(By Chris “Mr. G” Gardiner, Spiritual Formation Coordinator, Northwest Christian School)

When people think of missions, they often picture long-term missionaries who devote years to serving in a community – like my Aunt Mary.  She moved to Africa when she was nineteen-years-old and spent her life giving love away to the poorest of the poor.  But short-term mission trips—spanning a weekend to a few months—also play a valuable role in God’s kingdom. Short-term missions, when done well, bring meaningful benefits both to those who go and to those who are served. Northwest Christian has had the opportunity to offer many of these short-term missions’ trips to Mexico, Rwanda and Costa Rica.  If you are ever around NCS and come across anyone that has been on any of these trips, please ask them about their experiences.  I hope you hear some of these reasons in their answers, and these are some of the reasons we do these trips. 

1. A Fresh Perspective on Faith

Stepping outside of daily routines and into another culture forces us to see life—and faith—differently. A short-term mission trip often confronts participants with the realities of poverty, suffering, resilience, and joy in contexts far removed from home. This perspective helps believers return with renewed gratitude, deeper compassion, and a clearer sense of what it means to live out the gospel in their own communities.

2. Fuel for Lifelong Service

For many, a short-term mission trip is the spark that ignites a lifetime of ministry. Participants often come back with a clearer sense of calling, whether that leads to long-term missions, deeper involvement in local church ministries, or simply a daily posture of service in their neighborhoods. The short-term trip is not the end but a catalyst for ongoing discipleship. At the end of the day, all Christians are on a lifelong missions trip, and these trips prepare our students for that life. One of the trips we offer is for Middle School students and that is Serve the City.  We want our students to know they have a mission in their city, their country and their world!

3. Encouragement to Local Believers

Short-term teams can breathe encouragement into the lives of missionaries and local churches. We have seen that so beautifully at Kids Kingdom, 1Mission, City of Joy and Hope Centers.  Simply showing up communicates that others care, that they are not alone, and that the global church stands with them. When done humbly, short-term students provide tangible help—whether through construction, teaching, medical care, or children’s programs—while strengthening relationships across cultures.

4. Cross-Cultural Friendships

One of the hidden treasures of short-term missions is the friendships formed. Even when language and culture create barriers, the shared bond of Christ unites believers. These relationships remind us that the body of Christ is global, stretching across borders and time zones, and they point to the beautiful diversity of God’s kingdom.

5. A Training Ground for Spiritual Growth

Short-term missions stretch participants beyond their comfort zones. Whether it’s sharing their testimony, leading worship in a different language, or simply navigating life without the comforts of home, team members grow in faith, flexibility, and reliance on God. These experiences often accelerate spiritual maturity in ways that routine life cannot.

6. Multiplication of Resources and Vision

Short-term trips mobilize the wider church. Every person who goes is a storyteller when they return—sharing what they saw, who they met, and how God moved. Their testimonies often inspire others to give, pray, or go. In this way, the ripple effect of one short-term trip can spread far beyond its original scope.

If you have a student at NCS who would be interested in a short term missions trip with NCS, please check ncs.managedmissions.com/ourtrips or please email/call me any time and I’d love to talk with you about the opportunities we have at NCS.

This post is sponsored by NCS Online. NCS Online is a fully online K-11th grade Christian school providing an online education that is rigorous, affordable, and rooted in Biblical worldview. To learn more about NCS Online, visit NCSonline.org.