Improving Access to Healthcare in Underserved Communities

Mission trips have been a go-to for ministries for decades. They are great experiences for leaving your comfort zone and taking your faith on the road. Whether a college student looking to dive into missions work, a ministry servant, or a medical professional, there are many doors open to you. You have choices, and so it's worth doing some research to find the best Christian mission trip organizations for you.   Key Takeaways Most mission trip organizations faithfully pursue the Great Commission, but finding the best fit requires evaluating how each aligns with your calling and skills. Prayer should be your starting point, asking God for wisdom and clarity as you consider which mission opportunity to pursue. Personal reflection and wise counsel from trusted friends and family can help you identify your strengths, passions, and practical needs before committing. Location, length of service, and financial considerations—such as missionary salary or trip costs—play an important role in narrowing your options. While the six highlighted organizations offer strong starting points, many other reputable groups—including denominational agencies—may provide the right mission experience for you.   Finding the Best Mission Trip Organizations for You Let's be clear about two things from the start. First, most mission trip organizers are great agencies that love Jesus and want to spread the gospel worldwide. So, as you start your search for the best mission trip organizations for your particular calling and passion, you may encounter a lot of win-win situations. If you find that narrowing your list is a tough task, that's a good thing. Second, not every mission trip organization is going to meet your needs. Mission opportunities vary from working with healthcare organizations that travel to a group that builds houses. The body of Christ is pretty unique, and God uses all kinds of people with all kinds of skills to share His love. So, if you have to scratch a few good groups off the list because they aren't a good fit, that's also a win-win. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20   What Is Your Starting Point? So, what are some things you need to look for as you start your search for the best Christian mission trip organizations? The best place to start any endeavor is prayer. Talk to God about the decision you need to make and ask for His wisdom and leadership. If He wants you to go on a mission trip, He will show you the path you need to follow to get there. His plans always come through. You also need to think about your personal calling. Of course, this is part of the prayer step, but you can also talk to friends and family who know you well. Ask them to help you think through your skills, abilities, and passions. The insight and advice of trustworthy counselors can help you tremendously. You'll also need to identify what missionary salary you'd need to work for your situation. Finally, think about where you'd like to serve. The best mission trip organizations provide experiences around the world. So, whether you feel called to a certain part of the United States or to another country, the location of the opportunities has to be part of the equation.    6 Best Christian Mission Trip Organizations You Should Consider Most of these have been around for decades and have helped thousands of missionaries find a place to serve.  1. World Venture. This is one of the "granddaddies" of mission organizations, having sponsored trips since 1943. World Venture serves in the United States and around the world, focusing on a variety of needs. Along with church planting and evangelism, World Venture also shines the light of  Jesus through sports ministries, education, and business. Your commitment can last less than a year (Pathfinders), up to two years (Global Apprenticeship), or even for a career. 2. Operation Mobilization. This is another long-standing mission trip organization. Operation Mobilization (OM) began with a group of friends distributing Scripture and Christian literature in Mexico in 1957. By the 1960s, OM was working in Muslim and Communist countries. Today, the group sponsors short-term experiences in the United States and worldwide, including its OM Ships ministry. 3. Navigators World Missions. The Navigators was founded in 1933 and has become known for its discipleship and Christian growth resources published by NavPress. But the group also sponsors mission trips through Navigators World Missions. Short-term opportunities include domestic trips (like to Texas and Florida), along with international trips to places like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Longer experiences are available through its mid-term and long-term plans, as well as its iEdge program. 4. Youth with a Mission (YWAM). This non-denominational mission organization was founded in the early 1960s with a focus on bringing glory to God, sharing the gospel with the world, and empowering young people for lives of service. Today, in addition to providing mission trips around the world, YWAM offers an in-depth, six-month Discipleship Training School that includes classroom training and field experience for college students and young adults. 5. Appalachian Service Project. You don't have to travel across the globe to leave your comfort zone. Plenty of places in the United States can introduce you to the needs of another culture. Since 1969, the Appalachian Service Project has been providing hope by providing safe homes for residents in some of the poorest areas of the country. Appalachian Service Project focuses on repairs and replacement of sub-standard housing, offering ministry trips throughout the year for every age group. In addition, the duration of your trip can be flexible—everything from a weekend to a year-long immersive experience. 6. MissionGo. If you're looking for a mission trip organization that can work with you in shaping a mission experience, MissionGo might be the answer. The group offers several short-term ministries in areas like health care (including medical, dentistry, and chiropractic), education, water purification, evangelism, construction, and media. However, MissionGo also works with individuals to help them find the best mission trip experience for their skills and passions. In addition to short-term experiences, career opportunities are available.   