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If this were Jeopardy the title of this post would be the answer to “What’s the benefit of going on a mission trip?” I promised earlier this week to write more about my visit with St. Paul’s youth group in Evansville, Indiana.
Today I’m writing from my hotel in Manassas, VA as I continue visiting people to talk about current and future mission trips. But I’m still reflecting on how much I enjoyed hanging out with Robert and his group. They introduced me to what they refer to as West side holy water – a regional soft drink, Ski, that is so popular with the group the largest artwork on the walls of the youth room is a giant painting of the Ski logo! They also reminded me of just how much energy and enthusiasm is generated by mission trips.
It’s more than that, though. The year the group went to a Group Workcamp in Racine, Wisconsin they received an anonymous gift of $2000 and a challenge to do something outside of their group and their church with the money. During some free time at camp they gathered on a Lake Michigan beach and came up with the idea of doing a weekend of home repair back in their own hometown. But, having been to a large, well organized mission event, they weren’t content with something simple.
When they got home they organized “Give Big” and invited several other churches to join them. They saw the $2000 as seed money that motivated them to raise another $5500+ (yes, they more than doubled the original donation). Local businesses, including the West side Walmart, gave generously to the project. Over the course of a weekend St. Paul’s and two other area youth groups brought over 125 people together to work on 26 projects. It made the local news, impacted every member of the three participating churches and garnered a huge amount of goodwill and respect from church and community leaders.
In April of 2010 they’re doing it all again and I can’t express here just how excited they are about it. They’re also going to Dunmore, WV for their annual summer mission trip. Missions that started away from home are having a life-changing impact at home. Here are some questions I have…
Would an anonymous donor have given $2000 to a youth group that wasn’t engaged in something meaningful?
Would a youth group that wasn’t going away for missions have been inspired and informed to do something big at home?
Do mission trips to other parts of the country make a difference in youth ministry back home?
You may think I’m biased…and maybe I am…but years of experience tell me the story of St. Paul’s youth and Give Big isn’t an isolated incident. It’s just what happens when we go.
