Mission Trips
Imagine being able to make a global impact.
Does The River really send people on twenty-plus-hour plane rides to stay in places like Haiti, Kenya, Ecaudor and Guatemala to serve people they’ve never met and eat food that they can hardly pronounce? The answer: an unapologetic yes (check the gallery if you don’t believe us). Having a global impact means working hand-in-hand with organizations already established in these countries and being catalysts for God’s will to end suffering for all His people.
That word global may seem a tad, well, large (or so some of you may be thinking). The goal may be as large as the word, but global mission trips are a vital part of what God calls us to do (plus, we’d rather not disobey the Creator of the Universe).
Upcoming Mission Trips
The River is sending out Compassion Teams to invest in the lives of men, women and children who are being served by our global ministry partners. Did you know that you do not have to physically travel with a team in order to be a significant part of that team? It takes a much larger team of prayer partners and financial donors to make the journey possible. Check out these trips to learn more about the missions and how you can support each of these teams.
If you’d like to give to any of our compassion mission trips, please do so via our Online Giving.
Haiti
Projects: Work Projects (Church / School Repairs) | Women’s Program | Children’s Program More...
Arizona (Black Mountain) – Navajo Reservation
That’s right! We are adding a state-side trip for 2013. Check it out… Projects: Work Projects (Community / Homes) | Children’s Program More...
Host: Experience Mission
Adult / Student Mission Trip
Dates: July 13 – July 20 (1 Week | Saturday to Sunday)
Cost: $1,400 (Estimated)
Leader: Randy Mannor
The Navajo are the largest remaining indigenous tribe in the U.S. with around 300,000 people. They live in their native land in the high desert of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Your team will have a unique opportunity to live and work among the Navajo. You will partner with the local church to practically serve the people around you, meeting real needs in tangible ways. You will help with projects like repairing and painting run-down homes and community buildings. You will host a Kid’s Club (Children’s Ministry) and have opportunities to build relationships while sharing God’s love with children and adults who need to experience hope.
The week will stretch your team and offer a window into the rich culture of the Navajo people. A trip to Black Mountain will give you a new perspective on God’s love as you take part in His plan for the Navajo nation.
GUATEMALA (Chichicastenango) – 3 Trips
Projects: Construction | Restoration | Feeding Program More...
Host: Pray America / Manos de Jesus
Cost: $1,650 – $1,850 (Includes Flights, In-Country Travel, Meals, Accommodations & Project Costs)
High School Students – Spring Break (Trip Closed)
Dates: March 29 – April 5, 2013 (1 Week | Friday to Friday)
Leader(s): Kurt Brandemihl / Kathy Virden
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Adult / Family
Dates: August 24 – August 31, 2013 (1 Week | Saturday to Saturday)
Leader(s): Lauren Patterson / Courtney Phillips
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Sorry Ladies, This Trip is for Men Only!
Dates: September 28 – October 5, 2013 (1 Week | Saturday to Saturday)
Leader(s): Shawn Tibus / Rick Buckner
Guatemala is a beautiful country in Central America, roughly the size of Tennessee. But beyond its beauty, in many small cities, lies unbelievable poverty with families living in desperate conditions. Ron Morin, founder of Pray America (Manos de Jesus), believes this: To change a nation, you have to change a generation. How do you do that? Where do you start? You start by unconditionally loving and caring for those that even the local community has forgotten - in very tangible ways. For the past 8 years Manos de Jesus has done just that, striving daily to address the physical and spiritual needs of the Guatemalan people.
Your team will serve the poor by constructing and/or renovating widow houses and helping with a feeding program that serves over 1,500 children each week. Your team is a vital link in bringing the Hope of Christ Jesus to the forgotten of the world. As you interact with the widows and children, you will have profound opportunities to experience the truth of James 1:27 … the scripture upon which Pray America / Manos de Jesus is founded … “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Kenya
Projects: Medical Missions More...
Host: Harvesters International / Pokot Outreach Ministry
Adult Medical Mission Trip
Dates: September 14 – September 29 (2 Weeks | Saturday to Sunday)
Cost: $4,500 (Estimated)
Leaders: Mark & Barb Foran (Partnering with Kensington CC)
Kensington and The River partner with other churches supporting the Pokot Outreach Ministry, national pastors and national medical professionals to provide for the health and spiritual needs of the Pokot using mobile medical clinics.
Your team will be housed in the bush at a base camp with dorm sleeping. You will drive 2-3 hours daily to a prepared meeting place, reaching the Pokot with the love of Christ by sharing the Gospel and providing for basic health needs.
Evenings are spent preparing medicines for the following day’s clinic and sharing of testimonies after meals. Sunday will be spent with the Pokot at their local church service.
Your trip requires attendance at 4 monthly meetings prior to leaving, as well as the 2-week commitment in Kenya. These pre-trip meetings will provide you with the information needed for the cultural differences, team bonding and training.
Team Meeting Dates – Sundays:
May 19 @ 11:45am – 4:00pm
June 23 @ 8:00am – 8:00pm
July 28 @ 11:45am – 4:00pm
September 8 @ 11:45am – 4:00pm
Ecuador
Adult & Family Mission Trip | Sign-up deadline is June 9th More...
Host: Extreme Response
Adult / Family Mission Trip
Dates: October 26 – November 2 (1 Week | Saturday to Saturday)
Cost: $2,000 (Estimated)
Leader: Kathleen Biggs
Extreme Response actually grew out of a small kids’ club in the garbage dump of Quito, Ecuador. They are committed to meeting the needs and changing the reality of people living in extreme situations.
Extreme Response believes in community development. They believe in investing in people and empowering them to change their community. They work through community-based organizations to bring about much-needed change (clean drinking water, education assistance, hygiene classes, life-skills training, job creation, health care and more).
Your team will have amazing opportunities to get your hands dirty in hands-on service. Whether it is a work project (light construction / repairs), a children’s program or acts of compassion, your team will share hope with others as you serve the men, women and children of Ecuador.
You will also experience life in the local dump as you connect with families who live and scavenge there, making a meager living for their family.
It will be a life-changing experience and you will return home knowing you made a real difference!