Contact your presbytery to learn about trip opportunities that you or members of your church might be able to join. Click here to find contact information for your presbytery.
Go nationally
- UKirk’s service opportunities page provides a helpful map for exploring various national mission service opportunities for young adults.
- The Center in Baltimore hosts church groups interested in doing “mission outside the box.” The Center aims to “inspire and equip churches and individuals to engage boldly with their neighborhoods — to get involved where Christ’s love and justice are already at work.” Learn more about The Center.
- DOOR is a faith-based network providing service learning and leadership development opportunities in four urban cities — Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Miami. Learn more about DOOR’s weekend or weeklong programs (Discover), summer leader programs (Discern) or one-year volunteer programs living in intentional Christian community (Dwell). Learn more about DOOR.
- Frontera de Cristo offers immersion opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved in the life of border ministry. Day- to week-long border immersions allow people to worship, learn and serve with their brothers and sisters from the churches and communities of Agua Prieta, Sonora, and Douglas, Arizona. Coffee, Migration and Faith trips are held each fall. Learn more.
- Groups of young people may be interested in Memphis Youth Mission’s immersion programs. They offer week-long summer mission trips or weekend trips in the spring and fall. Learn more.
- National disaster relief mission trips are available through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. The website provides information on how your group can help communities affected by disasters. There are congregations willing to serve as way station locations – offering volunteer work teams a place to stay overnight while journeying to or from their mission destination. To find out more about wayside congregations for volunteer work teams in transit, please click here.
Go internationally
- For international mission trips, group leaders are encouraged to contact PC(USA) mission co-workers in the region to seek more information and enter a process of discernment. These partnership facilitators walk alongside groups as they plan, lead and reflect on mission experiences. They can be helpful to you before, during and after your mission trip.
- Presbyterian Peacemaking Program’s Travel Study Seminars:
- Central American Migrant Trails: Exploring the Journeys to and from the United States and Why We Must Act, Feb. 17–28, 2020. Application due date is November 1, 2019.
-
- Philippines and Hong Kong: Root Causes and Current Challenges of Forced Migration and Labor Trafficking, May 4–15, 2020. Application due date is Jan. 1, 2020. Learn more.
- International disaster relief mission trips
Find out how your group can help communities affected by disasters.
- Presbyterian Women Mission Trips
Presbyterian Women organizes regular trips to participate in mission work or learn about the mission needs of a particular region.
Leader resources and forms (from When God’s People Travel Together Volumes I and II)
Preparing yourself as a leader
Preparing and leading the group: Before, during and after
- Preparing the group
- Packing checklist
- Experiencing the trip: Leading the group
- Preparing the group for re-entry
- Guiding the group at home
- Leader self-review
Planning and preparing: Logistics
Applicant and legal forms
- Application form
- Presbytery Endorsement
- Sexual Misconduct Policy form
- Hold Harmless, Waiver of Liability, and Emergency Medical Care Authorization
- International Travel: Hold Harmless, Waiver of Liability, and Emergency Medical Care Authorization
- Sample group covenant
Leader resources for group learning, reflection and action
Before the trip:
- Resources for Orientation and Preparation
- Handout 1: Developing Aptitude for Mission Participation
- Handout 2: How We View the World
- Handout 3: Seeking to be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement
During the trip:
- Activities for Inclusive Group Conversation
- Activities for Nurturing Dialogue, Reflection and Recommitment
- Cross-Cultural Activities (For use before or during the trip)
Preparing for re-entry:
- Resources for Preparing to Re-enter Our Culture
- Ideas for Action and Involvement: Answers to the “What Can I Do?” Question
- Responsible Giving: Financial Gift-Giving Concerns and Recommendations
After the trip