East-West is dedicated to mobilizing the Church at home to build the Church abroad. One way we’re bringing the gospel to the world is through dedicated believers on short-term mission trips.
Fall is around the corner. So it’s time to start thinking about whether a fall mission trip is right for you. Here are a few opportunities for you to GO and MULTIPLY God’s eternal Kingdom with East-West this fall.
For more information or to sign up for these mission trips click here.
Valerie began her second day of evangelism going door-to-door sharing the gospel. When she came to a particular village, her message really began to attract some attention.
As she moved through the village, Valerie began to notice that a small group of villagers had followed her. She continued telling the story of God’s grace, each time from a slightly different angle to keep their attention.
It worked. 
She continued to tell the story of Jesus. Clearly intrigued, the group followed her from house to house. When she arrived at the third house, Valerie decided to tell of creation and the first sin.
She described how God made the world with His hands and how in one moment the first humans corrupted the way we were meant to live.
She then told the group of villagers, now consisting of 30 people, how God required a sacrifice of a perfect animal and only through blood would our sins be forgiven. Valerie spoke affectionately of the God who then sent His own Son to be a sacrifice that covers our sin … once and for all.
Smiles came across the faces of the villagers who had listened intently to her story.
“We believe!” they exclaimed. “We didn’t know God sent Jesus. We’ve still been sacrificing to animals. No one ever told us we didn’t have to anymore. Thank you for coming here to tell us!”
Each of the 30 villagers decided to follow Jesus that day because Valerie courageously shared God’s story of redemption with them.
Short-term mission trips can be some of the best experiences of your life. Each one brings new opportunities to see God work in you and through you.
Your trip can be enhanced by taking a few small steps. Here are some ways to make sure that you get the most from your mission trip experience.
Prayer is a fundamental part of any ministry activity. Because it is vital to any mission, prayer should begin before the trip does. Pray before your trip, during your trip, and after your trip. Entering each phase or activity in your mission trip with a prayer will allow the Lord to work in ways that you may not have thought possible.
Often on mission trips, you will encounter cultures that are vastly different from your own. It is crucial to respect these cultures, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel at the time.
Engage your translators or church workers in conversations about the culture to get the full story behind the different behaviors. Understanding their mindsets often helps us to observe the differing aspects of their culture—showing respect to those you encounter on the field.
Schedules are a wonderful tool for maximizing your time in an area. However, obstacles and opportunities often arise that may keep your team from sticking firmly to your scheduled activities.
Remember to be flexible each day. Frequently the Holy Spirit opens doors that we could not have anticipated. Follow His leading and trust in his power to make the most of your ministry.
The variety of experiences and people that you will encounter can affect you deeply. Be open to new experiences and opportunities that may arise on the field.
In each encounter, prayerfully allow the Holy Spirit do His work through you. By remaining open to His guidance, your trip experience will be enhanced and your own heart will be opened.
God always works through our obedience. Encountering him and his work among the nations can profoundly change you. Let it happen. Don’t let this mission trip be just another photo album to flip through and laugh about the memories.
You are forever connected to those whom you met and to God himself. Pray for those people, tell others about this experience, encourage them to get on the field, and go back yourself.
Don’t miss the opportunity to change your life and someone else’s on a short-term mission trip! Check out our upcoming trips.
For many years, Joni has sponsored at-risk children through Adopt-a-Legacy, East-West’s sponsorship program for at-risk children in Kenya. One day the Lord brought to her attention a short-term mission trip that would focus on ministering to orphans in Kenya. Joni decided this was her chance to get on the mission field.
This particular trip happened to make a stop at the orphan school for a day of ministry. The orphan ministry had a day of gospel-centered activities planned: crafts, stories, and games. But Joni was excited to come to the school for another reason … meeting the children she has sponsored for so many years.
Joni finally met the children she's sponsored in Africa through East-West. (From left to right: Maria, Joni, Dorcus, their guardian)
As Joni watched Maria, now 17, dance, laugh, and lead a song, she was filled with joy. Maria is one of the children that Joni has sponsored for many years, and she finally had the chance to meet her.
