Many of our staff members have been on a mission trip at some point of their lives and across all their experiences, one goal remains the same: leading others to Christ. Missions are an opportunity to build relationships and serve the physical needs of others. These experiences have offered our staff the opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission found in Matthew 28.
Our staff reflected on the experiences and relationships they gained.
Ella Sizemore, POV Editor
One trip that was special to me was the time I went to Tensleep, Wyoming, which has a population of 262 people. I pray that the relationships I built with the kids impacted them as much as they impacted me.
We completely remodeled our host church by redoing the landscaping, repaneling the exterior, and adding a kitchen and bathroom to the interior.
There were so many opportunities to share Christ with the community, and it was so rewarding to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus.
That trip was special to me because I had gotten sick the night before we were supposed to leave, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to go. However, God made a way for me to meet my mission team out in Wyoming and serve that community.
Skylar Senes, News Editor
In July 2019, I had the opportunity to serve on a mission trip in Jackson, Kentucky, with a local church, The Happy Church.
Although the trip was not far from my hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, the short few days of serving changed my perspective on materialistic ideas and taught me how I must remain grateful for all that the Lord has blessed me with.
Jackson, Kentucky is a small Appalachian town with a tight-knit community. Many families could not afford to purchase new school supplies for their children for the upcoming year.
The Happy Church kindly gifted each child new backpacks filled with notebooks, writing supplies and water bottles. The team and I had the opportunity to personally hand them off to each child.
In addition to packing backpacks, I did yard work around The Happy Church property and got to know each of the families. Through this trip, the Lord reminded me of 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 which states, “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Ruthie Gathje, News Editor
The amount of devastation that I saw in Florida after hurricanes Helene and Milton was unbelievable. In November 2024, during my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to serve alongside my fellow classmates with Samaritan’s Purse in Clearwater, Florida.
My classmates and I spent time ministering to one family who had lost everything in their beautiful shoreline home. We had to “mud out the house,” which meant that every single belonging had to be taken out, the walls removed and floors ripped up.
The most significant part of the mission trip happened after we cleaned the whole home. Our team leader presented a Bible to the homeowners that we had all signed, and then the husband and wife gave their lives to Christ. I had always imagined missions to be overseas, but it was during that trip that I realized how great a need there is for missionaries in our own nation.
Sizemore is the POV editor for The Liberty Champion.
Senes is a news editor for The Liberty Champion.
Gathje is a news editor for The Liberty Champion.