We’re almost a month into the new year. This is the perfect time to start focusing on stuff that will be happening in your ministry this year. For many of us, that means starting all the preparations for a summer mission trip. By now you’ve selected the date and location of your trip. If you haven’t already, you’ll be finalizing the youth and adults that will be going on the trip. All of these those are important steps in the process. Once these are done, you can begin the pre-trip process.

Depending on your mission provider or if you are organizing your own trip, there should be pre-trip meetings that help to get everyone going on the trip get ready and be prepared for serving those in need. But… you still won’t know how everyone will come together. Will everyone “gel”? Will they learn to work together? Will something difficult or unforeseen derail the trip? Will your adults lead and be, well, adults? These are incredibly important questions. Questions that often can’t be answered until you’re on your trip.

But, what if you could get a glimpse of how these questions will be answered? What if you could know how your group will work together? What if you knew that your adults would lead? What if you could get a preview of how the team will come together?

Well… you can.

Get your group involved in a service experience before your trip. A one-day service event is a great time to help everyone in your group gain a little experience before your trip. Witnessing your group serve others, even for just 6 to 8 hours, will give you great insight into how the group is coming together. You’ll be able to get a great idea about areas you can help your group improve in before your trip. You’ll know some coaching you can give your adults so they are ready for the trip this summer.

Just one day of serving together and you’ll have a great preview of this summer. There’s still time to plan a day like this and add it to your pre-trip preparations.