“It was a major highlight of my trip to meet Maria,” Joni said. “All of the sponsored children were such a joy to meet. We spoke about the gospel, danced, and shared many stories!”
The gospel is part of every day at the orphan school, and East-West’s work here changed Maria’s life. She came to faith during her time at school. Even now she continues to get a valuable education and learn about faith and the Bible.
Now a young woman, Maria dreams of being a medical missionary or journalist—traveling the world and sharing her faith in unique ways.
Joni was overjoyed at meeting the children whose lives she had helped improve. It was truly a testament to our sovereign God who brings everything together to work for our good.
“Getting to go to the orphan school and meet these children was such a gift,” she said. “It was nothing but exciting and awesome to see God work in and through me, my supporters, and my team for His purposes. I will never be the same!”
You’re ready to GO, but mission trip funds don’t raise themselves.
Trip fundraising should always begin with fervent prayer and by reaching out to your community, but sometimes getting all of our funds together takes thinking outside of the box.
Here are a few creative fundraising ideas for your next mission trip.
Many restaurants and other small businesses like to partner with individuals in the community. Visit some of your local hotspots. Maybe you’ll get the chance to wait tables to earn part of the night’s profits or put a donation jar for your trip in a few strategic locations. Then you just have to tell your friends when and where to go. Always leave some information about you and your trip with those who give.
Do you run, bike or walk? Pick a month, week or day and set a goal for the number of miles you want to walk, bike or run. Ask people to donate a specific amount per mile accomplished in the allotted time. Stay accountable through a smartphone application and posting pictures on a blog or through regular e-mail updates. If you keep it up, it will show donors just how much you care about sharing the gospel on the other side of the planet. Once you’ve completed the task, you can collect your pledges.
Set up shop in your church and community. You can sell crafts, baked goods, t-shirts, or even evangelism materials (bracelets, books, tracts, etc.). Be sure to include information about you, your story, and ways to donate with each sale to give customers a way to connect and give more if they want to at another time.
With all of the technology out there today, a story can spread in just minutes across the internet. You can create buzz about your trip by creating a video or writing a manifesto. Send it to your friends and ask them to spread it around. You never know who will connect to you and become one of your “senders.”
Fundraising is about building a community that will support you through your trip and maybe even beyond. Make sure that each of these activities is bathed in prayer and gives you an opportunity to connect with your community—sharing your story and your passion for the gospel.
East-West is dedicated to mobilizing the Church at home to build the Church abroad. One way we’re bringing the gospel to the world is through dedicated believers on short-term mission trips.
Summer is a great time to take part in the harvest on the mission field. Here are a few opportunities for you to GO and MULTIPLY God’s eternal Kingdom with East-West this summer.
For more information or to sign up for these mission trips click here.
The Africa team is home safely with many incredible testimonies and life changing stories to share. They are grateful for your participation in their journey through your prayers.
"I am a new man!"
Of the many life changing stories they experienced, one stuck out to the team. They continued to follow the Luke 10 principle throughout the week, going out two by two to meet people and share the Gospel with those who were ready to listen. As one of the pairs was walking, they were led to a Muslim man on the beach. As the pair began to form a relationship with the man, they were led to share the Gospel with this Muslim.
The man was captivated by the Gospel message of Isa al Masih (Jesus). He gladly accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and is now a brother in the Lord!
This new believer’s joy was so exuberant that he eagerly consented to being baptized. The group of now three brothers in Christ walked down into the Indian Ocean to baptize the converted Muslim. This new follower of Jesus came up from the water exclaiming, “I am a new man!”
A true miracle for which we give God all of the glory!
“We went to his church under a tree and got to partake in worship at the church’s first communion together,” reports one of the Africa short term team members. The team recently met a local pastor among the Massai tribe and had the opportunity to worship with his body of believers this past Sunday.
