October 27, 2026October 23, 2026

Fear Didn’t Get the Final Word

“Mommy, I am happy and also sad. I am happy that I’m almost home, but I’m sad because I really like Costa Rica and I want to go back.”

Those were the words of one five-year-old as his family drove home from serving on a Christ For the City International Global Team in Costa Rica.

For his parents, it was confirmation that saying “yes” had been worth it.

Long before they boarded the plane, serving on a mission trip as a family had been a dream.

“My husband and I had both served on mission trips before we were married,” his mom, Savannah, shared. “We’ve always talked about going as a family. When we heard about CFCI, we knew we had found a way to serve in international missions together.”

Like many parents, however, excitement was accompanied by fear.

“I realized how easy it is to think I’m in control of the outcome for my kids,” she said. “On a mission trip there are so many unknowns. The very first day, God challenged me to surrender that sense of control and trust Him to protect and provide for them.”

Savannah’s fears were familiar ones: illness, injuries, unexpected emergencies in another country. She prayed continually before the trip, and while serving in Costa Rica, those worries resurfaced more than once.

“Three different times I was challenged,” she recalled. “Each time my family was facing a possible injury or illness. When I gave the situation over to God and trusted Him to see us through, the fear subsided and God provided peace.”

One moment became especially meaningful.

While playing soccer with local children, Savannah’s son was injured. Watching him in pain, fear quickly took hold.

“I noticed my fear was being reflected in my son’s demeanor,” she said. “So I changed my response. I prayed over him, and together we spoke Scripture: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…’ After that, both of our moods turned around.”

God provided—not only through prayer, but through practical care. The team had first aid supplies, access to a nearby clinic if needed, and experienced leaders ready to help. Thankfully, every situation was minor and resolved quickly.

As fear gave way to trust, the family was free to embrace the reason they had come. Serving in Christ For the City International’s children’s centers in Tirrases and Los Guidos, their children helped lead worship in Spanish, played games, made crafts, and quickly formed friendships with Costa Rican children.

“My kids were shy at first,” she said. “But once they saw the other kids were just like them, they relaxed and had so much fun.”

Before the trip, Savannah had prayed her children would see the people they served not as strangers, but as friends.

“I wanted them to understand that although families there may not have much materially, they are full of joy because we are all sons and daughters of God.

That prayer was answered.

Both of her children came home talking about how kind and joyful the people of Costa Rica were.

The family also joined daily prayer walks through the community, praying with people they met along the way. They encountered a woman who was the only believer in her family, a young man wrestling with faith, and children carrying burdens far beyond their years. Those weren’t lessons that could be taught from a classroom or a book.

“There are some things you simply can’t explain at home,” she reflected. “Feeling the weight of poverty and praying with people who long for their families to know Jesus gave our kids an understanding they couldn’t have gained any other way.”

The impact wasn’t only on the children they served—it was on their own family.

“I think seeing people from other countries worshipping God is a glimpse into heaven,” she said. “Missions as a family is a way to live out our faith in real time with our kids, to trust God in unexpected moments, and to see Him work in ways you never thought possible.”

When asked what she would say to parents who feel hesitant about bringing their children on a mission trip, her answer was simple: “God will use you, even if you’re nervous. It’s always hard to trust God with the unknowns, but He will provide peace when we give our fears over to Him.”

Maybe your “family” is your spouse and children.

Maybe it’s your small group, your friends, or the people you do life with every week.

Whoever God has placed around you, don’t let fear keep you from experiencing what He can do through serving together.

Sometimes the greatest transformation happens long before you change someone else’s life. Sometimes it begins when you trust God enough to simply say yes and just go.

Visit www.cfci.org/go to explore upcoming Global Teams and discover how you, your family, or your community can join what God is doing around the world.

September 28, 2026

Sewing New Possibilities on La Calzada

Tucked among the mangrove forests along the Pacific coast of El Salvador, La Calzada is a small island community stretching 10.5 miles long and less than a mile wide. About 1,600 people call the island home, where opportunities can be limited and many families face significant economic challenges.

It is here, on this narrow island surrounded by water, that five women recently celebrated a milestone that once may have seemed out of reach: they became the first graduates of a new sewing program.

