Episode 38 - Mission Trip Leaders’ Playbook - Behind the scenes of short-term mission trip organization. From pre-trip planning, to the daily schedule, to the unseen challenges of a leader, this conversation reveals how mission trip coordinators do their

Volunteer leader Jennifer Trujillo joins the crew to share her experience leading short-term mission trips with Maranatha, fresh off a project in India. They talk about what drives their motivation to lead this time-consuming and challenging endeavor, the transformation they see in volunteers, and the positive impact on home churches that send volunteers. The group analyzes how mission trip leaders prepare their volunteers for the project, how crucial the first few hours after arrival are in setting the tone for the trip, and how volunteers can be culturally sensitive to the place they’re visiting. The panel reflects on the differences in planning a mission trip for teens or children versus for adults, how they prepare spiritually for leading a project, and what they’re doing behind the scenes each day on a mission trip to make sure it’s successful. The ladies touch on how important it is to rely on God’s leading, as our best-laid plans are often disrupted. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe, leave a review, and share the show.Visit maranatha.org for more info on the work of Maranatha Volunteers International.Text us! Let us know what you thought of this episode and the show in general!On September 19, 2026, join us in Sacramento, California, for our annual convention, Mission: Maranatha. You’ll be inspired by volunteer testimonies, stories from the mission field, and updates from Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders around the globe. Plus, be blessed by Oakwood University's award-winning choir, The Aeolians.Learn more at https://maranatha.org/media-events/maranatha-convention/