019: How to Plan a Terrible Mission Trip

Mission trips have the potential to shape students for a lifetime—but without thoughtful preparation, they can unintentionally do more harm than good. In this episode of Youth Ministry Answers, Brooklyn and Damean tackle a question about how to plan a mission trip that truly serves people well while avoiding some of the most common mistakes leaders make. Through the lens of "how to plan a terrible mission trip," they share practical, thoughtful strategies for preparing students, partnering with local communities, and creating experiences that have a lasting impact.

QUESTION:
"How do I actually plan a mission trip that serves people well—and what are some mistakes I should avoid going in?"

ANSWER:
In this episode, we'll talk about how to...

• Prepare students spiritually, emotionally, and culturally long before the trip begins
• Partner with local leaders by serving their long-term mission instead of creating your own agenda
• Build healthy rhythms that balance meaningful service with rest, fun, reflection, and appreciation
• Help the trip create a lasting impact through responsible storytelling, thoughtful debriefing, and ongoing discipleship after everyone returns home

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Resources Mentioned:

• Mission Experience

Creators and Guests

Host

Brooklyn Lindsey

Brooklyn Lindsey is the Chief Creativity Officer at Stuff You Can Use. She leads with 24 years of youth ministry experience and 9 years co-leading Somos Church.

Host

Damean Easter

Producer

Caitlyn Smelser

Caitlyn Smelser is the Executive Assistant at Stuff You Can Use and former youth pastor. On any given day you'll find her out for a run, hiking with her dog, Gus, or paddle-boarding on the lake. If you'd like to chat with Caitlyn about where to find the best hiking trails or how to make a perfect french macaron, she'd love to connect with you!

What is Youth Ministry Answers?

You ask the questions, and we help you find the answers. Youth Ministry Answers is hosted by Brooklyn Lindsey and Damean Easter from Stuff You Can Use! Every episode features a question about youth ministry submitted by ministry leaders, youth pastors, and volunteers! Got a question about leading your youth ministry or training volunteers? Visit yma.show to send it in — your question might be featured in an upcoming episode!