Lutheran Hour Ministries
Many people know Lutheran Hour as a radio-based preaching ministry, but the organization also has on-the-ground ministry centers in 34 countries around the world. These outreach centers help facilitate mission and service projects in these destinations for members of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
“Every year, our ministry center directors submit a project that is a need of that ministry,” said Christine Myers, international ministries partnership specialist for Lutheran Hour Ministries. “They can be anything from construction to English language training, vacation Bible schools, community outreach rallies or other things on that order.”
These service trips typically range from seven to 14 days, and teams consist of eight to 12 people, which includes students and several adult leaders. Recent teams have done projects in Guatemala, Russia, Cambodia, Thailand, Chile, Latvia and Uganda.
Lutheran Hour provides a training course for participants that consists of six prep sessions before the trip begins; participants also receive a debriefing session after they return home. While on the trip, typical days consist of a mix of Bible studies, service work and interaction with locals.
“They start the day with a devotion, and then the ministry center director takes them to the project site. They always have locals working alongside them. In the evening, they share a meal and have another devotion. That’s when we encourage the team to talk about their day, things that were positive or negative and things they may have struggled with throughout the day.”
Youth With a Mission
Commonly known as YWAM, Youth With A Mission is an evangelistic organization with more than 1,000 outposts in about 150 countries around the world. And though most YWAM workers are college students or young adults who sign on for long-term ministry projects, the organization’s Mission Adventures program offers short-term service opportunities for youth groups.
“The Mission Adventures network within YWAM is a group of centers that work together to provide short-term opportunities to groups,” said Mission Adventures director Craig McClurg. “We’re in about 15 different countries in South America, Europe and Asia. We have lots of stuff in the U.S. in the urban centers, too, like Salem, Oregon; San Francisco; Las Vegas; and Los Angeles.”
The program is designed with teenagers and youth groups in mind but can be tailored to fit preteens or college students as well. Groups typically consist of 10 to 20 students who travel for a week or two with their youth pastors or other leaders from their church. McClurg said that the organization emphasizes the role of the group’s leader in the experience and that YWAM staff act as facilitators who make their work easier.
“We take care of the food, transportation, housing, translation and set-up, so it’s easy for the group leader to focus on ministry with the group,” he said. “We handle the details so that they can spend time leading their team, discipling the students and doing the work of the Holy Spirit.”
Mission Adventures projects often include light construction, evangelism and community outreach.
Outside Service
If you have students in your group who love the outdoors and would benefit from spending their summer break helping to take care of America’s natural treasures, consider directing them to the Student Conservation Association (SCA). This organization has been around for nearly 60 years and places some 2,000 students in service projects around the country every summer. They don’t take preformed groups — instead, individual students are placed in small teams with others so they can make new friends — but the experience can be extremely fulfilling for those students adventurous enough to embark on it.
“Crews work in either national parks or local parks, particularly in urban areas across the country,” said Kevin Hamilton, the association’s media relations director. “The students live on the land, they hike into their worksite, sometimes miles into the back country. They’ll set up a base camp, make their own meals and live in tents.”
The programs take place in all 50 states. They are free of charge, and the SCA provides any necessary tools and camping gear. Summer programs average three or four weeks in duration, and are available for students ages 15 to 19.
