4 Practical Ways to Prepare Students for Short-Term Mission Trips

Our church prioritizes short-term mission trips for students for many reasons. We firmly believe that these trips help prepare the next generation to confidently share the gospel and demonstrate boldness in different contexts. By stepping out of their comfort zones, students witness firsthand what God can achieve through their willingness. These experiences also show students that they can embody the compassion of Jesus anywhere they go, inspiring them to eagerly serve their communities and schools when they return home.

In recent years, CF Students has partnered with Amazon Outreach in Brazil, UK USA in England, and several churches in New York City for short-term student trips. Most recently, CF Students partnered with Boto Joseph from Jackson Heights Community Church in New York City. Before this trip, the student ministry staff diligently prepared students in four practical and intentional ways. 

Three Circles Gospel Presentation

First, we trained students to share the Gospel using 3 Circles, a simple evangelism tool developed by the North American Mission Board. 3 Circles is easily retained and applicable to people of all ages. Students were equipped with the Life on Mission app and given the opportunity to reproduce the 3 Circles diagram from memory with their peers. 

Encouragement

We recognize that a short-term mission trip can be intimidating for anyone, let alone a high school or middle school student. That’s why we prioritize encouragement in the months leading up to a short-term trip and during the trip itself. Encouragement is the process of imparting courage or inspiring confidence and hope. Our student ministry team imparts courage to our students by affirming the gifts we see in them and processing any fears and expectations they may have with them before and during short-term trips.

Students attending the New York City mission trip were required to participate in three hands-on training meetings before the trip. Two of these meetings were for students only, and one meeting was for students and their parents. In addition to 3 Circles evangelism training, students were equipped practically on navigating New York City, mindfulness of one’s surroundings in an urban context, and engaging different worldviews. Parents were briefed on the trip’s schedule, what students might experience, and other practical things like packing lists, flight information, and ways to prepare the student for the trip from home. Parents are the primary disciple-makers in their homes, and we want parents involved in these trips, even if they don’t attend the trip themselves.

Team Building Opportunities

Lastly, we prepare students for short-term trips by offering team-building opportunities. Team building happens when students spend time together outside of regular student ministry before the short-term trip. During this time, students were challenged to share their testimony and to practice sharing the gospel with one another.

Although we cannot prepare our students for everything that may come their way on a short-term mission trip—you can’t always anticipate the unexpected—we do our best to prepare them for what we can. We want our students to feel equipped and ready to face new situations and contexts confidently, knowing they are the future of the church and mission field. We do the next generation a disservice when we don’t challenge them to do uncomfortable things for the glory of God.