It was about fifteen years ago when I led my first ever youth mission team on an out of country missionary trip. I was youth pastor at Calvary Chapel in St. Petersburg, Florida at the time. I still remember very clearly the excitement as we all prepared to GO! The teens had been involved in local evangelism and outreaches at places like Bethel Mission in Wimauma and were now ready for the next step in fulfilling God’s Great Commission. We spent months preparing, praying, earning funds, learning dramas and little Spanish phrases and songs to be able to communicate the love of God in the new culture we were about to be a part of for one week..
On that particular voyage, we ventured into the rural hot and muggy towns and villages of Honduras. There, we all learned that short term mission’s was more than just a great adventure. It was an opportunity to trust God in all kinds of circumstances and situations. Including things like being stranded in a village overnight sleeping in hot, mosquito filled vehicles or on hard dirt floors with no bathrooms around except for what the local fields offered. The youth learned to cope in the midst of circumstances like these that are not pleasant and that they had no control over whatsoever. We all trusted God together and learned first hand that God is who His word says He is! They also realized, many for the first time that they could live without the simple conveniences of life like running water, flushing toilets and hot showers if they had too. I believe they all gained a new appreciation for having such modern conveniences in their homes. But most of all, the youth experienced seeing the power of sharing God’s word and seeing many people give their hearts to Jesus Christ and receive eternal life.
Since that first trip I have led many youth mission teams to various countries throughout Central and South America. Through the heart and passion of these God loving young ambassadors of Jesus Christ I have seen thousands of people give their hearts to Jesus Christ in churches, schools and on the streets of third world countries. Sometimes people say to me “Brian what good is it taking these kids out of the country? Can they really make a difference where they’re going in just one week?” My answer is always a resounding “yes” because I have seen the good side of short term youth mission teams. I have seen their focus, their passion, their dedication and their willingness to go and go and go, like a group of spiritual energizer bunnies. I have seen teenagers catch a long term vision for missions while on a mission trip and some have gone to the mission field full time. Others continue to go year after year as adults and have become more focused witnesses here in the United States because of their direct involvement in youth missions.
The key to successful youth missions is what I call the 365 Mission Strategy, which is simply put, to help keep youth involved in missions year round. I have discovered through my youth mission experiences with youth teams from various different denominations that if they are not serving in their homes, their local churches and or in some kind of local outreach ministry, they probably aren’t ready to go on a foreign mission trip. In fact they will probably be a hindrance to a youth team and sometimes leave a not so positive impact in their foreign country they are visiting if these issues are not addressed before they go. However, let me say I do believe that even the most distracted teen has the ability to make the needed changes to prepare themselves to go and it is important that they are at least given the chance to rise to the occasion. I have seen some of the most distracted teens get focused when they discovered there were requirements, spiritual and practical that needed to be fulfilled before they would be considered and possibly accepted on a mission team. Some of the aforementioned teens can actually (and I have seen it many times) become the most focused, fruitful members on the team. It’s more important to be spiritually ready when the team is leaving on the mission trip than when they initially sign up for the team.
One of my favorite missionary statesmen is Oswald J. Smith, who once said “the only thing Jesus left the church to do is the evangelism of the world. Are we doing it?” For us to complete this Great Commission it is vitally important that we see our youth as part of the Great Commission and that we realize they are to be a part of it now. It is vital that we support them in their mission endeavors, that we encourage them in their dreams to make a difference. Many people say “the youth are the leaders of the future”. I will not argue the truth of that statement but must add they are also leaders today so lets step up to the plate and help them, train them and give them the opportunities that God is calling them to. More than half of all full time missionaries on the field received their calling for full time mission work while on a short term mission trip and many of them were youth at the time.
To all of the youth mission teens reading this article let me say this. I am personally so proud of you, of your ambition to bring Jesus to a hurting world. That your desire is to forsake all to follow Him wherever He may lead you! The adventures that are ahead of you are numerous and they will be filled with faith and presence, God’s presence. Many of you this year alone have washed cars, mowed lawns, babysat and worked all kinds of jobs to make a way to get to the field to share the love of Jesus. Wow, you are an amazing lot (we need more like you) and I, for one and honored to serve Jesus with you! As you GO, hold the banner of His love high at all times through the message of Jesus Christ. Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back because forward is where God is calling us. So let us GO with all the zeal and passion that God is willing to pour into our hearts so that we, that is you and I and countless others can say “I love you” as ambassadors of Jesus Christ to this hurting world. Don’t ever forget that there is nothing in life more important than this Great Commission calling God has given us to fulfill. May the gates of hell be plundered and many souls be saved as we GO!
In His love and service, Brian Weller - www.messageministries.org
YOUTH MISSIONS by Katelyn Weller
As time has progressed American teens have become more and more unaware of the luxuries we possess. Missions can effect a teens prospective on American life greatly; After returning from a mission trip not only does a teen have a new appreciation for showers, but a new thankfulness for three square meals a day, electricity, running water, and needless to mention the constant shopping trips of which have led to a closet full of clothing, and shoes. The constant pressure among our peers to have the nicest, most expensive things seems ridiculous after you’ve met children who own one pair of shoes that have holes in them and have spent a week with them in which they may have changed their clothing once. Personally through mission trips my eyes have been opened to many things including the fact that some churches in the U.S. spend millions and millions of dollars on buildings, the nicest furnishings, and floorings when there are cities in foreign countries in which there is no church at all. The Main truth is that unless you see it with your own eyes you cannot feel the full impact of Missions, I believe that all teens should have the experience a mission trip gives you. The opportunities are endless, and the effect one teen can make on a mission can change lives forever not only in the lives of people elsewhere but in themselves as well.