For nine months, the women gathered to learn simple sewing skills under the guidance of Christ For the City International missionary, Verónica Pérez. But the classes became about much more than learning to thread a needle or operate a sewing machine. Each class began with worship and Bible study, creating a space where the women could grow not only in their skills, but also in their confidence and understanding of who they are in God.

For Verónica, the program began with a deeply personal experience.

“I knew the difficult situations these women live in and wanted them to feel valued,” she said.

Verónica once believed she didn’t have any particular skills herself. Then a CFCI missionary, Amelia DenHartog, sponsored her to attend sewing classes.

“It was a dream come true for me,” Verónica said.

She discovered that she could sew, and that discovery gave her a desire to help other women experience that same sense of possibility.

After visiting CFCI bases in Nicaragua and Costa Rica and seeing their sewing programs, Verónica began dreaming about bringing one to La Calzada.

They had no sewing machines. They had no supplies.

But little by little, God provided.

“God provided everything and the ministry grew,” Verónica said. “His provision confirmed for me, ‘This is of God.’”

And so, the first sewing class began.

The women came with different challenges and different reasons for wanting to learn.

One of them, Noemí, has a disability in her hands that makes writing difficult and had limited her opportunities to find work.

When she first began learning to sew, she was nervous.

“I am so nervous. I can’t do it,” she told Verónica.

But she kept trying.

Learning wasn’t always easy. She sewed more slowly than the others and couldn’t do everything, but she refused to give up.

“I asked God to help me because I had never learned to sew,” Noemí said. “Thanks to God I can sew a little now, though I can’t do everything well yet.”

What surprised her most was not simply that she had learned a new skill. It was the feeling of creating something with her own hands.

“I was so happy to see that I could make something myself, with God’s help!” Noemí said.

For Verónica, watching Noemí persevere was one of the clearest pictures of what the program was becoming.

The women were learning to sew, but they were also learning to believe they could do things they had never done before.

That confidence began showing up outside the classroom, too.

One day, Nery came to Verónica with a story she couldn’t wait to share.

She had gone home and made a pillow, all by herself.

Then she sold it for $3.50.

It might seem like a small accomplishment, but for Nery, it was proof that what she was learning could become something practical and productive.

Before joining the program, Nery had never touched a sewing machine.

Now she can make pillows and sew some of her own clothing.

“Truly I felt so good knowing I could now do something for myself,” she said. “I thank God for allowing me to graduate.”

And she isn’t finished.

“God-willing I will continue to learn more, getting better every day,” Nery said.

Another student, Anita, told Verónica, “I can go look for a job now!”

Those words represent a change that goes far beyond sewing.

For women who have struggled with low self-esteem and difficult circumstances at home, learning a skill has helped them begin to see new possibilities for their future.

The first five students worked hard throughout the nine-month program, eventually producing shoulder bags that were given to CFCI Board members in April.

They were surprised by what they had accomplished.

Abigail said she was grateful for the patience and wisdom God gave her as she learned.

“I feel good because with God’s help I could learn to do something I had never done before,” she said. “I feel very happy.”

Then came September 22.

The women arrived dressed in their best clothes for their graduation, the first five graduates of the La Calzada sewing program.

There were certificates, gifts, a devotional, and plenty of proud smiles.

Verónica even sang in front of the group before sharing a devotional about God as the Potter and each of us as the clay.

“I wanted them to feel blessed and special, to see how God had worked,” she said. “I saw their happy faces—it’s hard to put it into words.”

But one moment in particular brought Verónica to tears.

Patricia had become one of the most committed students in the class. She had even helped Verónica with the lessons.

When it came time to give Patricia a sewing machine of her own, she was overwhelmed.

Her eyes filled with tears.

“You don’t know what this means for me,” she told Verónica. “I had asked my husband to buy me a sewing machine, but we couldn’t afford it.”

For Patricia, the gift represented more than a sewing machine.

It meant another opportunity to learn. Another way to be productive. Another possibility for helping support her family.

“I feel grateful and blessed,” Patricia said. “I felt proud to know that there is something else I can do that is productive, happy to have made progress in my life to be able to help support my family.”