During their past few days of ministry, the team has been practicing the “Person of Peace” principle from Luke 10. Following this principle, they have been going to different “bomas” with translators and developing relationships with the Massai. Two people placed their faith in Christ and many people heard the Gospel message. One of those who recently accepted Christ was an elderly woman. The power of Christ changed her life so radically that she was eager to be baptized the next day.
“We also did activities with about 75 Massai children. We were blessed with their beautiful singing and their understanding of what Christ has done for them.” -Short term team member
Please continue to pray for the Africa short term team as they begin their return journey tomorrow. Pray for continued health and safety, divine appointments, and changed lives.
The Massai are desperately seeking a true source of hope…and they are receiving that message of hope this week. An East-West short term team left just 3 days ago to minister to and share the Gospel with the Massai tribe of Africa. They will be there for a full week of ministry…sharing the Gospel, seeking men of peace, and displaying the love of Jesus Christ.
Ministering to Massai Children
The team has briefly reported that they have had many wonderful ministry opportunities just in the first part of their trip. Please be praying for them as they continue to fulfill the work that the Lord has called them to this week. They are eager to share more specifics on the changed life stories upon their return. So be looking for more updates from their trip on how God is working among the Massai in Africa!
A countless number of changed lives, thousands of changed families, hundreds of changed communities, hundreds of new house churches…God is at work in India.
As we finished up our time in India and began a time of reflection during our return home, our team could do nothing other than marvel at our Savior. He had blessed us beyond our imagination in all He allowed us to see and experience during our “capturing” journey. We were humbled by His power at work in the lives of the Indians!
A few of the highlights…
Machilipatnam
Small Church in the Prostitute Village, Billabadu
We visited several villages in Machilipatnam, hearing of changed lives and seeing new churches that had been planted. In this one particular village–known as the prostitute village–Jayamma told us of her experience in coming to Christ through a short term team. The team explained how she had ears, but had not given ear to the Gospel; she had idols, but was not following the One True God. She accepted Christ that day, went home, broke her idols, and surrendered her life as a prostitute. She is now called Hannah and meets with other believers in this small church.
Nellore
Bob West with the Patriarch of the Family, Venkata Krishniah
We entered the home of 3 believers…a mother, a daughter, and a daughter-in-law, but the father was not a believer in Jesus Christ. They were a very wealthy, prominent, and well-known family in their community. As they began to share their story with us, we learned that each of the 3 women had heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ through 3 different ministries of East-West…a mass evangelism project, a short term team, and a concert. As the women shared their stories, the father shared his own reasons for disbelief. As our team listened, team leader Bob West began to share his own testimony–one old man to another. The Lord pierced his heart through Bob’s testimony, and the patriarch of the family surrendered his life to Jesus Christ right in the middle of our time with this family!
The Leper Colony
The Elder of the Leper Colony, Ravanniah
Photographer Trey Hill described Ravanniah (see “God Pursues His People” post below, elder of the leper colony) best, “Leprosy stole his humanity – yet he hopes in the Gospel because in heaven he will be made new.” Despite their earthly conditions, the people of the leper colony possess a faith that has infected their entire community.
The Northeast
Mising House Church
Healings, baptisms, discipleship trainings, and house church plant movements…this was our experience day after day as we heard changed life stories and traveled across the Northeast. Chandra Kanto is known as the “Super Spreader” among the Mising tribe in the Northeast. God’s presence in his life has not only changed his life, but the lives of many others as well. He has led a movement of planting over 500 churches among the Mising. “I am compelled to share the Gospel with the Mising because I know that those who don’t know Christ will perish.”
“Now the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Thank you to all of you have who faithfully joined us on this journey to India through prayer and support. We are grateful to be home safely and back with our families. Praise the Lord for a fruitful trip and a safe return!
These are just a few glimpses of our experience in India, and we look forward to sharing more of the Lord’s work through this blog, not only in India but across the world as the Lord continues to use East-West Ministries.
Copyright © 2013 East-West Ministries International.
