Faith Formation: Mission Trips

Service Learning Camps create personalized high-impact trips at a low cost with partner/camp sites in throughout Minnesota and beyond.

The Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center's mission is, 'Fostering mutual trust, respect, and understanding ​while addressing the deep poverty that exists on the reservation.​' Join them in ministry by sharing something from their Amazon Wishlist, participate in a Cultural Immersion Experience or prayerfully and financially supporting their many other ministries.

Providing youth the opportunity to accompany and serve their neighbor while deepening an understanding of God’s presence in their lives.​ In 2023 and beyond, the ministry of Serve Boldlycontinues under the leadership of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries.

   “The Way of Wonder”: A Mission Trip and Pilgrimage Curriculum

By Shawn Small / building faith; 07.25.23

“The Way of Wonder” is available for digital download at no cost - because we all have the same core desire: connecting people with wonder.

Access a sample lesson from “The Way of Wonder” here

To find out more about the curriculum or Wonder Voyage, visit their website here.

Walk, Love, Serve: A Service Learning Trip for Youth

Another option to consider is a service learning trip. This article describes how one church organized a youth trip focused on racial justice that included learning at museums and historic sites as well as connecting with local organizations to serve members of their wider community.

Planning a Youth Creation Care Pilgrimage

This article shares the story of how one Episcopal diocese facilitated a youth pilgrimage in their state that focused on creation care. It includes planning tips and resource samples that communities and dioceses can draw upon for a pilgrimage in their own locations.

How to Design a Mission Trip Project

This article offers guidance for discerning a mission trip project that contributes to "mutual relationship" and "empowerment." It may be particularly useful for youth leaders considering planning a mission trip for 2024 and beyond.

Mission Trip vs. Pilgrimage: What's the Difference and Why It Matters

This article highlights both distinctive and common features of mission trips and pilgrimages. It can be helpful for discerning what kind of youth trip your community may be called to take.

The current political landscape is inspiring more people from the U.S. and abroad to visit the sites where the civil rights movement made history.

See The Ministry Lab's Virtual Co-Mission Trips Great Idea for intentions, reasons to interrupt the traditional mission trip narrative, and links to articles that might support a conversation for planners or potential mission trip participants.

St Paul Area Synod highlighted King of Kings Lutheran's (Woodbury) Virtual Mission Trip.