YMJen
Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry
  • Home
  • Books
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Articles
Jen Bradbury
Jun 18 · 5 min read

Is this the end of short-term missions?

Filed in Missions

I was supposed to be on a mission trip last week.

With the exception of the two summers I was on maternity leave, this is the first time since 2003 that I haven’t spent my summers leading mission trips.

Mission trips are – for so many junior...

Read more

#grace #hope #justice #A Mission That Matters #pregnancy #Pandemic #Missions

Jen Bradbury
Aug 06 · 5 min read

When Should You Take an International Mission Trip?

A pastor friend who read my book, A Mission That Matters, recently wondered, “When is the right time for me to go to ‘the ends of the earth’ and lead an international trip for my congregation?”

It’s a good question and one that’s not easy to...

Read more

#Leaders #church #A Mission That Matters #Jesus #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Aug 05 · 5 min read

Picture Rules for Mission Trips

Filed in Missions

My four-year-old daughter, Hope, LOVES taking pictures. I mean LOVES it. Spend a moment scrolling through our phones and you’ll typically see three types of photos:

1. Those obviously taken by my husband and I, typically featuring our family or...

Read more

#A Mission That Matters #parenting #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
May 15 · 5 min read

6 ways to make a service-oriented mission trip more justice focused

I blogged recently about 5 marks of a justice-focused trip and was immediately bombarded by questions about where you find such a trip. Youth workers immediately jump to this question: "Which mission trip organizations are focused on justice ...

Read more

#justice #Leaders #A Mission That Matters #Missions

Jen Bradbury
Apr 22 · 5 min read

5 marks of a justice-focused mission trip

At a recent mission trip meeting, my teens wrestled with whether or not our summer mission trip currently focuses on serving others (meeting needs) or on enacting justice (recognizing, understanding, and addressing systemic brokenness).

By...

Read more

#vocation #justice #A Mission That Matters #Jesus #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 09 · 5 min read

4 reasons why rules are important

A student recently told me, “We used to like going on the mission trip because it was relaxed. There were no rules.”

She was referring to a mission trip I inherited.

Truth be told, I’d suspected this was the case for a while but never had someone...

Read more

#grace #Rwanda #A Mission That Matters #Missions #culture of welcome #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 17 · 5 min read

Why you shouldn’t prep for mission trips during your regular gatherings

Filed in Missions

Effective mission trips require preparation. Preparation is needed to prepare your team for all that awaits it and to enable it to behave effectively as a team.

Given this, when is the best time to hold your mission trip meetings?

If you’re in a...

Read more

#A Mission That Matters #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 09 · 5 min read

4 reasons why bigger isn't always better

Filed in Missions

A mission trip adult leader recently mentioned that my predecessor believed that every student (and their friends) should participate in a mission trip. As a result, for years, my church has filled a coach bus with 40-50 students and headed out...

Read more

#Rwanda #cross-cultural #Leaders #A Mission That Matters #Missions #discipleship

Jen Bradbury
Oct 19 · 5 min read

Why you can't sell hope

The man from Food for the Hungry walked onto the stage.

“Do you believe in hope?” he yelled.

The crowd of Christian concert goers replied with raucous cheers.

That’s when he said it - The line that made me sink down in my seat and cringe.

“...

Read more

#refugee #hope #Rwanda #A Mission That Matters #Jesus #Missions

Jen Bradbury
Sep 18 · 5 min read

Guest Post: Four ways to cultivate partnerships with those you seek to serve by Emily Gorz

My new book, A Mission That Matters: How To Do Short-Term Missions Without Long-Term Harm, is out! As a youth worker, I wholeheartedly believe that mission trips have the ability to impact teens in an incredibly transformative way. However,...

Read more

#church #A Mission That Matters #Missions

« 1 2 »

Tags

youth ministry books church Jesus parenting Missions scripture student leadership Leaders youth pastor babies Pandemic worship Prayer toddlers

Latest Posts

  • Is this the end of short-term missions?
  • When Should You Take an International Mission Trip?
  • Picture Rules for Mission Trips
  • 6 ways to make a service-oriented mission trip more justice focused
  • 5 marks of a justice-focused mission trip
  • 4 reasons why rules are important
  • Why you shouldn’t prep for mission trips during your regular gatherings
  • 4 reasons why bigger isn't always better
  • Why you can't sell hope
  • Guest Post: Four ways to cultivate partnerships with those you seek to serve by Emily Gorz

Copyright © 2025 YMJen