Newport, TennesseeGroup Mission Trips
Join Experience Mission on a week-long mission trip to the Appalachian community of Newport, Tennessee.
Newport was hit hard by Hurricane Helene in 2024, and EM's hurricane relief and recovery work here opened the door to partnering with local ministries to come alongside an under-served community in rural Appalachia. Your mission trip team will learn and grow as you serve with local partners already at work in this community, joining efforts that reflect God's love for the people of Newport.
Details & Logistics
Available Trip Dates
Tennessee Mission Trips FAQs
Basic Trip Information
What is included in the cost of the trip?
Lodging, food, staffing, materials for projects and project planning are included in the cost of the trip. Transportation is not included. Meals will begin with dinner on Sunday evening and then will end Friday morning at breakfast. See "Upcoming Trip Dates" section below for available dates and per-person cost for each trip.
What age group can you accommodate for Newport, Tennessee Trips?
We can accommodate high school students and older. Middle schoolers are allowed on a case-by-case basis, but this trip is geared toward older students and adults.
Will there be other groups serving with our group?
Most likely, yes. EM mission trips are open to multiple groups until capacity is met. In general, we keep your group together during service projects.
Lodging, Food & Packing
Where will we stay?
Teams will be housed in a local church building. You'll be sleeping on camping cots, so participants will only need to bring bedding. We may request that a few participants bring sleeping mats/mattresses depending on the number of volunteers coming on a particular week, but we will communicate this directly if it is necessary.
Will we be able to shower?
There will be showers and bathrooms available at the housing location. Larger teams may need to utilize other church facilities to fit all showers into the evening schedule.
What will meals look like?
Meals will be provided by Experience Mission staff for the duration of your trip. Meals begin with dinner on Sunday evening, concluding with breakfast on Friday. There will be a cold grab-and-go breakfast set out each morning that includes cereal, bagels, yogurt, fruit & more. You will pack your lunches at breakfast (cold cuts, PB&J, fruit, chips). Dinners will be a hot dinner when you arrive back from your projects.
Can you accommodate food restrictions?
Our mission trip food policy outlines what we can accommodate for dietary restrictions and more. Note: Each team leader should input specific details of your team's food restrictions in their MyMission Portal.
What should I pack for this trip?
A packing list will be available once you register for the trip! Generally, be prepared to bring along work clothes that can get dirty.
Transportation
Is transportation provided?
No, you are responsible for all of your transportation to and from the location and throughout your week to and from work sites.
What airports are closest?
Asheville, NC (AVL) and Knoxville, TN (TYS)
When should we plan to arrive on the first day?
Check-in is between 3 and 5 PM on the first day of your selected trip. Our staff will be awaiting your arrival. You can expect dinner and an orientation meeting to get you ready for the week that evening as well.
Projects & Opportunities
What will volunteers do on a mission trip to Newport, Tennessee?
Your team may serve with local partners, including: Breadbasket, Feed My Sheep, Options Pregnancy Center, Isaiah 117 House, and Cornerstone Baptist Church Ministries. Projects range from food bank distribution and meal service to sorting donations and supporting local ministry logistics. Specific tasks depend on need, timing, and group size.
Will we work with children on this mission trip?
At this time, EM does not offer a dedicated children's ministry program on this trip. Some service opportunities, such as supporting Isaiah 117 House, may include limited time with children as part of broader support tasks, but this varies by placement and is not guaranteed.
Spiritual Components
What can I expect for my group as far as spiritual growth?
Morning Quiet Time: Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. While we make the space for this time, it is up to the leaders to implement it with their groups. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. All team members will be provided a physical or printable devotional journal.
Team Gathering: Our staff will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the morning or evening. It is a simple time of debriefing and listening to a short devotional reflection from EM, with follow-up discussion as time warrants.
Worship: Our programming does not include musical worship as we can't guarantee that our field staff will have this ability. We love this element and hope that your team will bring this skill and share it with all of the groups!
Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.
Typical Schedule
Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. EM will provide a physical or printable devotional journal.
Our staff will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Evening Gathering") and it is always a great addition to have musical worship. Our programming does not include musical worship as we can't guarantee that our staff will have this ability. Please let us know if you have anyone who sings or plays guitar on your trip so that we can help to coordinate the musical aspect of worship when able. If teams aren't able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.
Day 1
3-6pm Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation Meeting
8:30pm - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
11:30pm - Lights Out
Day 2-5
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15am - Group Prayer
8:30am - Teams leave for Sites
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Evening Gathering (as a whole group)
8:30pm - Team time
Day 6
7am - Breakfast
7:30am - Cleanup/ Packing
9am - Pictures and Good-Byes
Lodging, Food & Transportation
Lodging
Teams in Newport, Tennessee will stay in a secured local church in the area.
Sleeping
You will be sleeping on a camping cot provided by EM. Team members should plan to bring bedding, sheet, and blanket, or a sleeping bag and a pillow.
Showers & Bathrooms
There will be showers and bathrooms available at the housing location. Larger teams may need to utilize other church facilities to fit all showers into the evening schedule.
Water
Tap water is clean and available to drink in Newport!
Food
Experience Mission field staff will be preparing and serving your meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style, and your team will pack their own lunches each morning. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate specific food restrictions? View EM's Food Policy
Transportation
Your team's transportation to, from, and while in Tennessee is not covered. You will need vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry. Using a school bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is not recommended as teams may be split into smaller groups for projects and ministry opportunities. It is recommended that teams flying in plan to arrive at the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee or the Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher, North Carolina.
Health & Safety
EM's Health & Safety Plan:
Staff Certification
All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.
Medical Kits
Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site. In domestic locations like West Virginia, we ask that teams supply their own medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and Imodium as they deem necessary.
Emergency Response Plan
Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.
If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.
If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor), and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.
In the event that an accident occurs which is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, and local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.
All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.
Registration & Payment
Experience Mission has specific policies regarding team registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.
View EM's Mission Trip Registration Policy
INDIVIDUALS
All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip must be part of a team of at least six (6) people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM's IMMERSION program.
Upcoming Trip Dates:
Newport, Tennessee
Mission Trip Resources
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Hear from recent EM mission
trip team leaders!
Hear from recent EM mission trip team leaders!
Carline D. served in Savannah, Georgia
Nikki K. served in Pikeville, Kentucky
Christopher G. served in Rincon, Puerto Rico
Jeremy M. served among the Navajo Nation in Arizona
Jennifer S. served in Rincon, Puerto Rico
What’s the best trip for your group? Answer 5 multiple choice questions and get instant mission trip recommendations!
What’s the best trip for your group?
Answer 5 multiple choice questions, and get instant mission trip recommendations!
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