Xtreme Impact: Summer missions in review

Missions organization takes teams of high school and college students on overseas missions trips

Last summer, Xtreme Impact took 10 teams of high school-and college-age students on an overseas missions trip that impacted hundreds of people from all around the world.

Xtreme Impact, an established missions organization, has been seeking to spread the gospel through missions trips around the world for years. This past summer, Xtreme Impact had a total of 272 participants, 201 of which were high school or transfer students from across the western hemisphere. Among them were 54 current Liberty University students who served as small group leaders and 17 adults who served as team leaders.

“Xtreme Impact trips are designed to give young people a chance to see what God is doing in the world and how they can play a part in that work. We are thrilled each year to see our teams come back with a better perspective on ministry and missions,” Adam Bowers, Xtreme Impact Supervisor, said.

Students have the opportunity to build relationships with their fellow team members and to share the gospel wherever they are. In fact, teams complete training in-country to acclimate themselves to specific cultures in order to assist resident missionaries.

“In addition to working through missionaries and translators, teams share the gospel and serve through drama ministry, street evangelism, construction projects, humanitarian aid, children’s ministry, youth ministry, sports ministry, teaching English and camp ministry,” Bowers said.

Many traveled to English-speaking countries, while others went to countries where individuals seek to learn English, such as Thailand.

“It was awesome, especially serving as a group leader in Thailand. I would highly recommend it,” senior Jonathan Lowery said.

“Our teams partner with local missionary contacts and translators to assist their ministry in country. These individuals speak the local language and help to bridge this gap,” Bowers said.

Teams traveled to Guatemala in March, Italy in June and the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Italy, Uganda, South Africa, Thailand and India in July.

Psychology major Diana Nelson called the trips “a life-changing experience.”
She was able to go to Costa Rica as a small group leader in charge of all kinds of evangelism outreach.

“This is an incredible and unique experience for college students who not only want to go on missions, but also that want to work with youth.”

According to Bowers, the trips have also made an impact in the high school students who were part of the teams.

“About 60 percent of the high school and transfer students (who) went into the trips are attending Liberty University during fall 2012, and many more will follow in future years,” Bowers said.

Xtreme Impact believes that it is vital to show teenagers the spiritual and physical need in the world prior to their college education. “The Great Commission has no age limit,” is the group’s motto.

“No one is disqualified from the responsibility to lovingly share Jesus Christ with others,” Bowers said. “This life-changing experience not only changes their perspective of the world, but also allows students to be aware of the need, regardless of their future career.”

In addition, many students who participate in a missions trip prior to attending Liberty University build solid friendships that last throughout their college education.

“We’ve seen many friendships, and even marriages, rise out of the mission teams. Years later, alumni still share the impact that God had on their life through this mission experience,” Bowers said.

Xtreme Impact will continue to step out of its comfort zone to let others experience the love of God. Remembering, as Bowers quoted, “that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” Romans 10:9.