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Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

Family Mission Trips

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).

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Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Not in Kansas Anymore: Managing the Field Ministry of Short-Term Mission Teams

The plane hits the dirt runway, slows and then begins to taxi toward the small brick building that serves as the airport’s terminal. As the plane comes to a stop, you and your ministry team duck your heads and exit at the back of the turbo-prop before stepping onto foreign soil. The moment that you have planned and prepared for has finally arrived. Your international ministry has begun. Now it is up to you as the leader of this short term mission team to make sure things go right and the outreach is a success. Here are seven key items to tackle that will enable you to effectively manage your group’s field ministry.

Think 24-48 hours ahead. As the leader, you need to anticipate what is in store for your team and plan ahead. By thinking in terms of what will be needed tomorrow, you will have the necessary time to make the appropriate arrangements.

Coordinate logistics. This will be ongoing from the moment you arrive to the time that you leave. The “big three” in this category include transportation, lodging and food/water. With transportation, you will want to not only make sure that you have it lined up for all of your activities, but also that there is enough to accommodate your team and any supplies or materials that you are carrying.

If your team is staying at a hotel or similar accommodation, be sure to write down each team member’s room number as you check-in your group. Also, be sure that they have your number in case there are any problems. If you are staying with host families, be sure to get a name and phone number for each home.

When it comes to food, you will quickly discover that meals need to be planned well in advance, especially if you have a large team. So always be thinking 2-3 meals ahead to ensure that you will have what you need and when you need it. Also, check with your team members each day—even multiple times during the day–to see if they have enough bottled water. Dehydration is one of the biggest health issues we see with mission teams.

Conduct field orientation. Even if you did extensive pre-trip training, there still needs to be orientation once you reach your ministry destination. Your team may or may not have been listening in previous meetings—but I guarantee they are listening now that you are on the field. You will want to cover three areas in your orientation: logistics, health and safety.

For logistics, make sure the team knows their way around the hotel or lodging facilities and how to get in touch with you and other leaders. Remind the team about handling valuables such as their passport and make sure each person has a business card or something with the hotel’s address on it.

Health topics would include food items that can and cannot be eaten, as well as instructions about bottled water. Safety includes things such as not venturing out alone, what to do in case of an emergency, and other concerns that you might have.

Conduct daily meetings. The primary purpose for these briefings is to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Many teams find that the best time to meet is during a meal—usually breakfast. Keep the meetings concise and focused but still allow some time for questions and a brief recap of the previous day’s events. You will want to review the schedule for that day, troubleshoot any problems that have surfaced, and give a brief look at what to expect the next day. Some ministry teams also use this time for worship and a devotional message.

Take the team’s pulse. During the trip, try to spend a few minutes with each team member to see how they are doing and to help them process events. Whether a member is a veteran or a newbie, look for ways to maximize that person’s trip experience. Are there things that you can do to help him or her better utilize their gifts and abilities? Are there personality conflicts between team members or with national workers that would necessitate a change in work groups? What about fatigue? Do you need to work in some down-time so that your team can re-charge a little?

As team leader, you will want to make sure that you do not isolate yourself or spend time with just a couple “favorites” with whom you feel comfortable. Instead, talk to everyone and try to observe everyone at work. If your team is spread out, make it a point to visit each work site some time during the trip.

Plan for future ministry. It is easy to get caught-up with the activities of the moment and fail to look ahead. If you plan on working there again, take some time during your trip to prepare for your next team.

On the last evening of my last trip to Africa, our team went to a pizza restaurant as a special treat. As we were walking up to the building one of our national hosts commented that the hotel across the street was new. Knowing that we would return in a couple months with another team, we decided to visit the hotel after dinner. It was beautiful—much nicer than where we were staying, and it was less money! Needless to say, we booked it for our next group. That team will be very glad that we planned ahead!

Prepare for re-entry. As your ministry abroad begins to wind down, there are a couple items that need to be addressed. First, verify your return flights with your airline 48 hours before departure. Also, discuss with your team the travel logistics such as flight plans, filling out customs forms, reclaiming luggage and so on.

As you address these seven items during your mission trip, you will find that the trip is more manageable and runs smoother. I would encourage you to develop a checklist around these issues and work through it during your time on the field. This will keep you on task and help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

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Frank Banfill is president of MaxPoint Ministries (www.maxpoint.org) and is involved with community transformation in Africa. He writes on behalf of Ministry Travel (www.ministrytravel.com).

