Every year, the 412 junior and senior high students have an opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip.  Our church, Calvary Chapel Melbourne (CCM), believes we have a calling to Missions, whether in our community, supporting full-time missionaries in the field, or participating in short-term mission teams. The purpose of a short-term trip is to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ, come alongside our sent missionaries, and be obedient to the call of The Great Commission:  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

 For the last several years, our junior high team has gone to Mazatlan, Mexico, to work with our CCM missionaries, Brent & Heather Madsen, who are the directors of the YWAM base in Mazatlan.  While there, our team will serve food to adults and children living and working at the local dump, repair and maintain the facilities of the local church and YWAM, and participate in skateboarding outreaches and street evangelism.  Through ministering to the needs of the community, we will seek to build relationships and share the gospel with the people of Mazatlan.

 
Our senior high team will go to Peru to minister with our CCM missionaries, Rick and Beth Heilman.  We will get our hands dirty painting and repairing church and ministry buildings, and then share the love of Christ through street  evangelism. Using drama, mime, music, and puppets, we are able to minister to all ages in the crowd. 

Missions trips have a profound effect on the lives of those who participate.  As we make ourselves available to be used by God, we are not only a blessing to the people to whom we minister, but we are radically changed by the power of God who ministers through us.