By Mim Robbins | Photographer
Mission trips challenge Christians to step out of their comfort zones, put their faith into action and lift their eyes beyond their home culture to see how God is at work in his bigger story among every tribe, tongue and nation.
I have been on five mission trips, and every one of them uniquely influenced me. Going on short term mission trips helped me grow in my faith, and I strongly encourage everyone to consider going on a mission trip as well.
I witnessed God’s sovereignty in February 2026 on a trip to Bani, Dominican Republic with the partnered ministries FamilyLife and Filter of Hope. Filter of Hope partners with the local church in the Dominican Republic to connect mission teams with families in need of clean water.
Our group installed filters in the homes of the Bani people and shared the gospel with them. We used the filters to illustrate how, just as a filter removes harmful bacteria from water, God offers us salvation from sin through his son, Jesus Christ.
The families were astonished to learn that salvation is a free gift from God to anyone who believes in him.
On this trip, I grew in my faith by learning to be vulnerable and depend on the Lord, rather than my own performance. On the first day of filter distribution, I was nervous because I was serving as a group leader for the first time.
When my group entered our first home, things started to fall apart. I bumped into a wobbly table and knocked a small decoration to the dirt floor. It shattered to pieces. The kind woman remained welcoming and excited to receive her water filter, but then, matters got worse.
As we installed the water filter into the bucket, it began leaking because one of the screws was jammed. At that moment, I felt I had failed as a group leader because everything seemed to be going wrong.
However, the Lord used my weakness and mistakes to demonstrate his sovereignty. Because we were struggling with the filter, the woman’s 20-year-old son came out of his room to help us fix the filter. When we transitioned into sharing the gospel, the son was curious and stayed to listen.
We were filled with joy and gratitude when both the mother and son accepted Christ that day. Even though it seemed like everything was going wrong, our mistakes created an opportunity for more people to hear the gospel.
This trip reminded me that I can try to do everything perfectly, but ultimately, God is the one who draws people to himself, according to his perfect plan.
Short-term mission trips also equip believers to share their faith both overseas and at home. Mission trips give Christians opportunities to practice sharing the gospel and telling their own story of knowing Jesus.
As we had conversations with people from backgrounds vastly different than our own, we became more confident in sharing our faith and talking about our own journey with the Lord. When we got home, we could continue to share the love of Jesus with people in their own communities who need to hear the gospel just as much as the unreached people overseas.
I still vividly remember my first mission trip to Cuba where I experienced a community without reliable access to clean water in their homes. At least one person in each household I visited had gotten seriously ill from the bacteria in the water. And yet, I was astonished by the joy these families displayed, regardless of the hardships they faced.
It was amazing to witness the delight on their faces when they heard the gospel. It is evident that God had been working in their hearts long before we arrived, and many put their faith in him.
My experience reflects what Spencer Hoyt writes in the article “The Benefits of Intentional Short-Term Service Trips” that, “Many participants will describe a heightened awareness of God’s guidance, a humility that grows in the face of poverty, and a renewed gratitude for His provision.”
Through witnessing the hardships these families faced and the joy they found in Christ, I developed a deeper appreciation for God’s provision and learned to trust him more fully.
I encourage all to prayerfully consider going on a short-term mission trip. You will be amazed by the ways the Lord is able to work through you, even if you do not feel capable of sharing your faith or meeting new people of a different culture.
God works through imperfect, broken people for his glory and good. I encourage you to come as you are and witness how God is at work all over the world: in every tribe, tongue and nation.