Mission Trip Organizations are Everywhere To be honest, this list only scratches the surface. As noted earlier, dozens of mission trip organizations plan and execute trips with integrity and excellence. Many of these groups are considered among the best mission trip organizations because they combine strong theology with practical service. But here's another option to add to your list: your own denomination. If your church is a member of a larger denomination, it's likely that the body has at least one mission-mobilizing agency that offers short-term trips, longer internships, and career training and opportunities. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention has two agencies that focus on missions: the International Mission Board for overseas work and the North American Mission Board for domestic work. Each offers short-term and long-term experiences, along with career support. Of course, all the principles for finding the right fit still apply, even when evaluating what your denomination has to offer. The key is finding the best Christian mission trip organizations for you so you can be the most effective witness possible.   Related Questions   Where do Christians go on mission trips? Christians go on mission trips both locally and internationally, serving in churches, schools, clinics, construction projects, and underserved communities around the world.   Should Christians go on mission trips? Christians should prayerfully consider mission trips as one way to obey the Great Commission, using their gifts and availability to serve where God leads.   How much does a mission trip typically cost? A mission trip typically costs anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on location, length, airfare, lodging, and ministry expenses.   Do churches pay for mission trips? Some churches provide partial or full financial support for mission trips, while others encourage participants to raise funds individually or through sponsorships.

Most believers are familiar with Jesus's command to share the gospel around the world. And for many Christian college students, mission trips have been a part of their spiritual upbringing and experience. But for those interested in global health care, medical mission trips for college students provide a variety of benefits. For example, medical mission trips can give college students valuable on-the-job training. Regardless of their specialty—medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, nursing, and so forth—medical mission trips give college students the opportunity to work with professionals in the field and to get a feel for what their future might hold. Whether traveling as a team or as an individual, medical mission trips for college students can be valuable. But even if a student is on the fence about pursuing a career in health care, medical mission trips can be great for volunteers. In general, this generation longs to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and a medical mission trip fits that bill perfectly. Whether they seek a clinical setting or have more interest in education or prevention, many students can find value in medical mission trips for college students.    Discovering Medical Mission Trips for College Students Whatever their interest in terms of medical mission trips, college students need to do their research. The sheer number of sending partners and the opportunities provided by those partners require some careful study. You will want to find the best fit in terms of location, duration, cost, and specialty. Each mission trip has its own requirements and standards. Each type is different in many ways—of course, there are many types of missions and mission focuses. Here are six ways to get involved in medical mission trips for college students:   1. With Your Christian College or University. One of the best places to start in a search for a medical mission trip as a college student is to see what's available close to home. Most Christian colleges provide opportunities for short-term mission trips, including some that could provide college credit. Some of those options include medical mission trips for their students. For example, Lipscomb University and Liberty University offer medical mission trips for their students.   2. As a marketplace worker. You don't have to choose between work and missions. Finding marketplace medical mission trips is easier than you think. These could suit your missional and professional aspirations! In fact, many Christian professionals are taking their jobs overseas, and while these folks may not be raising funds, they are very much on a mission. Healthcare is one of the greatest global avenues of need, making your skills an excellent avenue to take a job somewhere in the world.   3. Short-Term Missions. There are hundreds of opportunities for you to serve on a short-term medical mission trip, especially as a healthcare professional. In order to find out what's best for you, explore the opportunities, organizations, and resources that will help you find that perfect match.   4. Long-Term Missions. If you've decided that a long-term mission is proper for you, then exploring reliable options is a great place to start. There are specific organizations that specialize in long-term missions, many with various areas of focus.   5. Teach Your Medical Specialty. Everywhere across the globe, medical professionals are needed on medical mission trips to lead and instruct local populations in need of medical education. Becoming an educator not only serves those you teach but also affects the health of future generations.    6. Domestic Missions. Are you looking for organizations that operate right here in the United States? Search the directory of organizations that engage in domestic missions.     Reaching the World God uses all kinds of mission opportunities to share His message with a world that desperately needs to hear it. Medical missions are a vital part of His plan, which is why so many groups are involved in providing medical mission trips for college students.    Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.