Over 300 students participate each year in over 15 mission project offerings, traveling near and far to reach out to others. Trips are led by faculty, staff and parents, and opportunities may cost as little as $100 (some are even free). CHCA students have built strong relationships with the communities they have served in Cincinnati, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. Whether you want to make an impact locally or globally, there is a mission trip out there for you.
Mission trips available for 2012-2013 include: Cincinnati Service Projects, a spring break trip, and Intersession Mission Trips.
What is the purpose of mission trips?
To develop and mature in relationship with God; to challenge students in their faithFor some students, this is a first-time decision to follow Christ; for others, it is an opportunity to be challenged and continue maturing in faith. Research shows that the most effective means of learning is through direct, personal experiences that provide opportunities for discovery and reflection. Overnight and extended day service projects can be powerful life-altering experiences that can teach us more about mission/service/salvation than a lifetime of Bible class or Sunday school. Mission trips intentionally include daily morning devotions, evening Bible study/reflection and journaling.
To learn about injustice and poverty through direct interaction and Bible studyMission trips are to educate students about injustice and oppression. We learn about injustice and poverty through providing a text/study, discussion and by providing service to people in genuine need (see Matthew 25:35-36; additionally, there are over 400 scriptures which speak to God's heart for the poor). For example, in Tijuana, we first learn about the U.N.’s call to the Mexican government to remove people who are living in the dump. Then we go and visit the dump and interact with the people living there.
To break down prejudice and stereotypes through relationship, thus seeing all people as individuals, created and loved equally by GodThe single most effective way to accomplish this goal is to immerse ourselves in different cultures. When we build relationships with people, we re-evaluate our flawed or mistaken assumptions. We will coach our students to enter communities with a spirit of humility and an eagerness to learn.
To provide leadership training opportunities for studentsOn mission trips, we provide opportunities for students who are ready to assume leadership responsibilities. We coach and encourage them. From leading devotions to organizing meals, students need opportunities to lead, so that they can further mature in service as well as be prepared for service leadership in the future. Please see Student Leader Ministry Description.
To develop Christian worldview by seeing the needs of our world through the “eyes of God”Through experiencing life in communities unlike our own, we will gain compassion and appreciation for all of God’s people, and better understand the world and our place in it. By seeing the needs of the world in a compassionately directed setting, our students learn to ask better questions and learn to respond to need more authentically.
To assist students/leaders in discovering their God-given gifts and talentsThrough participating in service work and service leadership, we have opportunity to exercise and reflect on our strengths and weaknesses. We learn how to use our gifts in building Christ’s kingdom on earth.
To learn and appreciate the joy in living simplyCHCA Mission trips will provide a lifestyle of living simply through their lodging, meals and any tourist experiences. We will choose to lodge in the most culturally simple and safe appropriate housing. Our goal is to not separate ourselves from the community we are serving and to learn to appreciate simple ways of living. This often means sleeping on the floor of a church or school, or living in a dorm, sharing a common kitchen, eating PB & J, etc.
To build Christian community in Martha S. Lindner High SchoolTo further promote the building of Christian community in our school. Community building is a natural by-product of working, eating, studying, sleeping, playing, and worshiping side by side.