Verónica had a simple message for her: God provides for the desires of our hearts.

Patricia responded with a strong hug.

“My heart was filled up,” Verónica said. “I wanted her to know that it is God who gives us these gifts.”

Five women graduated from the first sewing class on La Calzada.

But their graduation isn’t the end of the story.

It is the beginning of something new.

They came to learn a practical skill. Along the way, they gained confidence. They learned that they could create something with their own hands. They discovered that their circumstances did not have to define what they were capable of doing.

And each week, as they worshiped and opened their Bibles together, they were reminded of something even deeper: they are seen, valued, and loved by God.

For Verónica, that’s what makes the program so meaningful.

“I knew the difficult situations these women live in and wanted them to feel valued,” she said.

Now, five women have graduated.

One has sold a pillow she made herself. One believes she can begin looking for a job. One has discovered that even with a disability, she can learn something new. And one now has her own sewing machine and a dream of using her skills to help support her family.

The machines may be sewing thread into fabric.

But something much bigger is taking shape on this small island.

Confidence. Purpose. Opportunity. And hope.

September 9, 2026

More Than a Game: How Basketball Opened the Door for the Gospel in Guatemala

The gym was packed.

Fans filled the stands. Players battled down to the final seconds. The energy was high as True Victory Athletics and the Wizards de Patzún competed in an exciting international basketball game in Guatemala.

Then something unexpected happened.
At halftime, the game stopped.

Players from both teams gathered at center court. The crowd grew quiet as a True Victory player shared his personal story of how Jesus Christ had transformed his life. For several minutes, the focus shifted from basketball to the hope of the Gospel.

This was the kind of opportunity that brought True Victory Athletics to Guatemala through a Global Teams trip with Christ For the City International (CFCI).

True Victory Athletics, a ministry of Fayette Baptist Church in Somerville, Tennessee, exists to use sports as an opportunity to share the Gospel. For their second year in Guatemala, the team partnered with CFCI’s Guatemala base, led by Geovani and Wendy Juárez.

Together, they played five basketball games, led two sports camps, visited schools, served alongside the local ministry, built relationships, and shared the Gospel.

“I loved their passion for the sport, but what I loved even more was their clear and intentional goal of proclaiming the gospel through sports,” Geovani said.

Across five games, an estimated 500 people attended—including approximately 350 children and teenagers.

At halftime, players from opposing teams would join the True Victory players at center court while one of the Americans shared a personal testimony. The response surprised and encouraged the CFCI team.

“They listened carefully and respectfully to what was being shared, especially the players from the opposing teams,” Geovani said. “It was amazing to see how closely the teenagers listened to what the Americans were saying.”

The international game against the Wizards de Patzún was one of the week’s most memorable moments.

The game came down to the final seconds. True Victory scored with five seconds remaining to take a two-point lead, then held on to win.

But the final score wasn’t the most important part of the night.

“Our hope is that everyone in attendance that night was impacted with the Gospel,” a leader from True Victory Athletics said.

The basketball games were only part of the ministry.

During two sports camps, the team taught basketball skills while also sharing their testimonies and the Gospel. More than 40 children made decisions to follow Christ during the camps, according to the team’s trip evaluation.

“Winning or losing a basketball game has zero effect on our eternal life,” a team leader said. “But to see kids give their lives to the Lord through the basketball camps and the testimonies shared at the basketball camps—that’s when we knew this is why we came. All glory to God!”

And God opened another unexpected door.

While visiting a school, Geovani shared the Gospel with a group of teenagers. Because the students regularly heard Christian teaching, he wasn’t sure how they would respond.

He invited them to respond—and 33 teenagers accepted the invitation.

“I didn’t expect a positive response,” Geovani said. “It was definitely the power of God working despite my initial skepticism.”

For Geovani, the moment became a reminder that sharing the Gospel is an act of obedience, even when we cannot see what God may do through it.

“Many times, without meaning to or intending to, we undervalue what we do,” he said. “We think it’s not the right time to share the gospel, or we don’t give it importance at that moment. But we don’t know what God’s plan is for that day or for that moment.”

None of this happened by accident.

