On August 5, 1985, Mission Journeys was born as an outreach of Teen Mission, USA. Since that time, many wonderful stories abound of how God has used Mission Journeys to take the Good News of Jesus to hundreds of thousands of people in the USA and far away lands. We've fed the hungry, clothed the poor, tended to the sick, encouraged the brethren, and built needed churches, schools and homes. We've also preached, sang, taught and shared the love and salvation of God. And ALL of this has been done in Jesus' Name.
At the end of 2006, we have sent over 4,000 volunteers on work trips that will soon reach 300 in number, going to over 100 locations in 30 or more countries.
What began as a couple of short-term mission trips each year, has now developed into a full-fledge mission program with many different types of trips and locations to choose from.
There are several 2-week trips (for ages 16 & up), that minister primarily in the Caribbean as well as Central and South America. These were the original model of Mission Journeys born in the mid-1980s and through them several churches have been built in Antigua, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, St Vincent and Venezuela.
For ages 14 and up, 10-day trips within the United States involving cross-cultural ministry are offered. The trips began in the early 1990s and go to Native American Indian Reservations in the western United States. Our teams work with and minister to the Apache and Navajo people (Arizona), the Sioux (South Dakota), as well as the Yakama (Washington).
In 1998, Mission Journeys began working with the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in southeastern Kentucky helping revive rural congregations, improve church facilities/homes and bring the gospel to the people of the Appalachian Mountains.
Since that time, work groups have been active in ministry projects in the Kentucky counties of Clay, Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Lee, Rockcastle and Whitley, as well as Jellico, TN.
These trips are one-week entry-level trips, targeted for ages 12-14 (with adult sponsors).
Then in 2001, this area of ministry expanded to include urban areas of Springfield, IL, Indianapolis, IN, as well as Louisville & Lexington, KY.
In 2005, several teams began helping in the Gulf South states of Louisiana and Mississippi in response to the damaging effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Our teams are ministering to hurricane-damaged communities through food & clothing distribution, debris removal, yard work, as well as making some much-needed home repairs.
In addition, a few 2-3 week trips take place each year going to mission locations in Africa, Asia and Europe.
These "specialized" trips involve doctors and nurses doing medical clinics, musicians performing Gospel concerts, and preachers holding revivals and crusades.