Youth groups across the country plan mission trips every year, both international and domestic. Serving locally is cost-effective and provides valuable learning experiences. Teens and youth leaders are exposed to needs in their community and can work together to serve and empower others. Below are 30 mission-minded local service ideas and tips for researching needs and framing your trip.
Plan Your Local Mission Trip
Consider calling mission trips "service trips," so youth go into a trip with a servant-hearted mindset versus a savior mindset. Plan ahead to allow time for partnerships and schedules to align.
- Research - Do your research beforehand and see what others have done in the past. Ask past trip leaders about what has worked and what hasn't. If it's a specific neighborhood or school, do your research on the history of the school and the area. Talk to local leaders and social workers and ask for insight into what would be most beneficial to the community.
- Read - Before launching into a service project, encourage leaders to prayerfully consider what outreach ideas are helpful for a community and what good intentioned ideas actually do more harm than good. When Helping Hurts is a fantastic book to read on this topic.
- Youth Perspective - Ask the students what needs they see in their schools and neighborhoods and talk about how your group may be able to meet those needs. Involve them in the process of designing the service project. This is an opportunity for them to learn empathy as they think about the needs of others as opposed to their own.
Provide Transportation for Others
For elderly and low-income populations, it can be difficult to find transportation to doctors' appointments, interviews and even the grocery store. Additionally, if they do have a car, it can be hard to maintain a vehicle. Consider the following ways to serve.
