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“Are short-term student mission trips worth the cost and the planning fatigue…What possible long-term impact can your students truly have on another community in just 5 days’ time?” As a youth leader, ever wondered…

We talk a lot both before our trips and during our trips about developing a mission mindset. We share qualities that we feel will be effective in helping you enter a community responsibly. As…

Applications are open for our summer 2022 internships and we have 10 reasons you should serve with us! We could come up with 100 reasons but we were told we had to stick to…

Support raising for a summer interning with Next Step, or even for a week-long mission trip, can be intimidating if you’re not sure how to go about it. Let’s face it; asking for money…

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through…

“And he said to them, “Go unto all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” – Mark 16:15 A common phrase people have often said to me before leaving for the…

Are you feeling alone? Spent? Used up? Dry? Weary? Completely and utterly exhausted? Over it?  Life is tough right now; there’s no mistaking that. But there is hope in the affliction because you aren’t…

You will get tired.  This may seem like an off putting first tip for future summer staff, but it’s incredibly useful to know and accept this as you begin a summer with Next Step.…

The heat is immense. The couple of overworked air conditioners in our church in the Bahamas are spitting out a warm breeze and we’re all still sweating from the day’s hard work. I’m smelly,…

We don’t have the perfect words to say. As our nation continues to hurt, as more people are talking about racial injustices, we believe that we are called to listen, learn, reflect, and bring…

Last May, Devin and I had the awesome opportunity to sit down with each of our community partners in one room. The time we were able to spend with these directors was incredible. We…

Liz, I’m sharing this with anyone that will listen. After those Next Step teams prayed for me, the doctors continued to become more and more surprised. At the beginning of this summer, I was inches away from having a heart attack.

When thinking about reconciliation, I’m reminded of the story in the Bible where Jesus calms the storm. His disciples are in full-on panic mode, the waves are rising, the wind is beating heavily against the boat, and there Jesus is, asleep.

As we begin to prepare for summer 2020 over here at Next Step, we wanted to take a minute to share that we will not be serving with our friends in the greater Houston…

As we begin planning for next summer, we want to inform you that 2019 will serve as our final summer in New York. We are so thankful for the countless homeowners, community members, and…

“…and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 ESV If you were to take a drive down…

During the summer we had an opportunity to work with a transitional housing organization called Ithaka Land Trust.

We started the night with everyone gathering together and reminding everyone the reason we were celebrating Family Life Services and their impact on the community. The meal was prayed for and the fun began! It was truly an amazing time to come together and celebrate the joy of this organization.

‘I think God put Next Step in my life for exactly this time,’ she said, ‘He knew that it would have been nearly impossible to deal with my cancelled surgery alone. The groups have been able to encourage and pray with me, which has been the only thing that has kept my spirits up the past few weeks.’

There is a special feeling when you see a community serving together, sharing a meal together, and worshipping together.

The priority is the thoughts and dreams of the community itself.

In the weeks leading up to the summer officially kicking off in OKC, we had the unique opportunity for all of our community partnerships to gather together. As we prepare for projects, it is…

Next Step Ministries is coming up on our third summer in Colorado Springs.

ommit to being a learner of this community, seeking to understand rather than assume. Choose to see people through the lens of Christ, rather than the lens of humans. If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that we are all broken people, in desperate need of a Savior.

Next Step summer mission trips are just a few weeks away! This means we are in the calm before things get crazy in the best way possible. In about a week our Summer Staff…

The older I get, the more aware I become that I’m a worrier. The last few days in Oklahoma City it has rained. By rained, I mean it has poured cats and dogs. As…

We are all guilty – at one time or another – of the label, “#instagrammingyourmissiontrip”…carefully planning out a “self-directed Samaritan” photo that perfectly and beautifully captures our own sense of incredible sacrifice and profound…

When leading a mission trip, I love finding out who is on their very first mission trip? And more often than not I discover there are as many first time adults as there are…

South Carolina in the summer is a place with many perks. Here you get to take in the beauty of  bright colors on trees and flower bushes that have come to full bloom. Dance…

It is crazy to think that this summer Next Step will have been in Oklahoma for SIX years. So much has taken place in this community in each of those years! Relationships have been…

Missions is everywhere. Jesus made that clear by His final words on earth to His disciples, “…be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The call…

Support raising is one of the most intimidating things you will ever do! Asking others for money to help fund your trip is humbling, difficult – yet at the same time rewarding – experiencing…

Over the past 10 years, Next Step has partnered with over 20 communities and has served with over 500 families and organizations through construction projects and service work. It has been thrilling to see…

What’s been happening at the Scooter Scott Program? The Scooter Scott Program is an amazing ministry doing so much in our community for years now! Next Step has personally partnered with them for almost…

Mission trips are exciting, yet we know that same excitement so quickly can fade away when confronted by fundraising efforts. Fundraising, for many, can be uncomfortable, placing you far out of your comfort zone.…

Does the thought of a long 8 hour road trip already make your head spin and leave you feeling exhausted? Maybe thinking about transportation for a mission trip puts you in a panic before…

We will get to experience what they are actively doing within the community and how they are serving their students.

