Mission Trip Experience

My first missions’ trip was to Mae Sai, Thailand for two weeks. This was where our team from the Appalachian conference helped pour a concrete driveway for our former missionary Jeff Whillhoite, as well, help lead the 2015 Indochina missions conference. Later that same year, I personally was invited back where I stayed for two months. This time my efforts were to help build the beginning phases of the Mekong Center. While I was there, I got to see the everyday life of a missionary. How things worked, how things were done and so much more, which broadened my view and passion for missions. As my two-month missions trip drew to and end the biggest take away that I remember still to this day was Relationships. How it is important for a missionary to create relationships with people in order to pursue God's will. Just as God wants a relationship with us. In 2018 I was able to join the Appalachian conferences missions’ trip to Suncuius and Oradea, Romania. In Suncuius our team helped remodel a cob house into a more modern living style. Comfortable for pastors and ministers alike to stay in when attending conferences. During this trip we were excited to team up with another missionary, Timothy Meaders. Timothy is from the Dublin, Virginia who is a missionary in Norway who helps lead a youth organization called Jesus Revolution. We were honored to be able to team up with this organization, not only to help evangelize, but to see how they go about impacting the youth of Europe. In the city center of Oradea, the group from Jesus Revolution put on a "Street Meeting". Street meeting(s) are short public shows consisting of dances, testimonies and the preaching of the simple gospel to the audience and anyone passing by. After the shows we greet and meet with people, striking up conversions and asking them about their faith in Jesus and their salvation through him. During the end of this trip I was invited to join the Jesus Revolution, Summer Team, which I did consider and accept after a few weeks of returning home. Two months later I was on my way to Bulgaria to join my very first Jesus Revolution, Summer Team experience. In 2018, Jesus Revolution was focusing on the Balkan region of Europe. Once I arrived at the training center in Sofia, Bulgaria I was immediately greeted with loving open arms. Instantly, I felt I could easily make friends with anyone with no problem. Over the next few days, I made many friends and was just in awe of how many young people were so passionate about missions and Jesus. The following week was a week of outreach in two cities in Serbia, with the great challenge of one-on-one conversion with people. That alone was a very stretching experience. Throughout the week our team did many street meetings in Serbia. The most memorable outreach we did that week was going in and doing a street meeting in a night club and preaching the gospel. The reactions of the people were priceless, especially the owner. Upon returning to Sofia for the last few days we were able to hear countless testimonies of salvation, healings and seeds planted all over the Balkan region. What an amazing experience this was.

The following year I rejoined once again and participated in Jesus Revolutions 2019 Summer Team. This year the focus was on the Alp region of Europe, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern Italy. Since I participated in the previous years summer team, I was more familiar with how things were going to go. This year, our week of training was held in Stuttgart, Germany. Learning how to effectively evangelize to people, how not to Bible bash but preach with love and present the simple gospel and let God convict. Throughout the week, I grew not only in my relationship with God but a better understanding of the great commission. The following week, like the previous year, was a week of outreach. This year I was in a "Pilgrim Team", where we traveled to Davos, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Bregenz, Austria. Though challenging, we did several street meetings and outreaches of all sorts throughout the week. Which Included evangelizing in the supermarkets, bars and pools.

The most memorable conversation I had was with a guy that believed in Buddhism and was not only intoxicated with alcohol but was high on cocaine. Unfortunately, I was not able to present the gospel in the way that I had hoped. The whole time I was able to speak with him, I did my best to tell him about Jesus the best I could, given the circumstances we were in. The reason this conversation sticks out to me the most is because it reminds me of Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The entire time I was speaking with him it was as if I was listening straight from an evil spirit. I will always remember that conversation I had with him. That conversation reinforced in me why the great commission is so important. The last few days after our week of our outreach, were in Innsbruck, Austria. This is where we had several teams at different hours of the day for 3 days, evangelizing all over the city. Not only did we evangelize to them, but we also inviting them to our free Christian concerts we were holding the last two nights. The two nights we held the free Christian concert the turnout was great. As the missions trip drew to a close and even as challenging as it was, it was beyond worth it. What a better way to spend your time than traveling across Europe and evangelizing to people. Though salvation is priceless and the best reward of all, I can't help but to reflect upon how many healings and seeds planted I witnessed during this time.

There are several ways to get involved with missions. Two ways to get evolved though our church is:
1. Support a Missionary or Project
2. Take A Missions Trip