CFCI’s Guatemala team helped organize the week and connected True Victory Athletics with local communities and basketball teams. Those relationships are opening doors for future ministry.

After the team returned home, Geovani began receiving calls from local contacts who wanted to do something even bigger—with more activities and more opportunities for teams like True Victory Athletics to come.

“Bringing more teams like this would be a great blessing for everyone,” he said.

That’s the heart of CFCI’s Global Teams: bringing visiting teams alongside local ministry leaders who already know their communities, relationships, and needs. Together, they serve, build relationships, and create opportunities to share the Gospel.

For CFCI’s Guatemala team, the partnership with True Victory Athletics is another way to reach more people, strengthen local relationships, and continue the work God is already doing.

And the impact goes both ways.

The True Victory team returned home with a renewed desire to live on mission, a stronger sense of community, and a deeper appreciation for the blessings they experience in the United States.

Sometimes the greatest victories don’t appear on a scoreboard.

Sometimes they happen when a basketball game pauses, a testimony is shared, and an entire gym gets quiet enough to hear about Jesus.

And sometimes, God uses a basketball to open a door that no one expected.

The key, Geovani said, is simple: “Be willing and keep going.”

September 8, 2026September 8, 2026

September’s Letter from the President

During this last month I took a long road trip with my son Adam, driving from Omaha to Pittsburgh and back. Somewhere along those miles, between conversations about faith, life, and the future, I found myself deeply encouraged. Adam has chosen to dedicate his life to serving Christ and will soon head to the Philippines to minister to university students through a campus ministry.

As a father, I couldn’t be more grateful. As the leader of a missions organization, I couldn’t be more hopeful.

Around the world, I see similar stories unfolding.

Many of our CFCI ministries are investing in children, teenagers, and young adults. Some are supporting youth pastors. Others are discipling students or creating opportunities for young people to encounter Christ and grow in their faith.

Recently, one of our Zimbabwean missionaries attended a leadership training in Kenya with Dare 2 Share, a partner organization. The vision behind the gathering was simple: Every teen, everywhere, hearing the Gospel from a friend.

After receiving training, hundreds of students were sent into nearby communities to share their faith. For many, it was the first time they had ever done so. Imagine the joy of seeing young believers step out in courage, share the hope of Christ, and watch lives be transformed.

The missionary ended his report with these words: “Now we get on the ground and spread the fire.”

I love that phrase. The challenges facing our world are real, but so is the work of God. Across nations and generations, He is raising up young people who are bold in their faith and passionate about His mission.

And that gives me great hope!

Jake Hjemvick
CEO & President of Christ For the City International

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

Sometimes Ministry Looks Like Pizza Dough

When most people picture missionary work, they imagine someone preaching a sermon, leading a Bible study, or sharing the Gospel in a crowded village.

Sometimes ministry looks like that.

And sometimes… it looks like pizza dough.

At Christ For the City International’s Oasis Transformation Center in El Salvador, missionary Ronald recently gathered five women for a pizza-making workshop. There was just one problem: none of them had ever made pizza before.

The team also didn’t have everything they needed. There were no stainless-steel worktables. No commercial kitchen. No industrial oven.

By most standards, they weren’t ready.

But instead of waiting for perfect circumstances, Ronald chose to begin with what God had already provided.

Along the way, God faithfully met every need. Someone generously loaned them an oven—simple, but exactly what they needed to get started. It became another reminder that God often provides as we take steps of faith.

Before the first lesson began, Ronald shared what he called his “secret ingredient.”

It wasn’t a special spice or a family recipe.

It was prayer.

Together, they thanked God for the opportunity to learn, asked Him to guide every step, and committed their work to His glory.

That prayer would become more important than anyone realized.

As the women began making dough, frustration quickly set in. The texture wasn’t right. Hands became covered in sticky dough. Confidence disappeared.

One participant named Roxana became convinced she simply couldn’t do it.

She kept saying she wasn’t capable. The more discouraged she became, the harder the task seemed.

So Ronald did something unexpected.

He stopped the lesson.

Together, they prayed again.

They remembered God’s promises—that we can give Him our worries, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and that God created each of us with purpose.

When Roxana returned to the table, something had changed.

