Why We Love Praying Pelican Missions

Marko here. My memory is a little blurry (‘cause I’m old), but I think I've been on roughly 27 youth ministry short term mission trips. I served on the board of one org for five years. I'm friends with people who work at a half dozen other mission orgs; and I've interacted with hundreds, maybe thousands, of youth workers about their mission trip experiences.

And that's the context with which I write:

Short term missions in youth ministry are the best and the worst things we do in North American Youth Ministry (my “North American” qualifier there is due to the fact that youth min STMs have become something of a cottage industry in the US, and are often approached very differently, if at all, in other countries).

In fact, I’d go as far as saying that the majority of youth ministry short term missions are problematic, at least partially. They may have some value for the participants; but they often inadvertently teach bad theology and worldviews that are more about imperialism than the Kingdom of God.

But, when done well, with thoughtfulness, humility, and an informed missiology, all recipients can benefit in profound ways that build up the Kingdom. I chose “all recipients” very intentionally in that previous sentence, as the best in STMs are not about us who go as “givers” and those we visit as “receivers.” Instead, we are all receiving, and hopefully experiencing something that smells a little like heaven.

And that's why I (and The Youth Cartel) only put our eggs--when it comes to short term missions--in one basket: Praying Pelican Missions. Lots of my peeps (ooh, eggs and peeps in subsequent sentences) ask me what I like about PPM. There are plenty of reasons, but one above all: their missiology. When PPM says that their approach is to develop long-term relationships with local church leaders and serve under their leadership, they mean it. I've seen it, over and over again. Sometimes that can make things a bit messier than a pre-packaged trip led by college students with work concocted with only the best of colonialist intentions. But I'll take it any day.

SO: come with me on one of three trips (or just go with PPM without me--i won't be hurt):

1. A leader trip to Jamaica in March. I mean, come on: this is literally a trip to Jamaica and it's limited to me and a small handful of youth workers. That's it. The point, really, is for you to see PPM's work. But it's still a four-day trip to Jamaica with me as your travel buddy! There's a small cost (really small), but 100% of that gets credited to a future yet-to-be-decided-on trip you might take with PPM. (btw: we're watching ye ol' Covid sitch closely; and if we have to pivot and go somewhere else, we will.) (oh, also noteworthy: Jim Noreen, PPM's CEO, and a darn nice fella, is coming with us.)

2. A youth trip to Alaska in July. Yup -- bring your group. I'll be your evening speaker, and i'll be there to encourage you (and hang with your students). Sure, there's adventure in this destination. But the ministry will be freaking awesome. AND, Alaska has insanely low Covid numbers.

3. A youth trip to Memphis in July. Same dealio: I'll speak to your students in the eve, we'll hang, your group will do meaningful work. And have you had those dry-rub ribs they have in Memphis?

Click here for deets.

Let's do this. I would love to have you join me. Feel free to contact me with any general questions; but if you want further details about these three trips, or any of the hundreds of options PPM has all over the US and the world, do contact them. And tell 'em Marko sent ya.