We have heard some interesting excuses from students as to why they don't think they should go. There are many ideas out there that keep students from following through with this missions thing. One or more of these ideas may be the reason you are in danger of missing out on another summer that God wants to use you to make Him famous among the nations.

1. I do not have that kind of money. This reason has to be ranked #1 on the list. We hear it all the time and we completely understand. Mission trips can be quite expensive. However, you need to know that we have NEVER seen a student not be able to go b/c of money. Once you are accepted and placed on a team you will receive a preparation packet. A whole section in this packet is dedicated to showing you how to raise the funds necessary for you to go. We are convinced that fund raising is part of the missions experience. Students who step out on faith show up at Base Camp with their faith strengthened by the way they have seen God meet their financial needs. We believe this is what He is doing. He is calling out students and they are responding. At the same time, He is stirring the hearts of people you know to support you. God is all about spreading His fame across the planet and His plan is to use you. Surely He is big enough to help you come up with the money you need. In fact, we believe that He is big enough to honor your committment to go even if you have to forsake getting a summer job to do so.

2. The world seems too dangerous for travel. There is no hiding the fact that the world seems different since 9.11.01, and many people use that as an excuse not to travel overseas. International travel can be more intimidating in light of all the different warnings and alerts that have become a part of our lives. But let's face the facts. Things will never be like they were before. This is the new world and we can not sit around and wait for it to get completely safe again. God's plan is not on hold. If anything, there is more reason to go now than ever before. Don't misunderstand us. We value safety at iWitness and we do everything we can to provide a safe experience for our teams. We monitor situations in countries and we will pull teams out and re-assign them a new location if the situation warrants such a move. But even so, we can not guarantee your safety. We also can't guarantee your safety if you sit at home all summer playing video games. There are no guarantees of safety, and we believe you are a part of a generation ready to step out in boldness to complete the task, even if there is some level of risk involved. To read a great sermon on this very topic, check out John Piper's sermon by clicking RIGHT HERE. We also know that safety is a huge concern for your parents. We have created a whole page for parents with FAQ's, testimonies, etc. You can check out our parents' page by clicking RIGHT HERE.

3. My summers are just too busy. Yes, we know. Students today have so many options and so many activities competing for their time, even during "summer vacation." We would like to take this opportunitiy to remind you that missions doesn't promise to be convenient or sacrifice-free. In most cases the opposite is true. The idea of serving God overseas for a few weeks in the summer may sound incredibly exciting and adventurous (and it is), but ultimately you are going to have to consider making some sacrifices in order for it to happen. This may mean giving up a family vacation. It may even mean (dare we say it) giving up youth camp or another good activitiy. God honors sacrifice and we believe that God will bless you if you choose to sacrifice something this summer for His name and His fame. And it just could be that you will find that He teaches you even more than you ever thought, that He causes you to grow in some areas you most likely would not have in your normal summer schedule, and that He will help you to realize at the end of the summer that your decision really actually wasn't a sacrifice after all.

4. I'm not sure if I have been "called."   It seems that many students miss out on the adventure that overseas missions provides b/c they view missions as some special calling that they are not sure if they have received. Everything in the Bible speaks so clearly on this issue. We have all been called to missions, and we all need to get involved. It isn't a matter of having a special calling, it is just a matter of obedience. It is really hard to look at Scripture and find a reason why it would be a bad idea for you to join God on mission overseas this summer. Don't wait for Him to write it on the wall or speak to you with a vision. He already called us all to go. He is just waiting for some of you to sign up.

For an indepth look at the answer to reason #4, you should really consider taking the iGo Challenge. It is a 10-day bible study through the book of Acts that will help clarify the truth that God has already called us all to missions and help you see how you can get involved. The iGo Challenge is designed to last 10 days, so we want to encourage you not to wait till you are done to fill out your application. Begin today on both. You can find the iGo Challenge by clicking here.

Students, dont wait any longer. Don't miss out on the adventure that God is preparing for you this summer.

"Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous works to all the peoples!"
Psalm 96:3