About 6 years ago as a freshman in college, I went with my college ministry to an orphanage in Mexico. I remember my college minister challenging me in simple ways there, such as praying for the entire group and encouraging me to lead worship one night- I can still remember how nervous I was! The very fact that he encouraged me to even go on the trip had a profound effect on my life. That trip helped open my eyes to missions. It helped open my eyes to the real need that people had just outside my country’s borders,…my city,…my dorm room. I would even go as far as saying that the mission trip helped open my eyes to a lifetime of ministry! And just about every Christmas and several summers since then, this would be reaffirmed.

I also got to know the kids at the orphanage and the people running it- and I know them still. You see, 6 years ago because of a 5 day mission trip to an orphanage in Mexico, ministry/missions/love became personal to me. Her name is Bere, Ameirani, Abbi, Miriam, etc. His name is Charlie, Beto, Enrique, Chuy. They are but a handful of the kids that I have gotten to know, impact, (and be impacted by) over the past 6 years, and all of this because of the missions efforts of my college minister.

This past week I got to return to that orphanage. It was so good to see my dear brothers and sisters again. One of them, Bere, wants to go to college in a couple of years! I love it! SO needless to say, missions is VITAL to a college ministry for at least these reasons:

1. We are all CALLED to take part in missions. There’s an eternal impact here!

2. The internal impact- It could open a college student’s eyes to a life time of missions, ministry, or maybe even just the need that lies just outside the dorm room.

3. The external impact- Just think about the impact made on those whom we get to love on! Some of them may even go to college!

4. All the other awesome benefits for your college ministry such as community building, having fun adventures together, etc.

Now there is some debate on the efficiency of short-term missions and this is beyond the scope of this blog, but I will say this: I believe short-term mission are best done when you pick a location and consistently minister to that location until certain goals are met and/or God leads elsewhere. Second, missions do not all have to be over seas. There are PLENTY of opportunities within town, state, and continent. The orphanage we go to is only an 8 hour drive from my church back in my college town. That is 8 hours of sweet, community building time!

So get out there and serve together! Incorporate well thought, Kingdom-minded, short-term missions into your college ministry! Spring break AND Summer are just around the bend!