Trade in your family vacation for a family missions adventure
By Carol Pipes
The French family packed their bags and made the two-hour drive from their home in Alpharetta, Georgia, to Blue Ridge. Tucked away in the hills of North Georgia, Blue Ridge offers both tranquility and outdoor adventure. Sounds like the perfect spot for a family vacation, right?
But this was no family vacation. This was a family missions adventure. Because Jay and Nina felt it was important to expose their family to missions, they decided to balance their family’s normal vacation time with a family mission trip. Jay and Nina along with their kids Carlton, Caroline, and Courtney took part in a Families on Mission project, June 14-19.
“I’m trying to teach my kids to serve others and to share the love of Jesus,” says Nina. Jay adds, “It’s important to show them we can have fun and go on mission.”
The Frenches, along with 20 other families, spent the week ministering to the local community. The families were divided into ministry teams and dispersed throughout the town. Mission activities included a Vacation Bible School, acts of kindness, visiting nursing homes, prayer walking, sports camps, and a Family Fun Festival for the whole town.
“This week helped me to see that not everyone knows Jesus,” says Carlton, the French’s teenage son. “One of the best parts was watching my parents share the gospel with people.”
Families on Mission is a NAMB-sponsored weeklong, pre-packaged mission trip for families whose children have completed kindergarten.
“Our goal is to help families make missions an integral part of their value system and legacy,” says Rick Head, NAMB’s Families on Mission coordinator. Throughout the week, the gospel was presented more than 100 times, resulting in seven salvations.
“I think it’s important to get out of our Jerusalem and go somewhere to connect with people in another community,” says Nina. “To reach out and see how we can share God’s love with them as a family.” OM
Carol Pipes is the editor of On Mission.
Four ways to focus your mission
You may not need to pack your bags until a couple of days before the trip, but it’s never too early to start preparing your heart. Think about these things over the next several months as you prepare to serve others in a new setting.
1. Get ready to teach and serve, but be ready also to learn and be served. Sometimes the most awesome work God does through a mission trip is to bring you closer to Him through the people you serve.
2. Prepare to focus on the hearts of people. Outward appearances can be distracting when people look different from what you’re used to. Practice by trying to see people at work, in your neighborhood, or local grocery store who you don’t usually spend time with through the eyes of Christ. Try showing them glimpses of God’s love.
3. Learn as much as you can about the place you are going and the people you’ll be working with. Knowing some of the customs and traditions will help you feel more comfortable. There are many differences even among cities in the U.S.!
4. Find out what God’s Word has to say about serving others in His name. Here are some verses to get you started: Mark 16:15, 1 Peter 4:7, James 2:15-17, John 14:26-27, Acts 1:8.