As I was writing this list, I thought this could be a great exercise to see how the Skid Row community has succeeded. So often, I only think about how this community needs to change, that I forget about how many incredible strengths they have. So, below are three examples form a long list I wrote on how I want Skid Row to stay the same.

After swapping missions, it was a no – brainer. Whatever Neighborhood Alliance was leading, we wanted to be a part of it. Neighborhood Alliance saw a clear fit for us in working with their Senior Meal Delivery Program.

WHY Why are we passionate about creating a vocational training center in the middle of the small town of Sumpango, Guatemala? Because we recognize that the youth of today are the future. That the…

This past summer a few of our groups volunteered their time and energy to an outstanding program in our Happy Town community for two consecutive weeks. These two weeks were a trial run to…

Times like this, when a hurricane has destroyed all that they had inherited and scams from contractors occur often, are were we get to step in share the love that they thought they had lost.

Next Ministries in Colorado Springs has been involved with something called Brothers Redevelopment. Brothers Redevelopment is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides housing and a variety of housing-related services for the region’s low-income, elderly…

All too often we confuse our intentions to serve with the intention to save. This may very well be the core of where many short-term missions efforts all-too-often become harmful.

This town has existed long before Next Step arrived, and will exist long after we leave. So how can we be part of the process? By using our platform be advance unity in Clendenin.

The hope is that these weekly events can be a first step in getting families and individuals connected with their community- illustrating that we all exist within something bigger than ourselves, and that we each have a part to play. There is power in community, in knowing your neighbors, and in viewing your common space with ownership. We hope this block party can be a starting point in bringing a little bit of heaven down to earth.

An additional component is that this event will create community awareness and involvement.

WHY: This passion project was envisioned because of it’s value to our homeowners and community partners. In South Carolina we often run into situations while working alongside homeowners where we need additional support during…

‘How do you find projects?  How do you choose which projects Next Step volunteers will work on during their mission trip?’   These are questions that I am often asked in preparing volunteers to…

Because the volunteers took time out of their schedule to be in community with a part of their community that is normally ignored, I and the rest of those at the event were able to witness just a small portion of God’s perfect plan

You’ve heard it before. Whether it be in a Next Step video series, through our website, or even in a casual conversation with one of our staff. Next Step is a place where short…

It’s finally starting to look and FEEL like fall here in the south! The weather has been an on and off mixture of 65 degree days and then some 40 degree days. The trees…

It’s easy to get caught up in the logistics of it all. Sometimes I could define working for a ministry as being a logistics master. I don’t know about you but that sounds gross.…

In God’s journey, things like famines and thirsting, always have a way of bringing us closer to Him.

I should take great pride in the fact the building I work in is worn out. This means that the community living and working behind its doors are using the building to its fullest potential.

I so wish I could share every reflection from homeowners and community partners with each of you who gave their time to serve this summer. Your investment means more than you may ever know. But to give you a snapshot- I’ll share some celebrations around a couple of key statistics:

The great news is that there are opportunities all around you, right at home, to live out our call to serve our neighbors on a DAILY basis. Sound like something your group is up to? Check out these tips for engaging in meaningful service projects back home.

You may have come on your mission trip knowing that you weren’t the only group on a trip to South Carolina. Perhaps you were here with multiple groups, serving in different communities the week…

Pregnancy has been such a ride these last several months. As my husband and I are now entering our last trimester, there has been a lot of last minute preparations and reflecting that has…

Fall in West Virginia is here, and we are excited for the changing leaves, cooler weather, and lots of wonderful hiking. If you’ve never experienced fall in WV, come see us soon!

As Next Step sinks deeper into the Colorado Springs community, I’m seeing trust being built among relationships. Homeowners, organizations and their volunteers, and even the random other ministries I meet with or sit down…

Choosing a location for your summer mission trip can be a challenging task. If you and your group are still deciding on where to serve with us this summer, San Augustine might just be…

During the summer, I often visit worksites on Thursday to check in and see how students, staff, partnerships, and projects are doing. On one of my check-ins to Mission Medical Center (they provide healthcare…

While starting on the community partnership and homeowner follow-ups from this summer, I was really excited to hear from the individuals our groups had served closely with. I was overjoyed by the feedback I…

Every year we see it. Students go on a life-changing mission trip and come back home excited and ready to live out their faith. However, upon arriving home MTE quickly sets in. MTE, also…

Mrs. Ward added, ‘The most memorable part of this experience was the hugs, dancing around my dining room with the kids, laughing, crying, and just the feeling of love like I’ve never felt it before, without any judgement.’

