EMPOWERED Mission Trip Devotional Journal available now! GET IT HERE!

Costa Rica

Summer 2024


Missions Blog

Featured Writings

Encounter

When you go on a mission trip, to church camp, to a worship conference, or even just to regular Sunday morning service, there’s an expectation that you’ll meet with God.

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Sabbath on a Mission Trip

If you’ve been around my corner of the internet for even a few days, you’ve probably read something about slowing down, rest, or Sabbath. This is perhaps the only spiritual

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BOGO Fro-Yo

I’ve been in Costa Rica for one week now, and I’ve noticed a few things seem to be loved no matter the culture: Wednesday is BOGO day at one of

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Empowered

Mission Trip Devotional Journal

For far too long, short-term mission trips have been focused on the person going rather than the people there. This has led to a poor theology of what Jesus actually said when he called us to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Through the EMPOWERED Mission Trip Devotional Journal, explore a new way of thinking about short-term missions–one that doesn’t create dependence, but empowers people for generations to come!

Empowered Devo Features:

10 original devotionals based on Scripture

Journal entries from nine missionaries

Mission trip countdown tracker

Prompts to reflect, pray, and journal

Additional resources for further learning

See the image of God in the face of all people and learn how empowerment creates lasting change. Whether you’re going on a mission trip, supporting someone on a mission trip, or are just curious to learn more about serving others, EMPOWERED will challenge you both locally and globally.

Who's It For?

If you are someone who…

is going on a short-term mission trip

is supporting someone going on a short-term mission trip

is interested in serving locally to make an impact in your community

wants to learn more about an empowering style of mission work

Then EMPOWERED Mission Trip Devotional Journal is for you.

A Note from The Author

I am not a missionary.

At least not in the traditional sense of the word. When I think of what it means to be a missionary, here’s a few things that come to my mind:

  • Speaks another language
  • Lives in another country for years
  • Works with an organization that provides some kind of community support, like an orphanage or school
  • Is “called” to do this work

And that is just not me! I have never felt a “call” to be a full time missionary. But here I am, preparing to spend a month in another country, speak another language, and work with an organization that provides community support.

Does that make me a missionary? I’m not sure.

All I know is that God has positioned me in this season of life to come alongside Faithful Servant Missions. And with the help of a few friends, I’ve created a new devotional resource all about mission work!

Introducing the EMPOWERED Mission Trip Devotional Journal!

Whether you’re going on a mission trip, supporting someone on a mission trip, or are just curious to learn more about serving others, EMPOWERED will challenge the way you think about missions both locally and globally.

Resources for Trip Leaders

EMPOWERED is a great resource for adults and youth teams preparing to serve in short-term missions. Below are a few recommended ways to engage with the devotional to prepare for your trip. 

If you have 8 weeks before the trip to prepare, read and discuss:
  1. 8 weeks before: Introduction and One: Answering the Call
  2. 7 weeks before: Two: Joining the Team
  3. 6 weeks before: Three: Getting There
  4. 5 weeks before: Four: The Country
  5. 4 weeks before: Five: The Culture
  6. 3 weeks before: Six: The People
  7. 2 weeks before: Seven: The Mission
  8. 1 week before: Eight: Come, Holy Spirit
  9. While on the trip, read and discuss Nine: Re-Entry
  10. Sometime 2-4 weeks after the trip, read and discuss Ten: Debrief and Next Steps
 
If you have 4 weeks before the trip to prepare, read and discuss:
  1. 4 weeks before: Introduction, One: Answering the Call, and Two: Joining the Team
  2. 3 weeks before: Three: Getting There and Four: The Country
  3. 2 weeks before: Five: The Culture and Six: The People
  4. 1 week before: Seven: The Mission and Eight: Come, Holy Spirit
  5. While on the trip, read and discuss Nine: Re-Entry
  6. Sometime 2-4 weeks after the trip, read and discuss Ten: Debrief and Next Steps
 
 
 
 
 
If you have 1 week before the trip to prepare, read and discuss:
  1. Introduction, One: Answering the Call, Two: Joining the Team, and Three: Getting There
  2. While on the trip, have each team member read a section in the morning on their own, then discuss it in the evening as a team (not including travel days):
    1. Day 1: Four: The Country
    2. Day 2: Five: The Culture
    3. Day 3: Six: The People
    4. Day 4: Seven: The Mission
    5. Day 5: Eight: Come, Holy Spirit
    6. Day 6: Nine: Re-Entry
  3. Sometime 2-4 weeks after the trip, read and discuss Ten: Debrief and Next Steps

Empowering You

I love partnering with churches and missionaries! Interested in working together? Want to be featured on the missions blog? Send me an email or Instagram message and let’s talk about empowerment!