Her fear had been replaced with confidence.

This time, the dough came together perfectly.

A few months later, each participant created their own signature pizza. Roxana surprised everyone by adding chorizo to her sauce, creating a flavor that stood out from the rest. The woman who once believed she couldn’t do it had become one of the most creative participants in the class.

What changed wasn’t simply her ability to make pizza.

God transformed the way she saw herself.

Today, these women are learning practical skills that can help provide income for their families. But they’re also discovering something even more valuable: that they have worth, purpose, and gifts given by God.

That’s what community transformation looks like.

It isn’t only about teaching a skill.

It’s about restoring dignity.

Building confidence.

Sharing the hope of Jesus.

And reminding people that God can do extraordinary things with ordinary lives—and sometimes with ordinary ingredients.

Ronald dreams of expanding this ministry by creating a fully equipped teaching kitchen where even more women can receive training, build businesses, and hear the Gospel. Interest from neighboring communities is already growing, and new opportunities continue to open.

Stories like this don’t happen because one missionary has all the answers or all the resources.

They happen because God works through faithful people who choose to pray, give, and send.

Every prayer offered.
Every gift given.
Every partnership formed.

Together, they make moments like Roxana’s possible.

Sometimes ministry looks like preaching.
Sometimes it looks like feeding children.

And sometimes…

it looks like pizza dough.

If you’d like to help missionaries like Ronald continue bringing practical hope and the hope of Christ to communities around the world, we invite you to become part of the story through the SEND campaign.

Support Missionaries Through SEND

July 20, 2026August 3, 2026

The Great Commission Has Never Been a One-Person Assignment

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19

When most people think about missions, they picture someone boarding a plane and moving to another country.

Sometimes that’s exactly what God calls people to do.

But more often, missions looks like something much closer to home.

It looks like a pastor faithfully serving his own neighborhood.

A teacher sharing the hope of Christ with her students.
A ministry leader investing in children after school.
A church planter discipling new believers.
A volunteer serving meals to families in need.
A missionary loving the very city they grew up in.

Different places.
Different cultures.
Different callings.

One mission.

One of the things we love most about Christ For the City International is that the vast majority of our missionaries are nationals serving in the countries they call home. They know the language. They understand the culture. They have deep relationships in their communities. They aren’t outsiders—they’re neighbors faithfully living out the Gospel where God has planted them.

Whether God calls someone across the street or across the world, one thing remains true:

No missionary serves alone.

Behind every missionary is a team of faithful people who pray.

People who encourage.
People who give.
People who say “yes” to sending.

Because the Great Commission has never been a one-person assignment.

Every “Go” Is Supported by Someone Who Sends

From the very beginning, God’s mission has always been a shared mission.

The Apostle Paul traveled extensively, but he never served alone. Churches welcomed him. Friends traveled with him. Believers prayed for him. Faithful partners met practical needs so he could continue the work God had called him to do.

That same pattern continues today.

Every conversation about Jesus…
Every child who hears the Gospel…
Every family who receives food, care, and hope…
Every young person discovering their identity in Christ…
Every church strengthened…
Every community transformed…

…is possible because someone answered God’s call to go—and someone else answered God’s call to send.

Both matter.
Both require faith.
Both are acts of obedience.
Both become part of the story God is writing.

The Reality Many People Never See

When people think about missionaries, they often picture someone serving full-time in ministry.

The reality is often more complex.

Many CFCI missionaries faithfully serve their communities while also working outside jobs to provide for themselves and their families.

Sometimes that’s exactly where God has called them to be. Those workplaces become places of ministry, relationship, and witness.

But for others, limited financial support means balancing multiple responsibilities simply to make ends meet.

It can mean less time with family.

Less time discipling believers.
Less time mentoring young leaders.
Less time investing in the people and communities God has called them to serve.

The need isn’t simply financial.

It’s relational.

Every missionary needs a team of people who will faithfully pray, encourage, and stand beside them over the long haul.

There’s a Place for You in God’s Mission

Maybe you’ve never considered yourself a missionary.

Maybe you’ve never imagined preaching a sermon, planting a church, or serving overseas.

