2025 Mission Trips:
(Click for each trip)
They Became our Friends!
I can remember like yesterday exactly where I was when I hear this sentence, “Ministry is about relationships.” Twenty-seven years later this sentence still has a profound influence on how I engage in ministry. I believe Maya Angelou was on to something when she wrote, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." God has made us to be seen, to be heard and to be loved.
This is the fourth summer our church has sent a team to Catacamas, Honduras to partner with Family Life Mission. This summer we had a team of 12 make the trip to Catacamas, Honduras. What I have grown to appreciate about Family Life Mission is how they value relational ministry through the context of the local church.
Our mornings began by our team leading a devotional for the children who attend school on their property. Without fail after each devotional the children would linger around wanting to give us a hug or a high five. Our team did a phenomenal job making sure every child felt seen, felt heard and felt loved.
Most of our days were spent renovating two different houses in the same neighborhood and leading an afternoon Vacation Bible School for the children in the neighborhood. This summer we helped the Reyes Galeano Family and the Torrez Munoz Family with their house renovations. What you need to know about these families is the local church pastor selects which family receives the help. But that’s not the only encouraging news… both of these families engage in a discipleship process in their local church with their local pastor. And if that was not enough….when we showed up to both houses to help, guess who was there to serve these families? Yep, their pastor and some members of the congregation. These family felt seen, they felt heard, and they felt loved!
What happened on this weeklong trip to Honduras is only something God could accomplish. About mid-week a shift happened. It was no longer us (the Americans) and them (the Hondurans). It was only us because they became our friends. From Rosa the cook, to Dana our translator, to Wilson our team lead, to Louis the construction worker, to Maria the grandmother of the mountain, to the high energy child William running around our construction site it was a beauty picture of the church.
The last day as we were packing up from the construction site, I noticed Louis who was seating in the back of the truck bed. I learned throughout the week Louis speaks pretty good english. I walk over to Louis to tell him bye. He stands up and jumps out of the truck. He says these words to me, “Man, I am going to miss you. I love my friend!” Trying my best to hold back the tears, I responded, “I am going to miss you too and I love you my friend.” Two grown men from completely different cultures embrace each other in friendship. We both felt seen! We both felt heard! We both felt loved! As we were hugging, I whispered in his ear, “I will see you next summer, my friend!
Every year of VBS is different. The curriculum is different, the dynamic of the volunteers is different, and the kids are different. But one thing remains the same every year: God is the One in charge of VBS, and He is in the details.
This year’s VBS helped kids to understand key truths that all of us need to hear:
Each of these truths were things God delighted to show all of us each day. He brought an incredible, faithful, and joyful team of volunteers whose favorite words were, “What can I do to help?” He showered volunteers and campers with treats and delicious snacks that made everyone smile and laugh. He provided a friend to young campers at just the right moment, showing us that He truly does see us. He allowed for meaningful, engaging small group discussions at the end of each day, helping us to explore and talk about His great love for us. He paved the way for Gospel and baptism conversations. He brought dozens of kids who don’t have a church home through our front doors. He filled our auditorium with resounding praise (these kids sang with their whole hearts!). He made church feel like the safest, best place anyone could want to be for hundreds of people, day after day. His Spirit was present every day.
This year the kids learned about Across Nations, an organization that works with the Navajo people in Arizona. Each day our kids learned about the work that Across Nations does and the opportunities that members of our own church have had to serve with them. They saw photos and heard stories and fell in love secondhand with the people on the other side of the country. The kids had a goal of raising $2,000 for a playground renovation project at the school in Arizona, and in just a few short days, they blew that goal out of the water by raising $3,100. The kids were so eager to serve others, and they were deeply impacted.
Since VBS has ended, a parent sent a follow-up message that underscores the lasting impact of the fantastic week shared here at VBS:
“Every night our dinner conversations now start with: Where did you see God today? The (kids) have seen him show up in how characters treat each other in stories, the gift of missing a rainstorm and getting soaked, and friends showing up in some small ways. These have been great conversations all spurred on by what we all learned at VBS.”
He is MAGNIFIED in the smallest of things.