Katelyn Weller
On that particular voyage, we ventured into the rural hot and muggy towns and villages of Honduras. There, we all learned that short term mission’s was more than just a great adventure. It was an opportunity to trust God in all kinds of circumstances and situations. Including things like being stranded in a village overnight sleeping in hot, mosquito filled vehicles or on hard dirt floors with no bathrooms around except for what the local fields offered. The youth learned to cope in the midst of circumstances like these that are not pleasant and that they had no control over whatsoever. We all trusted God together and learned first hand that God is who His word says He is! They also realized, many for the first time that they could live without the simple conveniences of life like running water, flushing toilets and hot showers if they had too. I believe they all gained a new appreciation for having such modern conveniences in their homes. But most of all, the youth experienced seeing the power of sharing God’s word and seeing many people give their hearts to Jesus Christ and receive eternal life.
Since that first trip I have led many youth mission teams to various countries throughout Central and South America. Through the heart and passion of these God loving young ambassadors of Jesus Christ I have seen thousands of people give their hearts to Jesus Christ in churches, schools and on the streets of third world countries. Sometimes people say to me “Brian what good is it taking these kids out of the country? Can they really make a difference where they’re going in just one week?” My answer is always a resounding “yes” because I have seen the good side of short term youth mission teams. I have seen their focus, their passion, their dedication and their willingness to go and go and go, like a group of spiritual energizer bunnies. I have seen teenagers catch a long term vision for missions while on a mission trip and some have gone to the mission field full time. Others continue to go year after year as adults and have become more focused witnesses here in the United States because of their direct involvement in youth missions.
The key to successful youth missions is what I call the 365 Mission Strategy, which is simply put, to help keep youth involved in missions year round. I have discovered through my youth mission experiences with youth teams from various different denominations that if they are not serving in their homes, their local churches and or in some kind of local outreach ministry, they probably aren’t ready to go on a foreign mission trip. In fact they will probably be a hindrance to a youth team and sometimes leave a not so positive impact in their foreign country they are visiting if these issues are not addressed before they go. However, let me say I do believe that even the most distracted teen has the ability to make the needed changes to prepare themselves to go and it is important that they are at least given the chance to rise to the occasion. I have seen some of the most distracted teens get focused when they discovered there were requirements, spiritual and practical that needed to be fulfilled before they would be considered and possibly accepted on a mission team. Some of the aforementioned teens can actually (and I have seen it many times) become the most focused, fruitful members on the team. It’s more important to be spiritually ready when the team is leaving on the mission trip than when they initially sign up for the team.
One of my favorite missionary statesmen is Oswald J. Smith, who once said “the only thing Jesus left the church to do is the evangelism of the world. Are we doing it?” For us to complete this Great Commission it is vitally important that we see our youth as part of the Great Commission and that we realize they are to be a part of it now. It is vital that we support them in their mission endeavors, that we encourage them in their dreams to make a difference. Many people say “the youth are the leaders of the future”. I will not argue the truth of that statement but must add they are also leaders today so lets step up to the plate and help them, train them and give them the opportunities that God is calling them to. More than half of all full time missionaries on the field received their calling for full time mission work while on a short term mission trip and many of them were youth at the time.
To all of the youth mission teens reading this article let me say this. I am personally so proud of you, of your ambition to bring Jesus to a hurting world. That your desire is to forsake all to follow Him wherever He may lead you! The adventures that are ahead of you are numerous and they will be filled with faith and presence, God’s presence. Many of you this year alone have washed cars, mowed lawns, babysat and worked all kinds of jobs to make a way to get to the field to share the love of Jesus. Wow, you are an amazing lot (we need more like you) and I, for one and honored to serve Jesus with you! As you GO, hold the banner of His love high at all times through the message of Jesus Christ. Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back because forward is where God is calling us. So let us GO with all the zeal and passion that God is willing to pour into our hearts so that we, that is you and I and countless others can say “I love you” as ambassadors of Jesus Christ to this hurting world. Don’t ever forget that there is nothing in life more important than this Great Commission calling God has given us to fulfill. May the gates of hell be plundered and many souls be saved as we GO!
In His love and service, Brian Weller - www.messageministries.org
YOUTH MISSIONS by Katelyn Weller
As time has progressed American teens have become more and more unaware of the luxuries we possess. Missions can effect a teens prospective on American life greatly; After returning from a mission trip not only does a teen have a new appreciation for showers, but a new thankfulness for three square meals a day, electricity, running water, and needless to mention the constant shopping trips of which have led to a closet full of clothing, and shoes. The constant pressure among our peers to have the nicest, most expensive things seems ridiculous after you’ve met children who own one pair of shoes that have holes in them and have spent a week with them in which they may have changed their clothing once. Personally through mission trips my eyes have been opened to many things including the fact that some churches in the U.S. spend millions and millions of dollars on buildings, the nicest furnishings, and floorings when there are cities in foreign countries in which there is no church at all. The Main truth is that unless you see it with your own eyes you cannot feel the full impact of Missions, I believe that all teens should have the experience a mission trip gives you. The opportunities are endless, and the effect one teen can make on a mission can change lives forever not only in the lives of people elsewhere but in themselves as well.
Katelyn Weller
YOUTH MISSIONS, WHY?
by Brian Weller
Message Ministries
& Missions Inc.
PO Box 7158
St. Petersburg,
Florida
33734-7158
Phone & fax:
727-527-0595
messageministry
@aol.com
& Missions Inc.
PO Box 7158
St. Petersburg,
Florida
33734-7158
Phone & fax:
727-527-0595
messageministry
@aol.com
MESSAGE
MIN. on FACEBOOK
MIN. on FACEBOOK