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Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Missions Round-Up: Southern Baptists Get New Missions Leader; World Water Day; Missionaries Continue New Zealand Aid

With the world’s eyes turned to the disasters in Japan, it is easy to forget that just one month ago a major earthquake rocked New Zealand, displacing tens of thousands of people.

Although many have left, the Foursquare Church denomination continues its ministry. In an interview with Foursquare.org, Missionary Ron Brown described the situation as “a warzone, with sinkholes throughout the streets and hospitals filled to capacity. Water in neighborhoods is flowing intermittently, though it is not drinkable. Sewer systems are broken, and fresh food is unavailable.”

Brown and his wife Debra have been providing meals and lots of prayers for neighbors impacted by the disaster.

Yesterday was World Water Day, designed to create awareness for the need for clean drinking water around the world. According to a Washington Post article, it is estimated that more than 3,900 children die each day because of diarrhea linked to dirty water.

Presbyterian Church U.S.A.’s The Outreach Foundation reports several projects in Brazil designed to bring both the “living water” of the gospel and clean drinking water to the population. They have had particular success in the drought-stricken surroundings of northeastern Brazil thanks to a cistern project.

Finally, here in the U.S., trustees for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB) recently elected Tom Elliff, 67, to succeed Jerry Rankin as the organization’s president.

“I’m not coming as an ‘interim.’ I’m coming with a vision—and I will serve as long as God gives me grace and energy,” Elliff told Baptist Press. Elliff is a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also served as IMB senior vice president from 2005-09.

The IMB, based in Richmond, Virginia, has 5,000 worldwide missionaries and appointed 67 new missionaries on March 16 during a ceremony held in Dallas.

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Friday, February 25th, 2011

‘Share Your Story’ Contest Winner Can’t Believe Mission Trip Photos

Like so many before her who left home to share God’s word on an international mission trip, Karen Twenhafel was stretched in new ways as she ministered in the Ukraine. “I can’t believe that’s me,” she says every time she looks at photos of herself from the mission trip.

Twenhafel is the winner of the Ministry Travel Share Your Story contest. We invited our Facebook fans to share their favorite mission trip story for a chance to win two airline tickets. A number of our fans responded, all with great stories of compassion and God’s movement around the world.

Jack Sauls shared how he was moved by watching Ugandan children carry yellow containers of dirty drinking water on their bicycles. Deborah Bagley recalled how the orphan children she worked with in Bolivia cherished the little Christmas box of toys they provided.

Kay McNabb shared about a medical mission trip to Peru where the hardest part was turning away people from their make-shift clinic because they just did not have enough time to see everyone who had a need. Tracy Fisher shared how her time with a medical team in Uganda challenged her to go home and help collect medical equipment and other supplies. Tracy’s efforts resulted in a 20 foot container packed wall to wall with state of the art equipment for a Christian medical center in Uganda.

Several contest participants shared how their trips changed their lives. Even the process of determining where to go, raising the necessary funds and then the logistics involve to accomplish their mission stretched their faith. Our staff enjoyed reading all of the stories and knowing that they are a small representation of the thousands of stories our clients experience every year. 

Karen Twenhafel did things on her mission trip that she would never have imagined doing before the outreach. Not necessarily big, dramatic things, but things that were outside of her natural comfort zone. All of us who have participated in similar endeavors can relate to her. It is the myriad of “little” things that often stretch us and leave an indelible impression on our lives. Most of all, it is serving others that enlarges our vision and helps us realize how blessed we truly are. Karen’s story is a great summary of the affects that short-term mission trips have on those who go.

Here is Karen Twenhafel’s story:

“I can’t believe that’s me.”

That’s my primary thought when I look at pictures of myself on a mission trip to Ukraine in June 2010. It’s not that I have trouble believing that I traveled to a foreign land and spread God’s Word. I’m a Christian – it’s my obligation to do that. The pictures that render personal disbelief are those that depict me in roles that, before the trip, I would have never attempted.