But that doesn’t mean God hasn’t given you a place in His mission.

Some people are called to go.
Some people are called to send.

Both are essential.

When you pray for a missionary, you’re participating in God’s work.

When you encourage a missionary who’s weary, you’re strengthening someone carrying the Gospel.

When you give, you’re helping create more time for ministry, discipleship, and sharing the hope of Christ.

As Henri Nouwen wrote in A Spirituality of Fundraising, giving isn’t simply about meeting financial needs. It’s about inviting people to participate in what God is already doing.

That’s exactly what SEND is.

It’s not about funding a project.

It’s about joining a story.

Introducing SEND

This summer, we’re launching SEND: Fuel the Messenger. FORward the Mission.

SEND is an invitation to build stronger sending teams for the missionaries serving through Christ For the City International.

It’s an opportunity to pray faithfully.
To give generously.
To encourage consistently.
To stand behind the people God has called to share His love in cities and communities around the world.

Our prayer is that through SEND, missionaries will be strengthened, families will be encouraged, and even more lives will be transformed through the hope of Jesus.

What’s Your Role?

The Great Commission has never been a one-person assignment.

Some people are called to go.
Some people are called to send.

Everyone has a place in God’s mission.

Maybe your role is to faithfully pray for a missionary.
Maybe it’s to encourage them with a note when they need it most.
Maybe it’s to become a monthly partner, giving them greater freedom to invest in their family and the ministry God has entrusted to them.

Whatever your role, know this:

When you say “yes” to God’s invitation, you’re not watching from the sidelines.

You’re becoming part of the story He’s writing around the world.

Join the SEND Campaign

Every missionary needs a sending team.

Will you become part of one?

Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity help fuel the messenger and FORward the mission.

👉 Join the SEND Campaign at www.cfci.org/send

July 13, 2026June 29, 2026

Every Day Should Be a Mission

What happens when students move beyond the church walls and spend a week serving in a city?

For eight students from Minnesota, an Urban Plunge in Omaha became much more than a mission trip. It became an opportunity to see people differently, understand their communities more deeply, and discover that God’s mission isn’t confined to a church building—or even a single week of service.

By the end of the trip, one student’s biggest takeaway could be summed up in four simple words:

“Every day should be a mission.”

Throughout the week, the team partnered with local ministries, served people experiencing homelessness, met refugees and immigrant families, learned about ministry in diverse communities, and encountered people whose stories challenged their assumptions.

For one student, the most impactful moment happened during a simple game of basketball.

“When one man and I talked for a good while after initiating basketball, it was so impactful to see someone experiencing homelessness being just like me.”

It’s a realization many students experience during Urban Plunge. The people they serve stop being statistics or labels. They become neighbors. Friends. People with stories, struggles, hopes, and dreams.

That shift in perspective often changes more than students expect.

When asked what surprised him most, the student’s answer was simple:

“How many privileges I really have.”

Others discovered a new boldness in their faith.

Leah shared that serving at Heart Ministry Center was one of the most meaningful parts of the week. During her time there, she had the opportunity to pray for a woman in need.

“I felt Jesus embolden me more than I’ve ever been emboldened before during this trip,” she said. “I want to go forward and share the gospel with everyone I meet.”

Leah also recalled hearing from a missionary serving among Muslim communities. Learning about a different culture and hearing firsthand how God is working around the world expanded her understanding of both people and missions.

“Knowing how many people need Jesus, I can’t be afraid to let my light shine.”

For Caitlynn, the week opened her eyes to realities she had never fully understood before.

“I never realized how many people were in poverty, or experiencing homelessness, even how many are in domestically abusive relationships.”

One interaction especially stayed with her.

“I prayed for a couple of people and I could see their faces just light up. One even started crying.”

Moments like these remind students that ministry doesn’t always require a stage, a sermon, or years of experience. Sometimes it begins with a conversation, a prayer, a listening ear, or a willingness to show up and let God work.

The trip also challenged students to grow personally and spiritually. One lesson that resonated throughout the week was, “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Thirteen-year-old Rush pointed to Matthew 28:19—the Great Commission—as a reminder that every follower of Jesus is called to go and make disciples.

