Top 5 myths about Emmanuel Mission/Learning Trips

Myth 1 The money is coming out of our General Fund.

Not so, Emmanuel's General Fund does not pay for any mission or service learning trips.  Participants are expected to pay their travel, expenses and contributions to any project associated with these trips.  Participants must also participate in fundraising events, such as lunches after church or dinners. They are expected to take part in reporting back to the congregation on what they learned.  Ability to pay is not a barrier to participation, as long as you are willing to participate in the fundraising and have a strong desire to learn about people in other countries and your own faith.

In the past 5 years, some participants have also been able to apply for a portion of their travel expenses from the Outreach Discretionary Fund.  This fund was set up to administer part of a large endowment from Mona Jones after extensive "Cottage Group" deliberations.  It is designated for Emmanuel members to be the “hands and feet of Christ” in the world. 

Myth 2:  Only a select group of people are allowed to go on Mission Trips

This is not correct.  Every fall the Christian Development Committee puts out a call for participants in the monthly packet and the bulletin.  They mention the proposed trips, including Habitat for Humanity builds, visits to our partner in El Salvador, and more recently a trip to Zambia to explore a global partnership in Africa.  Over the last 20 years, over 75 members of our congregation have travelled to El Salvador, and many others have travelled to other destinations.  Many Emmanuel youth who want to learn more about their world and put their faith into action have gone on these trips.  These trips have been a very formative part of their spiritual journey. 

Myth 3:  It would be better to just send money.

Mission and service learning trips are intended to help participants learn about the reality of life in developing countries, accompanying those being visited in their struggles and celebrating their successes.  These trips contribute to faith formation, building community among the travellers and making new friends in other cultures.  They are all about building understanding and relationships, and are not about just sending money for charity from a position of those who hold power and dispensing resources to the poor and needy. 

Myth #4: People who travel on Mission Trips just want a subsidized vacation and a tax receipt

 Actually mission trips are hard work. They challenge our faith and sense of social justice

and push us outside of our comfort zones. Accommodations are usually quite basic, and our travels

may require us to use squat toilets, cold bucket showers and to eat strange food with our hands.

If we are participating in a service project, we may have to work long hours in the blistering heat.

These trips are not for everyone, but they are also very rewarding, often life-changing and call us to

examine our own life styles more closely and how our consumerism affects others in the developing

world. Those who take mission trips have a passion for social justice and a hunger

for learning about other cultures from a faith perspective, rather than as a tourist.

Myth 5: Mission Trips divert funds, staff resources and lay energy from other important Emmanuel programs.

First of all, Emmanuel members have been travelling on mission and service learning trips for over 25 years.  They are an essential core of who we are as a congregation and one of the priorities of our Christian Development program.  Second, Emmanuel’s focus on social justice and outreach has attracted many new members over the years.  Third, people who participate in mission trips usually return with a deeper faith and renewed sense of commitment to Emmanuel.  They become more engaged in sharing their stories, serving on committees, and encouraging others in the congregation to go on similar pilgrimages, all expressions of living a deeper faith.

The founders of the United Church church believed that ours is a living faith, a faith that is expressed not only in ministry at home, but also in mission in and with the world.

If you have never been on a Mission Trip, I urge you to sign up for one soon.  It may just change your life and deepen your faith!