2021 Mission Trips & the effect of COVID-19

At Adventures in Missions, we are deeply committed to the mission God has given us to reach the world for Christ. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and focus to how we walk out our mission. With over 30 years of experience in mobilizing over 130,000 missionaries around the world, we are committed to adhering to the guidelines that allow us to care for not only our participants, but those we are called to serve.

This past year has given us at Adventures in Missions an even deeper commitment to the mission God set before us as an organization: to awaken and activate Christ followers worldwide to their identity and role in God’s Kingdom. While COVID-19 has affected each of us, our ministry partners are living and working in communities that are severely impacted, struggling financially and looking for hope. Our partners are ready, eager and prepared for teams to come and help as they serve their communities.

In March 2020, as borders started to close without much notice, Adventures worked around the clock to safely bring home 570 participants from 26 international squads over the course of 6 days. We spent the rest of the year canceling and postponing trips, while working hard to create a variety of opportunities that adhere to government regulations and safety guidelines. We found ways to launch domestic trips and host a 4-month extended training camp on campus for our 2020 Gap Year Racers. We have equipped our leaders and teams and are effectively managing COVID-19 realities, both on our campus and for our participants around the world.

With a desire to launch internationally in January, we talked to experts, researched the recommendations from the CDC and other organizations, assessed possible locations (with information about entry requirements and how they were handling COVID-19 internally), and generally continued to watch the pandemic situation both in the U.S. and overseas. As potential locations began to appear viable we worked with those ministry hosts to develop an on-field COVID-19 protocol that would minimize risk to our participants and to those they serve.

As a result, In January 2021, we were able to safely launch over 300 participants internationally, across 8 World Race squads and 3 Semesters teams. The Gospel is being shared, work is getting done, and God is moving (check out some stories here!).

We continue to move forward with expectancy, wisdom, and intentionality as we pioneer in a world that looks different than the one we were navigating a year ago for the sake of the Gospel. Now, more than ever, our world needs hope.

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Mission trips are happening in 2021!

World Race, World Race: Gap Year, and Semesters by World Race initially launched teams to serve alongside long-term partners in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and South Africa. We have, and will continue to, move into other countries as they open up and become viable options for us.

View Trips

Planning Safe Mission Trips in 2021

At Adventures in Missions, we are committed to navigating mission trips and this global pandemic in a wise manner. We acknowledge that there is additional risk; it is just not possible to avoid it completely. However, we assure you that operating in wisdom is a top priority for us and our risk management and mission trip planning teams.

COVID-19 & RISK MANAGEMENT

Our COVID-19 Management team meets regularly to assess situations and ensure alignment with current regulations, health professionals, and Adventures’ leadership. Additionally, our experienced risk management and mission trip planning teams are constantly monitoring political, health, weather, and other risks in the regions where we serve, as well as the advice of international health organizations.

PRE-LAUNCH PREPARATIONS

To register, participants will complete temp checks and a COVID-19 symptom screening assessment. Currently, state regulations do not require a negative COVID-19 test to arrive on campus, and we will be following the state's standard. Once on campus, we will assess each participant daily and should anyone develop symptoms, we will use a quarantine system to minimize exposure. As we head overseas and move from country to country, we will fully comply with airline and country requirements regarding testing and policies. Any testing in these situations will be arranged for, and paid for, by Adventures in Missions.

DAILY HEALTH SCREENINGS

We are committed to complying with any government regulations that exist for all our mission trips and programs. This includes guidelines about masks and social distancing as outlined by the CDC. Participants are also doing daily health screenings with temperature checks and following isolation and quarantine protocols when needed.

COVID-19 Handbook

FAQs

What will COVID-19 requirements and expectations be while on a mission trip?

We are committed to complying with any government regulations that exist throughout your mission trip. This could include entry requirements, curfews, in-country travel restrictions or more. We are also committed to having field policies in line with best practices for our mission trips and gap year program. We will continue to work closely with our ministry partners to monitor the advice of international health organizations and local regulations.

What if borders close, due to COVID-19, while participants are on a mission trip?

Our internal risk management team and our external consultants will continue to monitor the COVID-19 implications for international travel. If quick action does become necessary, we have experience navigating that situation. In March 2020, borders began to close without much notice, and we safely brought home 570 missionaries from 26 international squads over the course of 6 days. While we cannot completely predict what every future situation would look like, we do have an experienced team that is ready to work around the clock to get our participants home, if necessary.

Will the international insurance through Adventures include COVID-19 coverage?

Yes. For all participants traveling internationally with us, your insurance policy includes COVID-19 coverage, at no additional cost. For additional information, see your profile or speak with your Admissions Advisor.

What if I sign up for a mission trip and we are unable to launch?

We have an experienced risk management team. They monitor political, health, weather, and other risks in the regions where we serve. We continue to confidently plan impactful mission trips and adjust when necessary. We won’t launch a mission trip that isn’t up to our standards of safety. In 2020, we canceled our international mission trips due to safety and travel restrictions with COVID-19 and gave options to our participants to join us domestically or defer to a later date. We currently feel confident launching future mission trips. If we have to cancel your mission trip, or you don’t feel comfortable going, the money you’ve raised can be applied to a different or future trip within the next calendar year. Our team will be happy to work with you to find the best option for your situation.

Hans

World Race parent

Patty

World Race parent

Stacy

World Race parent

Carla

World Race parent

The more we get to know you (the AIM ministry), the more impressed I am about the quality of [this] organization, and I am grateful for your ministry in helping shape young adults to be strong ministers for Christ. Thanks again!

The staff there is unbelievable. I do believe God had his hands in this. God’s blessings to you all as this journey is not over. We continue to lift AIM up in prayers.

You all have been amazing!! I can’t thank you all enough for responding fast and putting into action a plan to get our children home as fast as you could. I’m in awe of your dedication and diligence in getting all of these moving pieces where they needed to go. Continuing to pray for all of you as I know your jobs aren’t done yet. This too shall pass and hopefully you all can rest and be still.

Your grace under fire is evidence of your deep walks with Jesus. Our young adults couldn’t have been under better leadership. We’ll continue to cover you in prayer in the seasons ahead.