For over 20 years, Nehemiah Teams (NT) has strategically sent students around the world to work with IMB missionaries located among unreached people groups. The Lord has moved powerfully through these student-missionaries, who in boldness share with many people who have never heard the gospel before. The Lord also works powerfully in these students, drawing them into closer relationship with Himself, and for many, totally changing the direction of their lives.
For the last few years, there has been no shortage of students applying for Nehemiah Teams’ international trips. These trips are to some of the most incredible places in the world: the turquoise waters of the Pacific islands, the towering peaks of the Himalayas, and the wild savannas of Africa—not to mention the bustling megacities of Tokyo, Seoul, and Bangkok—just a few of the possible options.
However, there is another category of NT trips that are rarely considered by student-missionaries: North American mission trips. The last two years, all of NT’s national trips were canceled due to a lack of interest. In some ways, these trips are even more strategic than international trips. Here’s why:
There are vast numbers of people from unreached people groups in the United States.
According to Joshua Project, there are over 14.5 million people from unreached people groups living permanently in the United States. There are also many international students, and workers who do not live permanently in the United States, so many from unreached places. There are so many people from around the world right in our backyard… and they have yet to hear the gospel! What a great opportunity.
The barriers to effective ministry are lower on North American mission trips.
The language barrier is one of the greatest barriers to effective gospel-sharing with people from another country. Yet, many internationals in the US already know English! Thus, missionaries in North American contexts have more opportunities to share the gospel, and for their friend to understand it. This is a significant advantage that North American missionaries have in reaching international communities.
There are greater opportunities to maintain friendships after the trip.
The sad reality is that, after the summer is over, most student-missionaries will never again see the people they shared the gospel with or discipled over the summer. However, on North American trips, this is not the case! Nehemiah Teams trip locations in New Orleans, Delaware, and Atlanta are all well within driving distance for many students, allowing them to return and keep discipling, witnessing, and befriending those they met during the summer. This is such a huge advantage for the gospel, allowing the student to continue ministry started during the summer.
There is an incredible opportunity to mobilize the American church.
More American churches need to get involved in the Great Commission by giving, sending, and going. It is a powerful message to see college students following the Lord wholeheartedly and giving up their summer to reach people with the gospel. When student missionaries stay in the US, working among international communities, it is a powerful picture of a World Christian living out the Great Commission in front of the local church. It is a message that will get noticed and will impact other believers to act.
It provides a realistic picture of what living as a World Christian looks like.
At the end of Nehemiah Teams debrief, many summer-missionaries make huge commitments. Many commit to long-term, overseas service as a missionary. But, the fact is, many will not make it. For some reason or another, the Lord simply closes that door. However, this is not necessarily a tragedy. There are so many opportunities in the United States for effective ministry among those who have never heard the gospel. Christians who commit to working 9 to 5 jobs, witnessing to their international friends, neighbors, coworkers, ministering in the local church, and commit to giving financially towards kingdom advancement, these are true heroes for the gospel! A North American mission trip illustrates how a student can choose strategically where to live after graduation, and live their life in their home country, but also live for the sake of proclaiming Christ to the nations living all around them.
It might be a greater sacrifice.
It is not a very glamorous proposition to go to Atlanta for the summer, or to the University of Delaware. Part of the excitement of a mission trip is the adventure to be had in faraway lands and seeing new places. Something close to home, in a neighboring state is just not as exciting as going overseas. Giving up that adventurous feeling of a mission trip is difficult.
But, just because something is close doesn’t mean it can’t be adventurous. On a mission trip, one will see a familiar area with a different perspective, and there will be so many new experiences that it will seem like a totally new place. Because we have been “bought with a price,” our choices are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:20). Additionally, the Lord “causes all things to work together to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”... even on a seemingly less exciting mission trip (Romans 8:28).
What is our motivation?
The question underneath everything is: are we going on a mission trip for the adventure of it all or simply for the glory of Jesus Christ? If we are totally unwilling to consider going on a “less adventurous” trip, then I believe we must ask ourselves why.
This summer, Nehemiah Teams is offering North American mission trips to New Orleans (to work with international seafarers & local port workers), University of Delaware (to work with international students), and Clarkston, Georgia (to work with refugees). As of this writing, there are zero students signed up for any of these trips. The need and opportunity is very great, but there are very few laborers.
-Jack Elliot
Nehemiah Teams Staff
Pray if you or someone you know would be one of those laborers...
