Short-Term Missions
If you’re interested in going on a short-term mission with Big Valley Grace, check out this video to hear from some past missionaries on their trips.
UPCOMING TRIPS
KISUMU, KENYA
June 2-16, 2026
Who is eligible:
18 yrs and older.
Fundraising:
Our team will collaborate to garner awareness for our visit and plan small events to help with team fundraising efforts. Big Valley Grace may provide scholarships of equal amount to every team member.
Passports:
REQUIRED – If you do not have a current passport, you should apply immediately. Passports may take 8-10 weeks to process. Kenya requires each person entering the country to apply for a mandatory Visa.
Housing Reach Partner:
Agape Children
Physical Difficulty:
We will be traveling by plane for an extended length of time. While in country, we will travel by van. There will be extensive walking, bending, and light lifting. We will be eating local foods prepared safely for westerners and sleeping in hotel style conditions, some that you would deem less comfortable than you might be accustomed.
Trip Details and Locations:
What: We will be sending one team with two unique tracks or emphasis of ministry.
Track 1: We will work with the Agape Center staff (at three different locations) to offer training, encouragement, and mentoring.
Track 2: Our team will work at the Agape Center and facilitate a Bible school camp for the children currently enrolled in the rehabilitation program. We will also be involved with evangelistic opportunities on the streets of Kenya as we minister to homeless children and young adults.
How do I sign up?
We plan to host an informational meeting for anyone who is interested in learning more. Check back for details or email Katie Fuentes: [email protected]
Pretoria, South Africa
July 10-22, 2025 FULL
P.L.A.Y. Camp – South Africa
Cost: $2,800 per person
Registration Deadline: THIS TRIP IS FULL
About PLAY – Purpose Leadership Adventure for Youth
PLAY hosts 5 day Christian Adventure Leadership camps to empower the youth of South Africa. We partner with schools in disadvantaged areas to train their students to be Christ-centered, servant-hearted leaders. PLAY shines a light on issues such as racism and sexual abuse and instills courage to be leaders of integrity to speak up for what is right in their schools and communities. Generous donors contribute to the camp fees to allow the South African students to attend for free.
What will we be doing?
Your role is to serve as a team leader while at camp. You will be assigned to a group of 10-12 children (ages 11-13) and stay with them through the entire camp experience, helping to lead small group discussions and providing a model of good leadership. This is an adventure camp, also. So, you should be able to hike and keep up with junior high kids, but you don’t need to have experience in adventure activities. The camp will provide the certified personnel to run the technical activities.
Where do we stay?
During the 5 days of camp you will stay at Youth For Christ (YFC) Training Centre, a venue that has been hosting PLAY camps since 2014. You will be sharing rooms with other mission team members or PLAY staff, not with the campers. Before and after camp, you will stay in a lodge in a safe, rural setting that provides private rooms and an on-site restaurant.
Is it safe?
Yes. Safety is our #1 concern. We have experience hosting multigenerational mission teams for over 10 years. While PLAY does serve children who live in challenging communities, we bring them to camp, which is a safe environment. You will spend half a day in the township to see where our campers live and to experience African church. Our local hosts prepare and take wise precautions to minimize or eliminate risks.
Who Will We Be Working With?
The PLAY curriculum consists of daily Purpose sessions and Leadership and Adventure activities. The YFC staff will run the Leadership and Adventure Activities, and the PLAY staff will teach the Purpose sessions. Each mission team member will be partnered with an experienced PLAY staff member to lead a team. PLAY staff are South African young adults dedicated to the mission of PLAY.
Want more information about PLAY?
Click here to learn more about the why and how of what we do: PLAY – PLAY (playnonprofit.org)
How do I sign up?
Please email Katie Fuentes at [email protected] .
(This short term mission requires a valid and up-to-date passport.)
Past Trips
2024
- Santiago in the Dominican Republic - July 8-20, 2024
- Mexico - February 10-16, 2024
2023
- Kisumu, Kenya - October 21 - November 3, 2023
- Santiago in the Dominican Republic - June 19 - July 1, 2023
- India - March 18 - April 1, 2023
- Mexico - February 11-17, 2023
2022
- Southeast Asia - December 27, 2022 - January 6, 2023
- Santiago in the Dominican Republic - June 25 - July 2, 2022
- Kenya - June 5-19, 2022
- Mexico - June 4-10, 2022
- Jarabacoa - June 12-26, 2022
- Mexico - April 18-23, 2022
- Greece - April 3-9, 2022
Past Trips
2025
- Mexico - April 21-26, 2025
2024
- Santiago in the Dominican Republic - July 8-20, 2024
- Mexico - February 10-16, 2024
2023
- Kisumu, Kenya - October 21 - November 3, 2023
- Santiago in the Dominican Republic - June 19 - July 1, 2023
- India - March 18 - April 1, 2023
- Mexico - February 11-17, 2023
2022
- Southeast Asia - December 27, 2022 - January 6, 2023
- Santiago in the Dominican Republic - June 25 - July 2, 2022
- Kenya - June 5-19, 2022
- Mexico - June 4-10, 2022
- Jarabacoa - June 12-26, 2022
- Mexico - April 18-23, 2022
- Greece - April 3-9, 2022
PAST TRIPS
2024
SANTIAGO IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
July 8-20, 2024
Cost: $2,500
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2024
You’ll be serving alongside full-time missionaries at occupational ministry sites to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the local community. Site leaders are experts in their field, and they also have a heart for sharing their passion with YOU. You’ll join 2-4 other people at the ministry site that is the best fit for you. We can’t always give you your first choice, but we do promise to make sure we find a great fit for everyone.