There’s the picture of me holding a Ukrainian baby. We were in the small village of Kygarlyk. There was a 12 year old girl who came to all of our presentations. However, she was often limited in participation as she cared for her 10 month old brother. When she would try to put him down so that she could do a craft or play a game, he would cry and she would have to stop.

On our last day there, we pulled out a brightly colored parachute to play with. The girl’s face lit up as she eagerly cried “Parachuta! Parachuta!” But then her face fell when she saw her brother firmly ensconced in her arms. I, without thought, indicated that I could hold the baby. As she thrust the boy into my arms, I wanted to immediately hand him back. I’ve always been a bit afraid of babies – they’re small, squirmy and seem to make irrational decisions. But when I saw the girl, so often put in the role of an adult, gleefully run off to play, I steeled myself. I held, sang to and played with the baby for the next 45 minutes while his sister got to be a kid.

Then there’s the photo of Dawn and Megan, two fellow mission workers, a couple of Ukrainian girls and me crammed into the back seat of a passenger van. When we were in Savron, geographical distance between the churches dictated that up to 16 people could be in a van meant for 10. On this day, I found myself squished between Dawn and Megan, with Megan’s elbow lodged in my ribs and me sitting halfway on Dawn’s lap.

As someone who greatly values her personal space, this situation should have been unbearable for me. But in the picture, I’m smiling – not a tight, just-get-through-it smile but a full-on grin. I remember being physically uncomfortable but I more recall feeling happy. I was happy because as we bounced down dusty back roads, the van, brimming with God’s children, was also over-filled with laughter, singing and joy.

Every morning in Ukraine, I would pray that God would open my eyes to opportunities He wanted me to see. I had expected, and often found, occasions to share the wonderful news of redemption in Jesus Christ. I did not, however, anticipate that God would show me ways to break out of my well-worn habits.

While there are still times when I can’t believe it’s me in those photos, I now stare at them in appreciation of how God works in our lives. I can’t wait to see what He does next when we return to Ukraine this June. To Him alone be the power forever and ever. Amen.

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Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

What the Airlines’ Feud with Online Travel Sites Means to You

The recently publicized squabble between airlines—namely American and Delta—and online travel sites such as Expedia and Orbitz may turn into a full-blown war that will once again change the way travel is purchased.

But for international travelers, especially those traveling for ministry or humanitarian purposes, the feud is a reminder that there are pitfalls both to buying directly from the airline and to buying from an online travel site. The two main reasons for this are the lack of discounted contract fares and the complexity of international travel. The alternative is to work with an agency experienced in international travel that offers contract airfares.

At Ministry Travel we have access to rates that are not available to the general public. These are discounted fares that you cannot get from an Internet travel site or even directly from the airline. They are based on specially negotiated contracts that we have with the airlines for missionary and humanitarian travelers. Plus, we are able to shop all the airlines and routings, including those that do not show up in the Internet travel sites, and make recommendations that are in our client’s best interest.

The complexity of international travel, especially when a group of travelers is involved, is best handled by a “live” person who can look at various scenarios and make good recommendations. Sometimes this means suggesting alternate airports to reduce cost or offering alternative airlines and routings to avoid a forced overnight stay while traveling. “Having been in business for more than a decade and arranged travel for tens of thousands of people to every corner of the earth, we know the right questions to ask and the right things to look for to ensure our clients get the best options possible,” said Ministry Travel President Beth Banfill.

The airline-online feud took center stage last month when American Airlines pulled its fares from Orbitz. Expedia, in a show of solidarity with its online competitor, initially made it more difficult for users of its site to access American’s fares. On January 1 they dropped American’s flights all together.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that American Airlines remains in “active discussions” with Expedia and Orbitz to return their flights to the online travel sites. Many industry experts, however, feel that American and other carriers will eventually eliminate doing business with online sites. According to USA Today, Delta recently removed its fares from three smaller travel sites “in an attempt to steer customers to its own website and build brand loyalty.”

Travel guru Arthur Frommer, founder of Frommer’s Travel Guides, wrote on his blog yesterday that, “The real reason for the stand-off, and it is becoming more clear that the obvious answer is the real answer: American Airlines no longer wants to pay commissions to Orbitz or Expedia…and it feels it can fill its flights without their assistance.”

Frommer went on to say, “In the future, it appears that would-be passengers will need to consult several sites of several airlines to learn the airfare situation for a particular trip. What a mess!”