Deciding to follow Jesus in Slovenia is not an easy decision. Many people who do this experience rejection from their families and friends. Less than 1% of Slovenes are believers. Because of this, it typically takes a long time for a teen to make this decision and, when it happens, it is in the context of a community of friends who are believers and who walk alongside the teen steadily over the months and years. With this in mind, it's easy to see why the primary goal at camp is not to convert someone to Christianity, but to get the students who come to camp to begin coming to the local church's youth group, where they can develop relationships with Christians who can pour into them over time. (The youth group is led by the same Slovenian team that runs the camp.)
We think the thing that will make kids want to come to the youth group is seeing Jesus in, and feeling loved by, the people who are leading the camp. Our team did a great job at this. We had a good mix of people, including some strong extraverts, some strong introverts, a few older wiser adults, and a lot of young, strong adults. Everyone worked hard and served humbly. We taught 6 English classes, led music, organized sports and games, and threw theme parties. The Slovenia team commented several times that they couldn't find a single kid standing by themselves or feeling left out during the camp.
In years past, it has taken a couple of days at camp before the students began to relax and interact with the staff in an authentic way but this year these relationships took off from day one. This was, no doubt, because half our team (6 of 12), all of the Slovenia team (6 long term missionaries, 4 interns, and a pastor), and two-thirds of the 42 students that came to camp had all been to this camp before. With so many people having experienced the culture and flow of a previous camp, everything just picked up from where we left it at the end of camp last year. This allowed for deeper conversations and more meaningful connections to be made during the 5 days of camp.
Over the last 3 years, about 15 students who have come to a camp have joined the youth group, and 4 of those have become followers of Jesus. I'm hopeful that many more students who came to camp for a second time this year will make the leap and start coming to the youth group as well. The Slovenia team had a follow-up day Monday where they invited students to come to the sea and hang out, and a lot of the students came. I also heard from the lead missionary over there that their team had been really encouraged by our team. I think the trip was a huge success!
Our team of 12 made its way to Scotland on July 4th.
This was our fourth year serving in that wonderful country, and the trip this time around was an especially beautiful testimony to the fruit of long-term ministry partnerships. By the way, if you didn’t know, long-term partnerships are a pillar of our philosophy of missions. Rather than pursuing an endless stream of “one-and-dones,” we pursue ongoing collaboration with like-minded ministries, believing that sustained efforts lead to maximum fruitfulness.
Four kids serve as great illustrations of this … Cara, Rachel, Lexi and Charlie.
Cara was unchurched but curious in year one. She came to Christ in the year following camp and plugged into a local non-denominational church. She has grown wonderfully, and continues to engage with YoungLife and her church, despite the lack of support from her family. It’s inspiring!
Rachel has truly blossomed year after year. Early on, she was quite shy and slow to engage. Now, joyful tears surface as she enthusiastically embraces the young women who have faithfully poured into her life from near and far. She is a testimony to the genuine spiritual life found only in gospel community.
Lexi was tough when I first met her. She was a rebel, a troublemaker, purposely disruptive, and strangely attracted to the gracious culture that is YoungLife. Though difficult, she just kept showing up to the light-filled environments YoungLife offers, and that light has gradually broken into the darkness. Lexi reminds me of the woman at the well, so hardened by life, but transformed by an encounter with Jesus. She is still a work in progress (like all of us), but steady and sustained exposure to the gospel is renewing Lexi’s life.
Charlie was the epitome of aimless. He seemed to always be in his own world, present physically, but disconnected to what was going on around him. He has been at camp all four years we have served in Scotland, but this year was different. Charlie seemed more attentive, more aware, and as engaged as ever. After hearing a testimony from one of our team members, a story of recovery from severe depression, Charlie resonated in a huge way, spoke to another of our team members, and prayed to receive Christ!
Like Paul, “We are not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to every who believes.” (Romans 1:16) We have shared it, seen it, and experienced the life it promises here and abroad. Please pray that the 56 kids who attended Summer Slam 2025 will have tender hearts toward the good news they received. Two-thirds of them will attend another camp this summer at a YoungLife property called Cairne Brae. May God use their time at that spiritual oasis to grow in their understanding of his infinite love for them.
Thank you for investing financially and in prayer for our team. What a precious gift! The return in our lives and those of the people we served in Scotland is glorious.
Skills Learned and Seeds Planted!
"How can you use your gifts to create a mission-focused gathering in our community?"
