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"Working together broke down our generalizations about each other. We weren't 'rich' Americans or 'needy' Latvians, just brothers and sisters."
2004 Summer Ministry Participant
hile serving on Calvin Presbyterian's Missions Committee, I was often asked, "Why send people out of the country when there are plenty of ministry opportunities right here at home?"
I would tell this story in reply:
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"My first exposure to the idea of ministry trips was in 1995, when I volunteered to help our church's high school students and their chaperones prepare for a trip to Mexico. This was something new for our church, to send people in addition to sending donations. I volunteered as a favor to friends, but didn't really think the kids would get anything out of the trip besides having fun with each other."
"I worked closely with the kids, chasing down their applications, setting up workdays for them to raise trip funds, and dividing them into groups to get supplies ready, which gave me lots of time to hear what they were looking forward to on the trip. Seemed like being away from home and hanging out together was on many minds!"
"After months of preparation, off they went. A few quick calls assured us that the vans arrived safely; then, that the ministry time was going well; and finally that they were on their way home. Along with the rest of the church, I was interested to hear their report at the next Sunday service."
"At the service, the kids took turns sharing about their experience."
"I couldn't believe what I heard that morning. Kids who earlier were silent about their faith now talked excitedly about their love and dependence on Jesus. They spoke of how God opened their eyes to see the spiritual richness in the lives of some of the poorest people they'd ever met. They shared how working together for the Lord broke down barriers between them."
"Some of them cried as they told their stories. All of them sincerely thanked the church for sending them. And I sat there, astounded. THESE KIDS WERE CHANGED; REALLY, TRULY CHANGED."
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And it was a change that stuck.
The youth and adults from this first trip and subsequent trips are some of the most active participants in our church. They helped expand our church's vision for ministry to Latvia and Uganda AND LOCALLY-serving in our church and our neighborhood. Some are now in part-time and full-time ministry, including Jeremy Andresen, who is BBI's teRiga Project Manager.
I was changed, too. I joined Calvin's Missions Committee and eventually came to work at BBI to help as many people as possible step away from comfortable lives and learn the freedom of dependence on the Lord-just like those kids.
If you have never let the Lord take you and shake you, pray about going on a ministry trip like teRiga or the Thomas Kinkade Children's Art Camp. He will reshape you for a lifetime of service through the experience.
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