As I turned my shopping cart down the freezer section of my local grocery store, I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time. As we chatted in front of frozen vegetables, the conversation quickly turned to mission trips. “We really want to do a family mission trip,” she said, “but don’t know where to start. We’re not even sure if our kids are old enough.”
It was encouraging to me to hear that these friends had missions on their minds. Our children went on their first mission trip when they were quite young, so we are big believers in this kind of ministry. I have also led trips that included children and were encouraged by the impact these families had by doing missions together.
So, should your family consider the adventure of a mission trip? And if so, are your children old enough? Do you know how to get started?
The first question—should you consider a trip—is an easy one. Yes! Families should consider spending time together serving others, especially cross-culturally. Family mission trips are incredible ways to help your children explore the world and see the diversity of God’s creation. They realize that the world is so much bigger than the few square miles that they traverse on a regular basis. By serving in this manner, they quickly discover that the world does not revolve around them. There are others who have very real needs, hurts and concerns.
I’m thrilled that over the years my teenage daughter has made multiple trips into the barrios of South America where she was able to see how much of the world actually lives. It is a much different reality than the suburbs where she is growing up. Family mission trips are important not just for the educational factor, but also because of the bond it creates within the family. There really is nothing like the strength that comes from a family ministering together.
So with the issue settled about going, the real question centers on when you should go. At what age can a child handle a mission trip? That question is much more difficult as there is no one right answer. The best age very much depends upon your child, where you will go, and what you will be doing.
Here are some questions to ponder in determining if your child is ready for a short term mission trip:
How well does my child travel? When you’ve taken long road trips or flights in the past, how did your child handle it? Could your child stay occupied or did you constantly struggle to keep him or her entertained?
How flexible is my child? If you have to quickly change plans, can your child readily adapt? Or is your child someone who is rigid and must keep to a set schedule? Can he or she “go with the flow” or will every new situation be met with endless complaints?
How well does my child adapt to new situations and people? It certainly helps if your child likes to explore new places and meet new people, but I would not consider this alone to be a deal breaker. All of us, adults and children, can grow in this area and mission trips are a great way to do it.
Is where we are going family-friendly? Are the accommodations appropriate for our family? Will the transportation be such that will fit our family? Will there be long distances between bathrooms that would make the trip too difficult for my child?
Will we be doing things in which every member of the family can participate in at some level? Or will an adult have to babysit the child while the activities take place?
Can my child make a contribution and not detract from the ministry? From a mission leader’s perspective, we want children who will jump in and actively participate in the ministry, not someone who will be a distraction to their family and others. This is probably the single greatest “test” of whether or not your child is ready for a family mission trip.
Let’s say that your children “pass” all the questions and you feel the time is right for a trip. Then the next question is, “How do we get started?” There are basically two approaches: find a mission agency that offers family trips or organize your own.
If you are a short term missions novice, I would definitely recommend going with an organization that does this kind of thing all the time. There is so much that goes into any mission trip—let alone one that involves kids—that it is usually best to let those with the expertise handle the arrangements. There are a number of great organizations that offer family appropriate outreaches to places all over the world. Even with these, however, you still need to ask questions. An organization may offer multiple family trips, but some may be better for your particular family situation and the developmental level of your children. So do ask about travel distances, accommodations, specific ministry tasks, and so on.
If you decide to go it on your own, then start with missionaries or international pastors who you know and trust. See if they have projects that your family could go and do. See if they can handle all of the local arrangements such as food, lodging and ground travel. You would then handle the international travel arrangements such as airline reservations, securing visas, etc. One tip when making flight arrangements is to be sure to tell your travel counselor the ages of your children. Most airlines offer international airfare discounts for children under 12.
I’ll tell you the same thing I told my friend at the grocery store—you should definitely consider a family mission trip! Just make sure that your child or children are ready for it and that it is the right ministry fit for your family. I believe that you will discover what many other parents have learned–that one of the greatest things you can do as a family is minister together on a mission trip. Don’t miss out on such a great opportunity, especially if you still have children at home.
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Frank Banfill is president of MaxPoint Ministries (www.maxpoint.org) and helps churches and small ministries organize mission trips. He writes on behalf of Ministry Travel (www.ministrytravel.com).