Of course passengers can avoid the mess all together by simply contacting a travel agent!

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Friday, December 17th, 2010

How to Conduct a Mission Trip Information Meeting (Part 2)

In our last post we touched on three big-picture things that need to be communicated when you conduct information meetings for people interested in your short term mission or humanitarian trip. Today, we focus on some practical details that you also will want to include in these recruiting meetings.

Passports. Provide information on how to obtain a passport. If there is a passport processing center near year, provide that information as well.

Itinerary. People like to have an idea what they will be doing each day. You don’t have to be too detailed, but you do need to let them know what to expect.

Payment details. Make sure it is clear how the finances for the trip are to be handled. If participants are raising funds, make sure it is clear who checks should be written to and where they should be sent.

Extra expenses. Outline what is and is not covered in the trip tuition. What out of pocket items should they be prepared to buy during the trip? Will there be an opportunity to shop for souvenirs?

Deadlines. When is the deposit due? When do all of the funds have to be in?

Applications. Make sure that you have the appropriate paperwork on hand for people to take home and fill out.

Response form. You will want a sign-up sheet, response card or something to capture the names, contact information and interest level of those who are going. If you can collect the legal names and birthdates of those interested, then in some cases your Ministry Travel agent can hold the airline space while people make their decision about going.

Clear next steps. When people leave your information meeting, they should know clearly what you expect them to do next if they want to go.

How to get more information. Ensure that everyone has the name, phone number and email for at least one person that they can contact if they have additional questions or need help getting the application completed.

One final note, be sure to communicate early in the process with your Ministry Travel agent. You should touch base with her or him after your meeting to give an update on your estimated group number and provide the names of those interested in going. Also, let your agent know if any of your potential team members will need a different flight itinerary (if they plan to stay longer or do a layover on the return), want to upgrade to business class, or have other special needs.

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Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

How to Conduct a Mission Trip Information Meeting

While your mission or humanitarian trip may be months away, you know that you have to start recruiting your team as early as possible. Usually that will involve conducting one or more information meetings for those interested in going on the trip. Regardless of where you are going, or the focus of your trip, there are three things that you want to communicate during your information meeting.

The first is vision. You must cast a compelling reason why someone should go on your trip. Just because you are excited about it doesn’t mean others will be! One of the best ways to cast vision is through stories. Share stories of the people’s lives where you will be working and why your trip is so important to them. Remember, names and pictures of faces are much more compelling than statistics. Also, share stories from people who have gone on trips with you before and how their lives were positively impacted.

Second, people need to leave your meeting saying to themselves, “I can do that!” It not only needs to be clear what they will be doing, but potential participants need an idea how they will fund the trip. They might be able to see themselves doing the work, but can’t figure out how they will ever come up with the money to go. So make sure that you touch on fundraising methods during the meeting.

Third, people should leave your information meeting feeling confident in you and your organization. They need to feel that they can trust their well-being to you. Everything that you do during the meeting either helps build confidence in you and your organization or it makes people leery of you. Did you hand out quality materials that looked good and were well written? Were you organized and well prepared for the meeting? Did you have solid answers for the questions that were posed? Did you keep the meeting on pace and exciting? Did you present a clear vision and strategy?

When we cast a clear vision, help people picture themselves on the trip, and instill confidence in people, then more people are inclined to sign-up for our outreach trips. Hit these three targets and your next information meeting will be a big success! In our next post we will examine some of the practical details of trip information meetings.

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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Mid-week Missions Round Up: World AIDS Day

On this World AIDS Day, there is encouraging news coming from numerous places that progress is being made both to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and to help those with the disease live longer, fuller lives.

HIV/AIDS is no longer the death sentence that it used to be, especially in impoverished places like much of Africa. Baptist Press (BP) reports that although AIDS claims 4,000 lives in sub-Saharan Africa every day, medicine and ministry are saving many more and allowing people to live lives that a few years ago weren’t possible. “We’ve seen people get up off their sick bed and walk. The greater availability of antiretroviral therapy is saving lives,” said International Mission Board Zambia missionary Troy Lewis in the BP report.

There is greater cooperation today between ministries, churches, non-governmental organizations and governments to educate, test and treat for HIV/AIDS.

