Mission trips

Mission Trips

At East Church, we believe in empowering youth through authentic ministry experiences. We find that when youth are given tools, training, and opportunities to share Jesus, their faith grows and deepens like never before. A mission trip provides a unique opportunity for students to bond and rediscover each other. They get a chance to travel together, live together, ride together, dine together, minister together. The list is endless, but the keyword is together.

Our mission trips are designed to allow youth to experience God at work in their lives as they are challenged and grow into young Christian leaders who love to share Jesus. Youth volunteers grow in confidence as they help lead children who might not attend traditional church to hear the message of Jesus. When they go, participants learn from and work alongside established missionaries to support the local church and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the community. It also gives our students the opportunity to help these communities grow by assisting in building projects and activities.

Annual Mission Trips are planned for our youth groups and their adult chaperones. Recent trips:

2016 National Youth Event (NYE) – Youth from the United Church of Christ gathered in Florida for a week centered on four pillars: faith, leadership, service, and social justice.
2017 & 2018 Re-Member – East Church youth and chaperones volunteered at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to build relationships and take on projects to improve the lives of the Lakota people.

Primary Communities Served

Grand Rapids

East Grand Rapids

Ottawa Hills

East Town