Missions trips are always a great way to experience a new aspect of ministry. Mission trips are a good way to challenge students and show them different cultures and broaden their spiritual horizons, especially if they go out of country. There are many opportunities during mission trips.
How is a mission trip a form of recreational ministry?
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A mission trip is obviously in a very different category of recreational ministry. I think the recreational ministry aspect of the trip would be defined by what activities were done. Obviously if you are helping with a sports camp, most children's ministries, refurbishing homes, etc., recreational ministry will play a huge role. I'm not sure if all mission trips fall under the umbrella of recreational ministry though. In my mind, it all depends on what you do.
ReplyDeleteI have gone to the Dominican Several times, I was actually there when the earth quake happened, and I believe that it is a great experience for anyone. But I think that you can learn almost as much just from getting involved in missions right down the street.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ben. From my current thoughts towards mission trip and recreational ministry, I would almost say they aren't the same. Yet, through a strong intent of planning and preparing, I vision through Ben's idea that you could make a missions trip into part of a recreational ministry. It strongly depends on your context and content of the majority of plans taking place in order to make recreational ministry out of a mission trip.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading the other comments, I wouldn't have even thought of mission trips as a form of recreational ministry. Now, however, I can see how recreational ministry would be very helpful during missions, especially in areas where it is difficult to communicate through speaking. Playing games and using fun ways to explain a story is easier than trying to simply tell it just using words.
ReplyDeleteI went to Alabama on a missions trip last summer after all of the tornadoes. The house that we were working at had a boy and a girl and one way that I got close to the kids was playing games with them. This gave us a chance to get to know the kids and talk to them which the parents loved. The parents actually still keep in contact with us about how they are doing and stuff.
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone should do a mission trip before they die personally. I think it allows you to appreciate what you have and to help people with the love of christ not expecting anything in return. I think it helps to open your eyes on life a little bit and not just make something about yourself but others and I love that. I have personally been on probably over 7 missions trips in the states and would love to go over seas to do one someday I love them a lot.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think I'm the odd person here. haha Before reading the other comments, I thought, "yeah! Mission trips are a great aspect of recreational ministry!" But, everyone seems to disagree...I think the purpose of recreational ministry is to bring people together--both groups and families together in ministry and be able to have fun with it. In a mission trip, so many aspects that we have been learning about are brought into play. First is the organizational aspect of it. Then is the connecting aspect. During a mission trip you must learn to interact with the children, teens and families of a different culture. This can be through games, conversations, sharing a meal together, etc. Plus, being in different place exposes people to another way of life, usually a simpler life. We talked about the importance of family retreats and I think family missions is just as important because so much growth can happen on a mission trip. I think it is such an important aspect of ministry...even if the mission trip is right down the street.
ReplyDeleteRecreation is re-creation or to make something anew. On many mission trips the point is to bring something new to what already exists. I just returned from a spring break mission trip down to Florida and while we were there we painted a church and did some yard work, which is giving a new look to an old church. I think that it was a great example of how mission trips are a from of recreation ministry.
ReplyDeleteRecreation is re-creation or to make something anew. On many mission trips the point is to bring something new to what already exists. I just returned from a spring break mission trip down to Florida and while we were there we painted a church and did some yard work, which is giving a new look to an old church. I think that it was a great example of how mission trips are a from of recreation ministry.
ReplyDeleteRecreation is re-creation or to make something anew. On many mission trips the point is to bring something new to what already exists. I just returned from a spring break mission trip down to Florida and while we were there we painted a church and did some yard work, which is giving a new look to an old church. I think that it was a great example of how mission trips are a from of recreation ministry.
ReplyDeleteRecreation is re-creation or to make something anew. On many mission trips the point is to bring something new to what already exists. I just returned from a spring break mission trip down to Florida and while we were there we painted a church and did some yard work, which is giving a new look to an old church. I think that it was a great example of how mission trips are a from of recreation ministry.
ReplyDeleteRecreation is re-creation or to make something anew. On many mission trips the point is to bring something new to what already exists. I just returned from a spring break mission trip down to Florida and while we were there we painted a church and did some yard work, which is giving a new look to an old church. I think that it was a great example of how mission trips are a from of recreation ministry.
