Summer 2025 Youth Mission Trips
Why Mission Trips?
Easter Youth mission trips unite God, youth, and the congregation in our mission to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ. By crossing borders of race, culture, economics, and geography on mission trips, students get outside their comfort zones and away from the distractions of everyday life so God gets their attention. Youth meet and care for children and the elderly, repair homes, work with local service ministries, and develop relationships with churches across the country. The highlight of mission trips is the work God does in the hearts of youth before, during, and after the trip.
If you are interested in participating in a youth mission trip as a student missionary or an adult leader, please contact Hans Vigesaa at 651-452-3680 or hans@easter.org. Students can register NOW for Summer 2025 Mission Trips on Church Center!
Youth Investment
Student missionaries and their families invest in the mission experience with their finances and their time. Youth spend significant time before the trip in preparation for the impact God will have on their lives as a result of their mission, and they dedicate time after to share their experiences of faith with their families, friends, and the Easter community.
Families of student missionaries can reduce the cost of a trip with the student’s participation in the sponsorship program. During the season of Lent, mission trippers serve as ushers and greeters for Wednesday, Sunday, and Holy Week worship services. The money collected during the sponsorship season from our faithful congregation is equally divided amongst the students who serve, using this metric:
Serving at 3 worship services earns a full share.
Serving at 2 worship services earns a half share.
Serving at 1 worship service (or none) earns NO share of sponsorship dollars.
The Easter Foundation offers limited mission trip scholarships for students who demonstrate need and complete an application by the deadline. This application opens at the same time as the post-secondary Easter Foundation scholarships in mid-April. Students who apply must participate in the sponsorship program to be considered and must pay the trip deposit. Contact Darci Dawson with any questions ddawson@easter.org.
Congregational Investment
Easter members support our youth by sponsoring student missionaries through faithful prayer and generous giving. Not only will the congregation as a whole lift up and hold mission trippers and adult leaders in prayer, we also ask and invite individual Easter members to specifically pray for one missionary before, during, and after their trip. In addition to steadfast prayer, financial support through gifts of any amount is accepted and appreciated by the students participating in the sponsorship program. Fill out a sponsorship brochure to commit your support.
This summer, Easter Youth will be traveling to:
Middle School, current grades 6-9 | Duluth, MN | June 22-27 | Cost $663
In Duluth, we will work alongside partner organizations and serve the community primarily through relational ministry. Spend time with children at the Boys & Girls Club and the elderly at local senior care centers. Serve alongside a local church or assist in a food pantry. In the evenings, visit local attractions like Canal Park and Park Point Beach. Host a community cookout and enjoy time with community members. YouthWorks has partnered with this community since 1998.
High School, current grades 8-12 | Bayou La Batre, AL | July 11-20 | Cost $945
In the Bayou, we will encounter the resilient spirit of Bayou La Batre as we serve through home improvement projects, elder care and children’s ministries. In the evenings, we’ll experience Dauphin Island, a worship service, and a tour of Bayou La Batre. We will also encounter many community friends who have shared their community with YouthWorks staff, students, and adult leaders for years. YouthWorks has partnered with this community since 1998.
High School, current grades 8-12 | Wallace, ID | July 25-August 3 | Cost $995
For this adventure, we partner with Idaho Servant Adventures at Shoshone Mountain Retreat. They have formed partnerships with non-profits, agencies, and Christian organizations in the Silver Valley of north Idaho, serving youth, adults, families, and communities in one of the most underserved counties in the nation. Youth and adult participants are divided into small teams that either stay on-site or travel to one of several small north Idaho communities. Teams may do painting and renovation projects, facilitate a Day Camp program, help build a house, stack firewood, or partner with other organizations working to meet community needs.
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To reserve a place on one of these trips:
* Complete this registration
* Pay the $200 deposit (non-refundable, non-transferable)
Registration is first-come, first-serve. Friends of Easter Youth are always welcome.
Questions? Contact Hans, Easter Youth Minister
If you are or will be 18+ while on the trip, please add $9 to your deposit to cover a background check required by YouthWorks.
YOWIES (YOUTH ON WEDNESDAYS)
HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesdays September to April,
7 p.m., Easter by the Lake
YOWIE is games, worship, hanging out with friends and God Talk. It is a great way to connect with old and new friends and talk about your faith. We meet nearly every Wednesday night throughout the school year. And 9th graders this is a great opportunity for you to get to know your high school classmates. For more information, contact Hans at hans@easter.org
JOIN THE TIM TEAM
HIGH SCHOOL
If you’re a high school youth in grades 10-12 and interested in leadership, mentoring, and shaping the youth program, contact Hans at hans@easter.org. Learn how you can make an impact this fall by joining the Teens In Ministry (TIM) Team.
BEMIDJI MISSION TRIP
March 6-8, 2025 | Open to all 9-12 graders | Cost is $125
Join Easter Youth on our spring service adventure in Bemidji, MN! We will serve at Village of Hope (a homeless shelter & food shelf) and also help in a kindergarten class. This is a great weekend of service in a fantastic Northern Minnesota community. We will leave after school on the 6th and return Saturday night.
Questions? Contact Easter Youth Minister Hans Vigesaa.
QUESTIONS ABOUT EASTER YOUTH PROGRAMMING?
Contact Hans Vigesaa at hans@easter.org