How to Go on a Mission Trip

Updated: April 2026

D.J. Morgan Creative & Marketing Director, Experience Mission D.J. Morgan serves as Experience Mission's Creative & Marketing Director, helping connect volunteers to opportunities to serve and grow together on mission trips.

How do you go on a mission trip?

Getting started comes down to three steps: having a genuine desire to serve, learn, and grow; finding the trip that fits your availability, group size, and calling; and taking the first step (submitting an interest form so Experience Mission staff can help match you to the right opportunity).

1. Have a desire to serve, learn, and grow

If you are reading this, chances are you already have a desire to serve others, and that is a great starting point. If you're still asking what a mission trip is, start there. In short, it's an opportunity to serve alongside others in meaningful ways. But these experiences are not complete without an equal desire to learn and grow alongside the people you are serving. Jesus' teaching to love your neighbor as yourself means more than solving material problems for someone else. It is a whole-person, holistic love that recognizes every person as innately valuable, and it is a love that pushes us out of our comfort zone and into spaces where we have things to learn from others as well.

Put simply, this means serving others with open hands—freely giving of yourself without expectations or hope of something in return—and open hearts—to learn and grow in whatever ways God has for us in this experience.

Unsure how to approach a first trip? Read 5 things to know before going on a mission trip. It explains why posture matters more than plans.

how to go on a mission trip

2. Find the best trip for you (or your group)

Once you have a desire to go on a mission trip to serve, learn, and grow, the next step is finding the best opportunity for you or your team. This step comes down to answering a few key questions:

When are you able to serve? Do you only have one week or one month available? Are you open to any dates in the summer or beyond? How long can you commit to a mission trip?
Who will you be serving with? Are you bringing a group or coming on your own? If bringing a group, how many people do you expect, and which age groups are represented? Check out details for:
- college mission trips
- high school mission trips
- middle school mission trips
- family mission trips
- adult mission trips
- church mission trips
Where do you want to serve? How far are you willing to travel? Which service opportunities align best with your team's calling and skill set? Which culture would be the most challenging, or offer the most to learn from?

The answers to these questions will help narrow down what you are looking for. At EM, the two mission trip opportunities are 6-10 day group mission trips (for fully-formed groups coming together) and 1-9 month IMMERSION mission trips for young adult individuals, age 18-30 (including 3-month mission trips for a semester or summer).

Comparing organizations? Check out 10 important questions to ask any mission trip organization, including EM.

3. Take action by letting us know you're interested

Whether you have found the trip you are looking for or still need help deciding, the best next step is to fill out a mission trip interest form (or the IMMERSION interest form) so EM staff can help match you to the best opportunity and get you on your way.

Mission Trip FAQs

Can I go on a mission trip by myself?

Yes, through IMMERSION. IMMERSION programs accept individuals ages 18 to 30, and some programs use a narrower range. EM forms the team, so you do not need to find a group. Group mission trips need a team of 6 or more, and EM cannot place an individual on another group's team.

How old do you have to be to go on a mission trip?

Group mission trips welcome adults of all ages, and students join as part of a group with a leader age 21 or older. Each trip page lists the grade level that community welcomes. IMMERSION and Gap Year programs are for ages 18 to 30, and minors do not go on them.

How long is a mission trip?

EM group mission trips run 6 to 10 days depending on the community, and a few run longer. IMMERSION programs for young adults last 1 to 9 months. Read how long a mission trip lasts for more.

How much does a mission trip cost?

Cost depends on the community, the trip length, and travel. Each trip page lists its price, and every open group trip appears on the mission trips page. Many team members raise part of the cost, and EM's mission trip fundraising guide walks through how. IMMERSION participants work with a Fundraising Coach.

What do people do on a mission trip?

Teams join work that a local church or ministry already leads, guided by the community's priorities. Days combine service with learning and reflection, and summer trips include an Evening Gathering. See what a mission trip is for the full picture.

Explore group mission trips by community, length, and group type! If you are 18 to 30 and want a longer season, explore IMMERSION. When you are ready, tell EM you are interested through the mission trip interest form or the IMMERSION interest form.

About the Author

D.J. Morgan serves as Experience Mission's Creative & Marketing Director, helping connect volunteers to opportunities to serve and grow together on mission trips.