ReplyDeleteI don't think a missions trip is necessarily always considered recreational ministry. However it can be like Ben said based on what you do while you're there.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to build off of Bailey's idea of using one of the definitions of recreation. If you look at other definitions of the word recreation it also means "refreshment by means of some pastime." So maybe recreational ministry is not just making something inanimate like a church or yard new. Maybe it is growing and molding a person making them new through various activities whether they're playing youth ministry games or on a missions trip helping build houses. They are passing time being refreshed by the holy spirit and being transformed into Christ likeness through all of the hands on activities they are doing.
ReplyDeleteI definitely see mission trips as a form of recreational ministry! I went to Costa Rica last year and planned a mission trip to Detroit last Christmas. Missions trips are very powerful and I think all Christians should try to participate in them during their life. I think it is a form of recreational ministry because it takes people out of the normal church worship setting. During mission trips there are times of playing, teaching, working, and learning. Many people think of recreation as just fun, but that is not true. Part of recreation is working, just like working is part of a recreational sport. My best memories are from mission trips because it is a great mix of work and play which definitely makes is a recreational ministry.
ReplyDeleteA think a mission trip is a great form of recreational ministry. First off, they get students away from the normal everyday way of life, and put them in a new environment, which can lead to great spiritual growth. Also, mission trips allow for bonding amongst the other people on the trip.
ReplyDeleteOne way specifically that I believe that mission trips are recreational ministry is when you go on mission trips where you are building things. This is recreational ministry because you are outside and you are working together. I also think that this is a form of recreational ministry because these experiences the youth group is able to build a sense of community. The idea of community is something that we are always trying to get when we do recreational ministry. This is why I think that mission trips are a form of recreational ministry.
ReplyDeleteMy church just took a second team to Honduras at the beginning of March and while there their goal was to build a church building for the citizens of a village. One of the biggest ways they felt they showed Christ's love to that community was not by simply building the church, but whenever there would be children around, there would be a few of the team members that would stop what they were doing and take time to play with the children. Also, they showed genuine interest in the villagers' lives and being open to their culture even if sometimes it was uncomfortable to them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that mission trips are very vital to recreation ministry because we are teaching kids to be the hands and feet of Christ. I do believe however, that if we are going to take teens on a mission trip that we must make sure they are properly trained to deal with it in correct manners. It can be very detrimental to the community you are serving if they are not properly prepped because they will not understand it as well as if they had been prepped ahead of time.
DeleteI think mission trips would probably be more in the category of evangelizing. It all kind of depends on what you do on your mission trip. Some people look as mission trips as an experience that is focused on bringing them closer to God but I feel like it should be service based and focus on others. If recreational ministry is the approach you take while on a mission trip then it could be a form of it obviously.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being completely honest, I think we often focus way too much on the student when it comes to missions trips. I remember going on my first missions trip my freshman year of high school with the mindset of "what can I get out of this?". Is this really the point of why we go and why we encourage others to go? I think our mindset should be one that is of obedience and love for God and His people rather than us wanting to experience a spiritual high. Is God still going to change our hearts in the process? Absolutely! Because he is good! But in my opinion, I think we should go on missions trip to save the lost, feed the hungry, and clothe the homeless.
ReplyDeleteA mission trip itself is going somewhere with the intention to make a difference. While there are some play aspects to a mission trip the more important part is just doing whatever needs done, if that means doing something differently then your used to then you do it. If we are more focused on fulfilling peoples needs and serving them, then the experience becomes a recreational ministry that we enjoys but also has the possibility to have a profound effect.
ReplyDeleteA mission trip opens doors for people to work together and learn new things about each other. The recreational aspect is them working together for a central cause of serving others on their missions trip. There does need to be a focus on those we are going to serve and how to respect them and love them like Christ. I also know we need to be sensitive to different ways of serving, sometimes we think we have to do so much in such a little time and really its all about the loving relationships and connecting with those we serve and fulfilling their needs as a person. This eventually leads to grow spiritually.
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