandy, where rows of bone-white headstones mark the graves of U.S. soldiers who died to bring an end to World War II. He'll also speak on Friday at Pointe du Hoc, a spot on the French coast where Army Rangers scaled seaside cliffs to overcome Nazi defenses.

White House National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said aboard Air Force One on the way to France that Biden will stress how the men on those cliffs “put the country ahead of themselves" and detail “the dangers of isolationism, and how, if we bow to dictators and fail to stand up to them, they keep going and ultimately America and the world pays a greater price.”

“Eighty years later, we see dictators once again attempting to challenge the order, attempting to march in Europe,” Sullivan said, "and that freedom-loving nations need to rally to stand against that, as we have.”

He also said Biden would be meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in France to discuss "how we can continue and deepen our support for Ukraine.”

On Saturday, Biden, along with his wife Jill, will be honored by French President Emmanuel Macron with a state visit , including a military parade in Paris and a banquet at the Élysée Palace, as well as business sessions where the leaders are to discuss strengthening their alliance, trade, and security cooperation for the upcoming Olympic games.

The two leaders also are expected to discuss the Middle East. Biden has invested geopolitical capital in brokering a ceasefire to the Israel-Hamas war that would see the release of hostages, even as he has maintained his staunch support for Israel and resisted European efforts to recognize a Palestinian state or investigate Israel over its handling of the war.

Biden, a Democrat, is scheduled to return to the United States on Sunday, but before he leaves France he's expected to stop at a cemetery where American soldiers who died in World War I are buried. Trump, a Republican, skipped plans to visit the same site during a 2018 trip to France, a decision that the White House blamed on weather at the time.

However, subsequent reporting found that Trump told aides he didn't want to go because he viewed the dead soldiers as “suckers” and “losers.” He has denied the comments, which Biden referenced during a fundraiser in Greenwich, Conn., on Monday.

“This guy does not deserve to be president,” Biden said.

Although foreign trips are ostensibly nonpartisan, Biden left no doubt that he sees a political connection between the D-Day anniversary and the election. The president described the invasion as “one of the most important moments in the history of defense of freedom and democracy.”

“I want to say as clearly as I can,” he added. “Democracy is literally on the ballot this year.”

Biden's trip to France will be followed by another to Italy later this month for the annual Group of Seven summit, a rare doubleheader of international diplomacy in the middle of the presidential election season. Biden will skip a subsequent gathering in Switzerland , where leaders will be focused on the war in Ukraine, to attend a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles with Hollywood stars. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the United States instead.

Biden's travels, plus the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Washington next month, aim to embody a vision of global American leadership that's central to his political identity but faces renewed threat from Trump.

Although the two presidents are from the same generation — Biden, 81, was born one and a half years before D-Day; Trump, 77, was born two years after the invasion — they developed divergent views on Europe and American alliances over the years.

For Biden, U.S. ties to Europe are a cornerstone of stability and a source of strength. For Trump, they're a drain on precious resources, and he's expressed more affinity for autocratic leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has upended the continent.

Even before voters decide which vision they prefer, cracks in Biden's foreign policy foundation have emerged. It took months to secure additional military assistance for Ukraine due to GOP resistance, and the delay led to depleted ammunition reserves and Russian advances on the battlefield.

“All that happened with a die-hard Atlanticist and die-hard alliance supporter in the White House," said Charles Kupchan, a Georgetown University professor who previously served as Europe director on President Barack Obama's National Security Council. “Europeans have no option but to ask how reliable the United States can be.”

Kupchan noted that "the bipartisan compact behind a steady and robust American internationalism has collapsed.”

Given the political complications at home, Kupchan said, Biden should be careful about drawing historical parallels between D-Day and Ukraine while he's in France.

“I’m not sure that he wants to say that this is a moment like 1940 or 1941,” he said, especially since Biden has ruled out sending American troops to fight against the Russian invasion.

Like all of his international engagements, Biden’s trip will be shadowed by Trump's potential return to the White House. The presumptive Republican candidate, who last week became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, has pledged to unravel American commitments to allies in Europe.

“It’s every conversation. Every conversation is, what will happen?” said Max Bergmann, who leads Europe research at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Bergmann, who was in the middle of a trip around the continent in the days before Biden arrived, said some European officials hope that a second Trump term would be no more damaging than his first, when he failed to follow through on some of his more extreme ideas. But he doubts Trump will be held in check without moderate members of his administration — such as former Defense Secretary James Mattis — who are unlikely to return.

“I’m not reassuring to them,” Bergmann said.

Rachel Rizzo, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said there’s a “palpable sense of uncertainty” as the United States and Europe wrestle with populist movements that have proven durably popular.

“This is not an aberration, this is not an accident,” she said. “There are real grievances that citizens of both continents have, and they’re playing out in support of right-wing parties.”

In another complication for Biden, his trip is taking place at the same time that his son, Hunter, is standing trial in Delaware . The younger Biden is accused of lying while purchasing a gun by claiming that he was not a drug addict. He has pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution began presenting its case Tuesday, just days after Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. Trump was found guilty in New York of making illegal hush money payments to an adult film actress who said they had sex. Trump denies the affair.

Paul Begala, a longtime Democratic strategist, said Biden is probably better off ignoring Trump while he's in France.

“When you’re 81 years old, and three-fourths of the country thinks you’re too old, one of the things you have to do is to show strength," he said. “That’s what he’s got to do over there. He’s got to show strength.”

Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbett in Paris and Fatima Hussein in Greenwich, Connecticut, contributed to this report.