This is how my mind interpreted the challenge from our church leadership. Either be involved in an "outward" initiative or help to create one! Having been deeply embedded in the local pickleball scene, a vision began to form for something new. The sport of pickleball is (still) exploding at an unprecedented velocity, and folks are desperate for guidance on how to get started. What if we collected a small group of pickleball instructors and invited kids from the community to learn how to play?
And that's exactly what we did. Monty, Kimberly, and Rob jumped in immediately and helped to form a real strategy for a three-day mini camp. Next thing we knew, we had 45 kids from across Rutherford County arriving at our newly converted church campus/pickleball facility with 8 courts!
Our camp adopted the theme "partnership is the way to win" which became a helpful mantra for teaching both pickleball and God's truth throughout the week. We featured several remarkable speakers, including famous professional Stephanie Lane, MTSU men's head tennis coach Jimmy Borendame, and our own Monty Waldron. Our speakers did a fantastic job connecting with the kids and helping them learn that Jesus is the true partner in our life.
And yes, it was HOT. The campers, as well as our volunteer coaches, really left it all out there, drilling and playing pickleball. The campers improved so much over the course of the week! By the end, they were all keeping score, hitting critical shots, and being a great partner on the court.
Stephanie Lane, one of our guest speakers, did a phenomenal job weaving together her love for pickleball and The Gospel while she spoke with the kids. Here are her eight tips:
Jesus + Pickleball = My Best Life
- The Court is Always Open
- Pickleball: You can play anywhere—on a court, in a driveway, even inside a gym. You don’t need much to get started.
- With Jesus: You don’t need a perfect place, outfit, or moment to come to Him. Jesus is always available. You can talk to Him anytime, anywhere. His court is always open to you.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
- Growth Takes Practice
- Pickleball: You don’t become great overnight. It takes practice, mistakes, and learning from them.
- With Jesus: Faith grows the same way. It takes time in prayer, reading the Word, messing up, and letting God teach you through it all.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18
- You Have a Partner
- Pickleball: In doubles, you’re not alone. You communicate, back each other up, and trust your teammate.
- With Jesus: You’re never alone. Jesus is your constant partner, guiding you, encouraging you, and covering you when you fall short.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5
- Stay in Position
- Pickleball: If you’re out of position, you miss the ball. You have to be alert and ready.
- With Jesus: Staying spiritually in position—praying, reading, listening—helps you hear His voice and respond to life the way He wants you to.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
- The Paddle is Like the Word
- Pickleball: The paddle is your tool. Without it, you can’t play.
- With Jesus: The Bible is your paddle. It’s how you respond to challenges, how you fight temptation, how you win spiritual battles.
“Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” – Ephesians 6:17
- Sometimes It Gets Competitive
- Pickleball: People want to win—but the best players also lift others up and play with integrity.
- With Jesus: Life feels like a competition sometimes—school, social media, identity struggles. But in Christ, your worth is settled. You don’t have to win to matter—you already do.
“You are God’s masterpiece.” – Ephesians 2:10
- You Will Miss Shots – and That’s Okay
- Pickleball: Missing a shot doesn’t mean you quit. It means you try again and keep playing.
- With Jesus: Sin, mistakes, and failures happen. But Jesus forgives. Every day is a chance to get back up and grow closer to Him.
“Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” – Proverbs 24:16
- Enjoy the Game
- Pickleball: It’s meant to be fun. People smile, laugh, and make memories.
- With Jesus: Your walk with Christ isn’t meant to be heavy or boring. It’s full of joy, purpose, and relationship.
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
So wonderful! A huge thank you to all of our volunteers, coaches, church staff, and community sponsors who helped to make this first camp a fantastic experience. Until the next one!
Nate Brown
The Arizona/New Mexico mission trip is a one-week trip to serve with the Across Nations ministry. Across Nations' mission is to equip Native Americans to exalt Jesus, encounter His goodness, and extend His kingdom.
We will partner with Hope Force International in their response to disaster events that surround us at home and abroad, reaching out to those who experience suffering and lost.
This is an outreach opportunity to make connections with the children and families in your community. By hosting a Club, you will be able to engage in gospel centered conversations, stories and activities while building relationships.
tangible expression of God’s love for all people and of our desire to help fulfill God’s mission to make disciples of all nations.
