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The 10 benefits of mission trips for personal growth are written for Christians who want to grow in faith and as people.

Are you a Christian woman who wants to grow in faith and share the amazing things God has done in your life? Well, it might be time to take the leap and go on a mission trip.

I’ve been on hundreds of mission trips in my home country of the United States and worldwide. I’ve lived in missions, hosted teams, and sent teams out on missions.

For those of you who are unsure about taking a mission trip, I hope these 10 benefits will encourage you to step out in faith and find the trip that God has for you.

The first benefit of mission trips is,

Your faith grows

Just going on a mission trip is a step of faith. When you take a step of faith, your faith grows.

It’s challenging, and you will share why you’re going on the mission trip. Join a team of others who are stepping out in faith and moving out of their comfort zones.

It’s Christian travel in its basic form.

Another benefit of mission trips for personal growth is

Expand your World and worldview.

Learning how others live and experience life expands our worldview and deepens our beliefs. Connecting with other Christians as you go on missions grows your faith.

I remember the first trip I took to Thailand. In a prayer meeting, the leader asked us to write down a struggle we had on a piece of paper. In a few minutes, my Thai friend grabbed the piece of paper, started reading it, and passed it on for others to read. What!

What?

I was in total shock and disbelief. I wrote down something so personal and embarrassing. She gave me hers to read and the person next to hers as well. For a moment, we just passed them around, reading our sin cards.

What was going on was a cultural experience.

That helped me understand how people grow and learn as Christians in that country. It also helped me understand my desire to protect how others saw me. Questioning my level of vulnerability. This would never have happened in my Bible Belt state of Texas. No way.

But I learned so much from it about myself and my worldview, as well as their worldview as Christians.

The next benefit of mission trips for personal growth is

Builds connections and relationships

Building connections to those you are on missions with. I have made lifelong friends with many Christian women I have been on mission trips with. Some of whom I now call Sister, have become some of my closest friends.

The person in the story above is actually one of my closest friends. We call each other “twins,” and we pray and talk to each other about everything. She is a Christian woman of faith and helps me grow in my faith as well. We connected because of that mission trip, and since we have served and helped other women grow in faith.

Serve Others

In our day to day lives we become our own focus. But on a mission trip the focus should be on those you are serving and sharing the love of Christ.

Recent research states that volunteering or acts of kindness can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. When our focus stops being on ourselves and we start serving others change in our own life happens.

The Mayo Clinic has an article of the health benefits of volunteering.

The next thing I believe happens as a benefit of mission trips is,

Fulfill a Biblical calling on your life.

The calling from,

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to.”
Matthew 28:18-19

Sharing Christ’s love with the nations is a calling we have in our lives as Christians. When you fulfill this through a mission trip it expands your understanding of the Bible and the words written.

Something changes when you share the love of Christ cross-culturally. Sharing your testimony and what God has done in your life to others expands so much in your life.

When you hear others share with you, they might struggle with the same things you shared about it. It builds a deep connection that only can be given through Christ.

Creates lasting memories

As I mentioned above benefits of mission trips for personal growth, the connection that it creates. When you make those connnections to others in a different country it becomes a lasting memory.

I never imagined that when I started to go to Thailand years ago, I would be able to make a friend who would become my sisters and like daughters to me. The memories that God has given me through missions in Asia have become a part of my life and my family.

I talked to one of my best friends in Thailand so much that my nephew knew how to greet someone at a Thai restaurant in their language.

When you go on a faith-based travel trip in missions,

Experience a new culture.

The benefits of experiencing a new culture enriches your life.

Have you ever met anyone who loved to travel?

They always want to share their cultural experiences. How about someone who came back from a mission trip, they justcouldn’t stop talking about the trip, people and food.

It expands your understanding of the World and the vastness of what God created. But when you go on a mission trip, something else happens as a Christian. You learn more about God’s love for all people and cultures.

In heaven, all nations and cultures will be there with the main connector-Jesus. So, if you have only lived in one place and experienced one thing your whole life, going on a mission trip can open your eyes to the World and its vastness.

Discover hidden talents

Mission trips, many times, are places where you fill in gaps or provide a need. You might be asked to do a job or skill you didn’t necessarly know you could do. It pushes your limits, grows your flexibility at times and forces many people out of their comfort.

In doing all of that, something happens in people. They discover they have hidden talents.

New ideas and creative ideas start to form in many people after their mission trip. It all started when they said “yes” to go.

One woman I went on a mission trip to South Africa came home and started a non-profit that mentors girls before College. The trip was the catalyst for something bigger in her life.

You step out of your normal

Let’s face facts, when we do the same things day in and day out we get in a routine that can turn into a rut. Well going on a mission trip will definately get you out of that rut.

One of the benefits of mission trips is to help you step out of the normal everyday life. It brings a challenge, and most of the time, a challenge in your life will help your personal and spiritual growth.

The last on my list of benefits of mission trips for personal growth is,

Witness what God is doing around the World.

This is probably one of my favorite things in missions. Witnessing what God is doing around the World. It’s probably one of the most exciting things that happens on trips.

To hear the stories of those working in ministry around the World and see the impact you and your team make is truly a miracle. God using everyday people like you and me. People who have challenges in life, or obstacles yet God chose us to share the love of Christ. It’s a miracle.

Mission trips aren’t just about the giving but the personal growth you gain as you walk in faith. They offer a place to grow in faith, expand your thinking, and make an impact on the World, all the while experiencing the joy of what God is doing around the World.

They offer a chance to grow in your faith, expand your horizons, and make a lasting impact on the World all while experiencing the joy of serving others.

So what’s stopping you? Pack your bags and take the plunge.

Recap:

Faith Grows
Expands your worldview
Builds connections and relationships
Serves others
Fulfill a Biblical calling.
Create a lasting memory.
Experience a new culture.
Discover your talents
Steps you out of your normal
Witness what God is doing around the World.

Here are some helpful articles for your pre-trip and to prepare for you mission trip:

Faith

missions

10 benefits of mission trips for personal growth