8 Reasons You Should Go on an International Mission Trip

If you have spent any significant time around Cru, you have probably heard someone share about Cru’s commitment to international missions. For over six decades, Cru has been sending teams of staff and students all over the world to share the life-changing Good News of Jesus with people in virtually every country on Earth. As a result, millions of people have placed their trust in Jesus and have become a part of God’s family.

Cru International Missions

from Creative One Media

Maybe you or a student you know have been wondering, “Would God call me to be a part of an international mission someday?” That’s a great question!!! Even as you read this, God is raising up teams of students to join Him in mission fields all over the globe. There are several reasons you should consider joining a team. A mission trip can help you…

Take the Gospel to the World

In one of Jesus’ final acts during His time on Earth, He gathered His disciples on a mountainside and told them,

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all 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 28:18-20)

We often refer to this passage of Scripture as the Great Commission. Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all ethnos, or people groups. If we are to truly follow Christ, then we need to take Matthew 28 seriously. We need to join Him in His mission of making disciples, all over the world!

Find a Deeper Relationship With God

The Christian life is a life of connection to and dependence upon Christ. Sadly, in our day-to-day experience, we often fall into the trap of living disconnected, self-directed lives. International missions provide a unique opportunity to walk in dependence upon the Lord and find a renewed awareness of our need for Him.

Develop a Stronger Faith

Faith is like a muscle. In order to grow, it needs to be exercised and must experience resistance! If you’ve ever worked out, you know that in order to get stronger, you need to push your muscles beyond what is comfortable or easy. The heavier the weight, the more the resistance, the more your muscles will eventually grow. In many ways, faith works in the same way. If we only do what comes naturally, or what seems easy, our faith may remain underdeveloped.

On the other hand, when we take steps of faith that are uncomfortable, when we attempt things that can only be accomplished if God shows up, our faith has the opportunity to grow! International missions provide great opportunities to work out our faith as we trust the Lord in big ways (raising financial support, international travel, speaking to someone from another culture, sharing our faith, etc.).

Experience Another Culture

Each of us experience our Christian life in the context of our own culture. It’s impossible to avoid. And sometimes it can be difficult to separate our faith from our unique cultural expression of it. When we participate in international missions, we have the opportunity to interact with Christians around the world who love Jesus, are committed to His Word, but operate from a very different cultural perspective.

In this new environment, we are able to see and experience the beauty and character of God in unique and significant ways. This can help us to better see and understand God’s character as well as better discern how we can express our Christian faith in our own culture.

Experience Rich Christian Community

When God saves us, He not only calls us to Himself, but also into a family of believers. If you’ve ever been a part of a team, band, or any other group of people working towards a common goal, you know how satisfying that can be. Relationships are strengthened in the midst of working, playing, and building memories together. International missions provide terrific opportunities to interact with other believers: serving together, encouraging one another, praying for one another, and celebrating the unique strengths and gifts of each person on the team.

Faith is like a muscle. In order to grow, it needs to be exercised and must experience resistance!

Be Trained and Equipped for a Lifetime
of Ministry

Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of mission trips is that they provide an environment of highly intentional training and equipping for the students who participate. Students who take part in missions learn valuable ministry skills like how to share their story in a way that can lead others to Christ, how to clearly and concisely share the Good News of Jesus, and how to help new believers begin to grow in their faith.

These skills and strategies can be useful for a lifetime of faithfully following Jesus into evangelism and discipleship, but sadly, many Christians never take the time to learn or equip themselves for these tasks. An international mission provides great opportunities to develop these skills and then apply them for years to come!

See God Work in a Unique Way

We know that God is at work in all places at all times, but for some reason, we often see God do extraordinary things when we join Him in international missions. Quite often, students who go have the opportunity to see someone, even many someones, place their faith in the Lord. Not only does this help accomplish God’s plan to bring people from all over the world into His family, but it often increases our faith to trust Him to do the same on our local campuses when we return home.

Gabe, a high school sophomore from Colorado, had never shared his faith before going on a mission to Quito, Ecuador. After seeing several students trust Jesus on his mission, Gabe returned to Colorado with a newfound zeal for evangelism. Within the first two months back on his campus, Gabe had led four of his classmates to know Jesus!

Enjoy an Adventurous Life With Jesus

If God created the universe and holds all wisdom and power, it only makes sense that a life connected to Him should be a life of adventure! Jesus himself promises a “rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10) So, why do so few Christians experience this kind of life? We believe it is because so many of us fail to accept Jesus’ invitation to walk by faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and join Him in His work in the world. If you’re looking for a little excitement in your walk with the Lord, consider joining Him on an international mission!

These are not the only reasons you should go on a mission trip this year, but we hope they offer a compelling vision of how God could use an international mission opportunity in your life and strengthen your relationship with Him. As you prayerfully consider joining God on a mission, you can explore current opportunities within Cru’s high school ministry here.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

Christina's Story

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.