MEXICO
February 10-16, 2024
2023
KISUMU, KENYA
October 21 - November 3, 2023
Who is eligible:
18 yrs and older.
Fundraising:
Our team will collaborate to garner awareness for our visit and plan small events to help with team fundraising efforts. Big Valley Grace may provide scholarships of equal amount to every team member.
Passports:
REQUIRED – If you do not have a current passport, you should apply immediately. Passports may take 8-10 weeks to process. Kenya requires each person entering the country to apply for a mandatory Visa.
Housing Reach Partner:
Agape Children
Physical Difficulty:
We will be traveling by plane for an extended length of time. While in country, we will travel by van. There will be extensive walking, bending, and light lifting. We will be eating local foods prepared safely for westerners and sleeping in hotel style conditions, some that you would deem less comfortable than you might be accustomed.
Trip Details and Locations:
What: We will be sending one team with two unique tracks or emphasis of ministry.
Track 1: We will work with the Agape Center staff (at three different locations) to offer training, encouragement, and mentoring.
Track 2: Our team will work at the Agape Center and facilitate a Bible school camp for the children currently enrolled in the rehabilitation program. We will also be involved with evangelistic opportunities on the streets of Kenya as we minister to homeless children and young adults.
How do I sign up?
We plan to host an informational meeting for anyone who is interested in learning more. Check back for details or email Katie Fuentes: [email protected]
SANTIAGO IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
June 19 - July 1, 2023
You’ll be serving alongside full-time missionaries at occupational ministry sites to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the local community. Site leaders are experts in their field, and they also have a heart for sharing their passion with YOU. You’ll join 2-4 other people at the ministry site that is the best fit for you. We can’t always give you your first choice, but we do promise to make sure we find a great fit for everyone.
INDIA
March 18 - April 1, 2023
Locations: Siliguri, Hyderabad, and Goa
The short-term mission team to India just returned after a very full two weeks of traveling, teaching, evangelizing and ministering in 3 cities throughout India. This team went with the specific focus of sharing the healing ministry of Celebrate Recovery with the people of India while also training Indian pastors on how to run Celebrate Recovery.
The 7-person team began their journey in Chiralla in Southern India, where they went out amongst the masses praying for people and sharing the gospel. Throughout the trip, the team prayed for over 500 people.
Next, the team spent 3 days in Hyderabad helping launch Celebrate Recovery at one of the larger English-speaking churches in town. This included a full day of training and testimonies from the BVG team, a panel for young adults on addictions, and ministering in the churches on Sunday. Nearly 250-300 people came to the CR launch.
Scott Stubbert reflected, “After our first night in Hyderabad at Hope UC there was an overwhelming amount of people that shared that they have been waiting for a safe place to get real about the stuff in their life. They were in tears that CR is a place where they can do that. They are excited to see how this will change their life and help them become more like Jesus.” During the Open Share time, many found a safe place where they were able to confess addictions, hang-ups and hurts they struggle with.
The final days of the trip were spent at Siliguri up in the Himalayan Mountains near the border of Nepal, sharing about Celebrate Recovery with dozens of pastors and churches who came together to learn and be encouraged. On the last day, the team went to a K-12 school with over 300 students where they shared Christ, washed the feet of 100 students, and introduced them to recovery principles and disciple-making.
Throughout the trip, it was evident not only through the expressed desire by Indian churches for active CR ministries, but also clearly through the felt need by the people for Christ’s healing and redemption from hurts, hang-ups and habits. Stubbert remarked, “It was encouraging to see our missionary, Pasang, and the great job he is doing. He understands Celebrate Recovery and how it works, and has communicated that well to his fellow pastors while planting the roots for CR in India.”
MEXICO
February 11-17, 2023
Location: Rancho Santa Marta Orphanage and School, San Vicente, Baja, Mexico
2022
SOUTHEAST ASIA
December 27, 2022 - January 6, 2023
Santiago in the Dominican Republic
June 25-July 2, 2022
Kenya
June 5-19, 2022
A team of women from our church went to Kenya to provide prayer and discipleship training for leaders working in Agape Children’s Ministry. The team had some specific times of intercessory prayer on streets for orphan children who are in dire circumstances. The team also be prayed over the leaders and different campuses where Agape works.
Mexico
June 4-10, 2022
Location: Rancho Santa Marta Orphanage and School, San Vicente, Baja, Mexico
Jarabacoa
June 12-26, 2022
Each year, our church commissions a time of students from BVCS to go to the Dominican Republic in Jarabacoa. You can find out how to pray and follow live updates from their trip by visiting the link below!
Mexico
April 18-23, 2022
Location: Rancho Santa Marta Orphanage and School, San Vicente, Baja, Mexico
“The missions trip to Mexico was a new experience and great example of God’s love. When we took a tour of the orphanage/campus and met the houseparent and kids, I broke down and wept. I weep because of God’s amazing love and power.
‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?’ – Matthew 6:25-34
I was in awe because I was reminded of God’s amazing love. How deeply he cares for each and everyone of us. He wants what’s good and righteous and if we follow him, he will guide us and provide for us, but we have to do our part. I am grateful for the people who run the orphanage/school and for all the people who have not met any of the children and staff, but support this ministry because of their faith in doing God’s works.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to see God’s work in action, and for the privilege to love on those kids who were abandoned for no fault of their own. My heart melts for these kids.
Thank you, Lord, for being such a kind and loving God.
– Gorete Hahn
Greece
April 3-9, 2022
A team headed out to Greece to put on a VBS for kids of missionaries! Many of these children have been on the field for years and don't stay in one place for long. During the week of March 30 to April 9, all the kids had the opportunity to meet up again and spend time together.
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