Stacey and I recently returned from a mission trip to Mexico with about 50 others from our church. Over the course of the week, we built three homes, shared the gospel, and witnessed several people come to Christ. I even had the privilege of baptizing two group members in the ocean. As incredible as all that was, we came home feeling we had received far more than we gave. The joy of serving together—especially as couples—can’t be overstated. Others on the trip felt the same.
Nothing builds community and camaraderie like serving on mission together. A trip like this provides time with church members in a way that Sunday mornings simply don’t allow. There’s a shared focus—both on the physical work and the greater purpose behind it. Bonds form naturally through sweat, prayer, laughter, and conversation. The result is a deeper sense of unity and purpose.
But it’s not just about connecting with others. For Stacey and me, serving together always strengthens our own relationship. We come off the mission field spiritually refreshed—and closer as a couple. Stacey serves with grace and grit, and it’s a blessing to minister alongside her. As a pastor, one of my greatest joys is seeing other couples discover that same dynamic.
Will and Brooke
Take Will and Brooke Chase, for example. This was their first mission trip. In the past, their “time away” usually meant a beach vacation while grandparents watched the kids. But this time, they chose to go on mission together—and they’re already planning to return. Even though the trip was physically demanding, Brooke said they came home refreshed in mind and soul.
Will said, “Seeing how people live differently across the world was a real gut-check for me.” More than that, they connected with others on a spiritual level—a depth of relationship that’s hard to find in a quick “Good morning” at church. Brooke still gets emotional thinking about the trip. “Yes, it was hard work,” she said, “but I really missed it when we got home.”
Jason and Jackie
Jason and Jackie Bowen would agree. For them, the mission field in Mexico has become a family tradition. Their first trip was 13 years ago, and they haven’t missed a year since. “Our kids would much rather go on a mission trip than a family vacation,” Jackie shared.
Over the years, Jackie’s kids helped with house construction and children’s ministry. But what’s made the biggest impact is seeing how children in Mexico live. After that first trip, her kids didn’t ask for Christmas gifts. Instead, they raised money to help the children they’d met have more than one meal a day.
That impact has only grown. Now 19 and 21, her children shared the gospel with a mother during this year’s trip. Jackie got emotional as she described it. “Initially, you go expecting to bless others, but you end up being the one blessed. It’s very emotional because of how much it’s impacted our family.”
The trip has also strengthened their marriage. “It’s a really special bond we share on these trips,” Jackie said. “God has stretched us and pulled us out of our comfort zone. We’ve had to trust Him in new ways. Watching Jason lead and build has given me even greater respect for him.”
And these are just a few stories among the 50 people who went. Every person could share their own unique experience of how God used them to bless others—and how He worked in their own heart in the process. One thing was true for us all: we came home physically tired but spiritually renewed.