What makes Urban Plunge unique is that students don’t just learn about missions. They experience it.

They see firsthand how God is working in cities. They discover the needs and opportunities that exist all around them. They begin to recognize that ministry isn’t reserved for missionaries or pastors. It’s something every believer is invited into.

And often, they return home seeing their own communities differently.

The goal of Urban Plunge has never been simply to create a meaningful week. The goal is to help students develop a lifestyle of mission—one that continues long after the trip ends.

Because the truth is, mission isn’t just something we do when we travel. It’s how we live.

Every day should be a mission.

At Christ For the City International, Urban Plunge helps students discover that reality for themselves. Through hands-on service, intentional discipleship, cultural engagement, and opportunities to share God’s love in practical ways, students begin to see what it means to follow Jesus beyond the church walls.

If you’re a youth pastor, church leader, school teacher, parent, or student looking for more than just another trip, Urban Plunge can help your students encounter God through service and return home ready to live on mission every day.

Ready to help your students see what God can do through a week of intentional service?

Learn more about Urban Plunge and upcoming opportunities at www.cfci.org/go.

June 29, 2026June 26, 2026

Why Do People Come Home from Mission Trips Changed?

If you’ve ever talked with someone after a mission trip, you’ve probably heard them say, “I went there to serve, but I feel like I received more than I gave.”

At first, that sounds backwards.

Mission trips are about serving others, sharing the love of Jesus, and stepping into the needs of a community. Yet time and time again, people come home talking not only about what God did through them, but about what happened within them.

Why is that?

The truth is, God is just as present in Omaha as He is in Guatemala, Zimbabwe, or anywhere else in the world. He isn’t more available on the mission field than He is in our homes, workplaces, churches, or neighborhoods.

But when we step away from our normal routines, something often shifts in us.

The distractions are quieter.
The schedules are different.
The familiar comforts are gone.
And suddenly we’re paying attention in a new way.

We pray with greater expectancy. We notice people more intentionally. We become more aware of opportunities to love, encourage, serve, and share the hope we’ve found in Christ.

It’s not that God suddenly shows up when we board a plane.
It’s that we’re often more aware of the ways He’s been present all along.

Mission trips have a way of reminding us that we were never meant to do life in our own strength. We encounter situations we can’t control, conversations we didn’t plan for, and moments that invite us to trust God more deeply. In those moments, we’re reminded that ministry isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about learning to recognize and respond to what God is already doing.

Many people leave on a mission trip hoping to impact someone else’s life.

And they do.

Relationships are built. People are encouraged. Hope is shared.

But somewhere along the journey, something begins to change in the heart of the person serving.

Our perspective expands.
Our compassion grows.
Our faith deepens.

We begin to see people the way God sees them.

And perhaps most importantly, we discover that God is already at work in far more places than we realized.

The purpose of a mission trip isn’t simply to go somewhere different. It’s an invitation to join God in what He’s already doing and to learn what it looks like to live with greater awareness of His presence.

Maybe that’s why so many people return home changed.

Not because they found God somewhere far away.

But because they became more aware of His nearness, more attentive to His voice, and more willing to say yes to the invitation He has been extending all along.

And the beautiful thing is this: That invitation doesn’t end when the trip is over.

The same God who is at work across the world is at work in your neighborhood, your workplace, your family, and your everyday life.

The mission field may change your perspective, but it also reminds you that every day is an opportunity to partner with God right where you are.

Maybe all that’s needed is a simple yes.

If you’re ready to explore where God might be inviting you next, visit CFCI Go Trips to learn more about upcoming mission opportunities and ways to serve around the world.

June 15, 2026

Make Lasting Memories with Family Mission Trips

A 12-year-old boy stood in front of a soccer school in El Salvador, gripping his notes with sweaty hands.

Dozens of kids stared back at him.

Moments earlier, they had been laughing, joking, and chasing a soccer ball. Now they were listening closely.

He took a breath and shared a simple message.

“I used to think I had to be perfect for God to love me,” he said. “But I’m learning that He just wants me to keep giving Him my best.”

That was it.

No polished sermon.
No fancy words.

And somehow, every kid there could relate and connect.