Across Africa, ministries that have traditionally focused solely on evangelism and church planting are now including HIV/AIDS education as part of their outreach. e3 Partners Ministry, for example, is a church planting ministry that has broadened into HIV/AIDS education through the development and use of the Hope Cube.

The Hope Cube, similar to an evangelistic tool developed by e3 Partners called the EvangeCube, resembles a Rubik Cube and utilizes pictures to educate and present facts about HIV/AIDS. The Hope Cube simplifies training and makes it easier for more people to get educated about disease prevention and how to care for those who do contract HIV. The ministry also provides mobile HIV testing clinics as part of its short-term church planting campaigns.

In Tanzania, where misinformation about HIV/AIDS is rampant and those infected are often cut off from society, the African Inland Church is beginning to see changes both in behavior and in attitudes towards those with HIV/AIDS. Through its church-centered community development work, the denomination is breaking down barriers that once prevented HIV infected individuals from getting care. They also are teaching micro-business skills to these individuals so that they can financially support themselves.

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Friday, November 26th, 2010

Black Friday Reminder for Summer Airfare Deals

Today is “Black Friday,” the unofficial start to the Christmas shopping sprint. As storefront and online retailers ramp up their advertising push, and shoppers scour for the best Christmas deals, there are other deals to consider beyond the Christmas season. You see, now is the time to be thinking about airfare for next summer’s international mission trips.

While summer may seem a long way off, it is not too soon to make your airline reservations, especially if you want to save money. “The airlines only allot so many discounted seats, so once those are gone you can expect to pay more. We already have a lot of groups who have started their summer preparations,” said Ministry Travel President Beth Banfill.

What many travelers do not realize is that through its special missionary contracts, Ministry Travel is able to hold space on many of its airlines now without any payment or deposit. “If you wait until the beginning of the year to arrange your summer missions travel you may find it difficult to get the flights that you want or you may have to pay a premium for them,” said Banfill.

Her recommendation is to begin working on the air portion of the ministry trip now, even if all the other details are not in place. She also recommends doing trip information meetings before the end of the year and gathering names and birthdates of those interested. “If we have the legal names and birthdates of those interested, then we can go ahead and begin locking in the airline space, depending on the number in your party.” Also, if you can be flexible with your travel dates you may be able to realize additional savings.

Airfare is usually the single largest cost of a mission trip, so having accurate cost estimates is important to good budgeting and setting the trip price. You cannot assume that next year you will pay the same for airfare as you paid this year. “There can be huge fluctuations in price year to year, especially if your dates are different,” Banfill remarked. Ministry Travel agents offer no-obligation price comparisons and can recommend the best travel options for your unique situation. They can be reached at 1-877-541-5726.

Ministry Travel is closed today as part of the Thanksgiving observance, but will re-open on Monday. You can, however, submit a quote request anytime online at www.MinstryTravel.com.

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Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Ministry Travel Thanksgiving Wishes

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S., we reflect on the many things that we are thankful for, as individuals and as a company. Ministry Travel is completing its 11th year of service to the non-profit and missions community and we have much to give thanks.

Thank you, our clients, for allowing us to partner with you in the work that you have done around the world. Over these eleven years we have helped our clients get to just about every corner on the planet and the stories you have shared with us have been incredible.

Although we have served tens of thousands of travelers, we are thankful that we have been able to connect on a personal level with so many. You’ve let us laugh with you, pray with you, and in difficult times, even cry with you. You have shared the highs and lows of your life with us.

We have enjoyed, for example, helping parents as they traveled for international adoptions. When we get that email or call that says “We’ve got our child and the adoption is final,” it brings a smile to our faces and fills our heart with joy knowing that we had a small part in helping bring a family together.

We also appreciate that you turned to us in difficult times—like when a family member abroad was sick or had passed away and you needed to get there quickly.

It has been a privilege to come alongside both the veteran ministry traveler to help them be better stewards of their resources, as well as the rookie mission team leader who needed help sorting through the complexities of international travel.

Over the years your pictures, newsletters and notes of appreciation have adorned our office walls as constant reminders that what we do is about more than selling a ticket. It is about changing lives for the good and impacting eternity.

So this Thanksgiving we think of you and all that you do to make this world a better place. We are thankful that in a small way we get to share in this great work of yours.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Ministry Travel!

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