Debunking the 7 Hesitations People Have Regarding Mission Trips
Mission trips are powerful experiences. By serving abroad, you can bring hope, joy, and relief to those who are hurting. Mission trips not only impact others, but they create personal transformations in those who go abroad. With so many obvious reasons to go on a mission trip, why are so many people hesitant?
Here are seven of the most common hesitations:
1. Mission trips are too expensive.
The cost to go on a mission trip is a valid concern, but they don’t cost more than your average vacation. If you want to go on a mission trip, there are ways to raise funds for it:
- Check out some unique fundraising ideas.
- Start a crowdfunding campaign.
- Ask the congregation for an offering.
- Maybe someone wants to sponsor you, but you have to ask!
You can even sacrifice a little to save a lot in weeks leading up to your trip. By giving up your daily Starbucks, that’s $5 a day or $100 a month you could add to your mission trip fund.
2. I don’t have time to go on a mission trip.
It’s a truth of life: you make time for the things important to you. For the things that aren’t, you make excuses.
If you want to make the time, here are some tips to make it happen:
- Mark your calendar with the travel dates.
- Ask off work well in advance.
- Tell friends and family to make it more real.
- Get a sitter for the kids, or bring them with!
3. Mission trips are dangerous.
Travel always comes with risk, but it’s true some areas are more dangerous to share the Gospel in than others. If you’re traveling with your church, know your trip leader won’t bring first-time missionaries to hostile regions and will take necessary precautions to keep the team safe. For extra safety measures, you can:
- Check out safety and security information for countries around the world.
- Sign up for travel alerts.
- Download these security apps.
Purchasing travel insurance will also help you if any unexpected emergencies were to arise during your travels.
4. I’m not spiritual enough to go on a mission trip.
Fire sparks in new believers to share the Gospel, but they often balk at insecurities, like:
- I don’t know enough about the Bible to share it.
- What if I don’t have the right answer when someone asks?
- I might mess up and say the wrong thing.
Do not fear. You don’t need to know the Bible inside-and-out to go on a mission trip. God uses a heart of obedience willing to serve Him, regardless of how much you know. If you’re nervous about not knowing what to say, have faith that God will provide the words (Luke 12:12).
5. I don’t need to go on a mission trip: I can help people close to me.
This is true, but do you help your neighbor?
People often use this as an excuse not to serve abroad and continue living life as usual. If this is the case, it’s never too late to minister locally. Here are some ideas:
- Teach children’s Sunday school.
- Host a weekly Bible study at your home.
- Greet people for morning service.
- Sing in the church choir.
For an international impact, consider packing food for Feed My Starving Children or sponsor a child through a trusted foundation like Compassion.
6. My efforts on a mission trip won’t matter in the long-run.
Jesus said the poor will always be with us (Mark 14:7), but that doesn’t mean you can’t make an impact on those you encounter. All the little things measure up:
- Sharing a hug
- Offering a smile
- Tiling ground for a garden
- Laying a building’s foundation
Although your time overseas may be short, your impact can last a lifetime in the hearts of those you leave behind. You might not see the fruit of your labor, but what you plant will grow.
7. I’m not called to be a missionary.
Though few are called to dedicate their lives preaching to an unreached people group in a hostile nation, we are all called to share the Gospel message.
- Matthew 28:19-20: Jesus commands His followers to share the Good News with all people throughout the earth.
- 1 Peter 2:9-10: God saved and set apart His people to proclaim His excellencies.
- Acts 1:18: the Holy Spirit impacts the early church to become faithful witnesses throughout the world.
What’s holding you back from going on a mission trip?
If you’re interested in taking your first mission trip, but not sure where to begin, here are some resources to get you started:
- 5 Destinations for Your First Mission Trip
- How to Build a Volunteer Team for Missions
- International Ministry Trips You Can Do With a Group
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