“I stood in the back watching him talk to those kids and thought, ‘I would have missed this version of my son if we hadn’t come,’” Lindsay said. “I was watching him step into faith and compassion in a way I hadn’t seen before.”

A few days earlier, Lindsay watched her son teach local teenagers how to play chess.

Somewhere between explaining pawns and bishops, he connected the game to God’s kingdom, how every piece has a purpose and every role matters.

Later that same week, he quietly prayed for a woman inside her tiny home after hearing her share about her sick son.

And through every moment, Lindsay kept coming back to the same thought: I would have missed this version of my son if we hadn’t gone.

That’s the power of families serving together on mission trips.

Yes, communities are impacted.
Yes, churches are encouraged.
Yes, practical needs are met.

But something sacred also happens inside the family itself.

Over the last few years, Christ For the City International has seen more families saying yes to missions together, and the impact reaches far beyond what most people expect.

“The people we serve aren’t only seeing a husband or wife—they’re seeing the entire dynamic of a family,” Josue, one of our missionaries and coordinators in Costa Rica, said.

For many children in the communities we serve, that picture is rare.

Some have never seen a healthy family working together.
Some have never watched parents serve side by side.
Some don’t know what it looks like for a family to laugh together, pray together, and love others together.

So when families arrive on the mission field, it communicates something powerful before a single word is translated.

And children respond in ways that consistently surprise even the adults.

They connect quickly—through soccer, crafts, music, games, and laughter. Language barriers fade as relationships form naturally.

More than observers, children from visiting families often become active participants in ministry.

They pray for others.
They engage with local children.
They serve in practical ways.
And they often step into moments of ministry with a boldness that grows throughout the trip.

In the process, something important happens: They begin to realize that God can use them right now.

Not someday when they are older.
Not once they feel more prepared.
But in the present.

At the same time, parents often witness something just as meaningful—the unfolding of their children’s faith in real time.

Mission trips have a way of removing families from routine and placing them into environments where faith becomes practical.

Moments where a child prays for someone they just met.
Moments where joy is witnessed in places of lack.
Moments where compassion becomes lived experience instead of abstract belief.

These experiences often leave a lasting imprint long after returning home.

And while many assume mission trips require large teams or complex logistics, the reality is far simpler.

Six people is enough to form a team, which means families do not have to wait until everything aligns perfectly.

It might be two families from the same church.
It might be close friends who have talked about serving together.
It might be a small group ready for something deeper.

The invitation is simple: go together.

Serve together.
Experience together.
Grow together.

Because mission trips do more than impact the communities being served.

They shape the families who go.

And often, they shape the next generation in ways that cannot be fully understood until they return home changed.

Ready to bring your family—or another family alongside you—on a mission trip?

Visit cfci.org/go to learn more about upcoming opportunities and how to begin planning together.

June 1, 2026

June Letter from the President

I’ve seen a pattern over the years in Scripture, in my own life, and through the ministry of CFCI around the world. God often calls us forward before we feel ready. He invites us to trust Him in uncertainty, to take steps of obedience without having all the answers, and to follow Him even when fear is still present.

We see this lived out every day through our missionaries. They step into unfamiliar places, build relationships across cultures, and engage complex challenges. They don’t do it because it’s easy, but because they believe God has called them. And in that obedience, something deeper happens. They don’t just participate in God’s work; they grow in their understanding of His faithfulness. They discover greater clarity in their purpose and experience a deeper walk with Him.

This is not just the story of missionaries. It is the invitation extended to every follower of Christ. Each of us faces moments where we must choose between what feels comfortable and what God is asking of us. In those moments, obedience becomes the pathway not only to impact, but to knowing God more fully.

This message of faithful obedience is one that we’ll be leaning into in a special way this fall at our Fueling Transformation Gala in Omaha on November 10, 2026. We are honored to welcome Kent Chevalier as our featured speaker. As the author of Do It Afraid and chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kent brings a powerful combination of personal story and biblical insight, challenging each of us to trust God beyond what feels comfortable and to step forward in faithful obedience.

It will be an evening not only to celebrate what God is doing through CFCI around the world, but also to be encouraged and equipped in our own walk with Him. I hope you can join us!