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Best Christian Gap Year Programs for 2022

School has looked much different this year, but the pressure to enjoy the moment while also making huge decisions about your future is still very real.

If that’s you, you’re at a pivotal point in your life. You want to discover who God created you to be and base your choices on what He wants for you. Maybe you have a pretty good understanding already, or maybe it’s something you’re still trying to figure out. Either way, a Christian gap year could be a great stepping stone.

That’s why World Race: Gap Year exists.

Should I take a Christian gap year?

A gap year isn’t a year off. A Christian gap year is a year to be intentional about serving others, growing your faith, and understanding your identity in Christ. From leaders to teammates to missionary partners, on the World Race: Gap Year, you will get to do all of that alongside some amazing people who want the same things.

“I loved my time on the Race! Doing World Race Gap Year opened my eyes and heart to more of who Jesus is. There were endless opportunities to see Him move through and in me over my time on the field! I became more confident in who He has called me to be and experienced a deeper hunger for Jesus. I was surrounded by such an encouraging squad and built so many beautiful relationships. I am beyond thankful for the Race and how it provided a strong foundation for my faith for the rest of my life.” (Drew Davidson, World Race: Gap Year alumni)

What is the World Race: Gap Year?

The World Race: Gap Year is a Christian gap year program for recent high school graduates. You will spend a month on the Adventures in Missions campus for training in contextual missions, healthy community, and intimacy with the Lord.

Then, you and your team will travel to 3 countries over the course of 9 months, serving with our international bases and other trusted partners.

Gap Year is about serving others and sharing the hope of the Gospel with people around the world. The experience will propel you out of your routine and into relying on God in completely new ways.

Through days of children’s ministry, church services, English classes, sports ministry, and other service projects, you will learn what it means to live a life on mission.

You’ll grow in your appreciation of other countries and cultures and get to be part of the what God is doing through His people in other parts of the world.

How can I make a difference on Gap Year?

Your ultimate goal is to point people toward the Lord. We want to make sure we’re also pointing them toward the people who will continue living for the Kingdom in their communities.

That’s why you won’t be out there alone. On the World Race: Gap Year, you will partner with incredible local missionaries and serve others alongside one of our long-term missionary base teams  who have spent time understanding the context of the culture of the people around you.

They’re dedicated to making a sustainable impact on the communities in which you live and serve, not just for the health and dignity of those communities, but for lives to be changed with the Truth of the Gospel.

We’re always learning, growing, and innovating so you can look back on your Christian gap year experience knowing that you make a positive impact for the Kingdom of God.

Best Christian Gap Year Programs in 2022

Semesters Gap Year Route

On this Gap Year route, you will join our partners in their Semesters to people by sharing the love of Jesus and connecting them to opportunities to grow in their faith.

Serve others with our partners in Costa Rica! Dive into a variety of opportunities, such as children’s ministry or sports Semesters. Ultimately, you’ll join these partners in Costa Rica with projects that will help them continue to reach their community long after you’re gone.

Jump into a well-established initiative in Romania, led by a local missionary. Connect with college students and share your life with them. As you live alongside them, they will see Jesus in you. You will even be able to empower them to reach their own country with the Gospel.

Then, spend a couple months in Eswatini at our Adventures in Missions base. Work alongside local staff who are making a significant impact on the future of their home country through CarePoints. They will equip you to holistically care for the children of Eswatini and teach them about Jesus.

Apply for the Gap Year Semesters route!

Activation Gap Year Route

On this Gap Year route, you will partner with local ministries to build sustainability and give hope to their communities.

Join our Adventures Guatemala base team near Antigua. Jump into community Semesters, children’s ministry, and sports programs as you share the love of Jesus with those around you. Partner with this established ministry and work with international and local missionaries each day.

Serve others with our partner in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa. Share the Father’s heart through youth and children’s ministry. From schools to feeding programs to sports ministry, you’ll have a variety of opportunities to love on God’s children.

Work with our Adventures Cambodia base team as they continue their ministry to local children and share the hope of the Gospel with families in surrounding villages. Teach English to help families create better futures for their children.

Apply for the Gap Year ACTIVATION route!

Development Gap Year Route

On this Gap Year route, you will serve local partners as they activate and establish the church in their communities.

Live and serve in Southeast Asia alongside long-term missionaries. Help families open up doors for better futures by teaching English, the language of business. Watch God use the strength of the family to rebuild this resilient region.

Then, join our Adventures in Missions base in Eswatini for a couple of months. Work alongside local staff who are making a significant impact on the future of their home country through CarePoints. They will equip you to holistically care for the children of Eswatini and teach them about Jesus. Spend some time at our Adventures Guatemala base team near Antigua. Jump into community Semesters, children’s ministry, and sports programs as you share the love of Jesus with those around you. Partner with this established ministry and work with international and local missionaries each day.

Apply for the Gap Year DEVELOPMENT Route!

What do alumni say about the World Race: Gap Year?

“This has been the hardest 6 months of my life (even if it hasn’t looked like it) but also the most rewarding. Although I won’t have the perfect answer for you when you ask how my trip was, I will try my best to explain how dangerously amazing God was! God gave me fresh eyes and a whole new perspective on things which you will see a bit of below. He showed up in so many miraculous ways that it’s hard to even tell the stories and it do it justice. It’s honestly one of those things where you just had to be there to experience the power of it.” (Erika Talley, World Race: Gap Year alumni)

Find more Gap Year reviews and stories from the field here!