As a Partnership Coordinator, it is one thing for me to tell youth groups or even members of the community why I love working with our partner organizations in Oklahoma City, but it is…

Another summer has passed, and students are heading back-to-school. This time of year, brings great anticipations and dreams for what a new school year will bring, but it is also that time of year…

Have you ever wondered if the work you did on your week-long mission trip made an impact? If the community was actually helped or if harm was done? At Next Step, we are committed…

A sweet lady living Lexington, SC has experienced and felt the love of Christ this summer through our volunteers. Through coming to meet the physical needs on her home, so much more was accomplished. 

The second summer in Colorado Springs has just wrapped up. I remember not even 3 months ago heading to Wisconsin to meet the team of Next Step staff that were committing to serving the Colorado Springs community.

Over the last five summers in Oklahoma, each group of interns has been blessed to encounter several members of the community that have taken it upon themselves to encourage and support the staff to…

God has faithfully provided comfort, friends, family, and help when it was needed.

Mission Trips are often the entry point for students and for youth leaders to critically examine and ask the question, “how can I serve like this in my own community”. And if you are…

First United Methodist Church is buzzing with Next Step staff, students and leaders.

As Mr. Bill witnessed over 70 people fill the outdoor lawn space at the Mexican Mutual Club, pride radiated from his face. Not only was Next Step able to bless Mr. Bill with their physical labor on the worksite, but he was able to bless them with an experience they would not forget.

You are ready to start planning for a summer mission trip, but how in the world do you decide where to go? There are so many factors that will influence your mission trip selection,…

This summer Oklahoma has the incredible opportunity to kick of a brand new partnership in the NE OKC area. This past spring we were able to connect with a couple who has put together…

This summer will be Next Step’s final season serving with our friends in Joplin, Missouri. We have been so blessed by our time serving together with Journey Church, God’s Resort, Life House, and Watered Gardens.

“When it comes to ministry, age is just a number. We have to be willing and able to let Christ work through us. Sometimes this can uncomfortable or even scary.”

It’s a beautiful thing. To watch the process of this community working WITH groups, rather than groups working FOR this community. The idea sounds great, the heart behind it is so rich, but how…

My move has given me the space to reflect on what I have learned from living at a shelter for those experiencing homelessness for the past six months. Through this post, I would like to share what the beautiful community of Skid Row has taught me.

Summer is just a few short days away which means our summer staff is gearing up for Training Week, and will be heading out to several of our communities!

There are days soon when we will meet people that we will never forget.

The Scooter Scott Program is a local program in Lexington County and was the first partnership formed with Next Step when we entered Lexington County. This program strives to create a loving, Christ centered…

Mission trips offers youth leaders one of the greatest discipleship training windows in their youth calendars, giving over 150 hours to invest into the lives of every student who comes on the trip –…

Since starting work in Colorado Springs we have partnered with our host church, First United Methodist Church. FUMC has welcomed us into their community in a huge way that many may even take for…

Life after a mission trip is often difficult for students. After spending over 150 hours in an intensely-packed, life-changing experience with their peers, students return home to a family – to parents – who…

We are all guilty – at one time or another – of the label, “#instagrammingyourmissiontrip”…carefully planning out a “self-directed Samaritan” photo that perfectly and beautifully captures our own sense of incredible sacrifice and profound…

I’m excited that the Little Hearts kids will be involved in the whole process. For them, they will get to witness what it looks like to build something from the ground up. I especially am looking forward to its completion when the kids are able to take ownership of the park as their own.

The internet is littered with mission trip planning guides, but that one item buried at the bottom or routinely left out entirely is PRAYER! Mission trips will be one of the greatest game-changers for…

What if I told you that bench had a story? A story that was simple, but rich in history to this church and the community it belonged to.

Here is a brief update of what happened throughout the week:

When leading a mission trip, I love finding out who is on their very first mission trip? And more often than not I discover there are as many first time adults as there are…

This is not in the plans…this is not in the plans…this is not in the plans! This is what was running through my head as I was explaining to the leaders and students what we were about to do.

“This is the first time in 5 years that I have had a community member approach me and say: “I want Next Step Ministries to stay at my home church”.

Have you ever met someone who you knew had a million things on their plate but would still take the time out of their day to have a conversation with anyone who walked into…

In 2014, Next Step first set foot in Moore, Oklahoma. It had been one year after the tornado and our summer staff had hit the ground running meeting the community, learning about our partnerships,…

Since moving out to L.A. I have been fighting this I mentality. I am moving to L.A. to serve Skid Row. I am working for both Next step and Union Rescue Mission. It is up to me to make sure that the off season trip goes smoothly. As soon as the Next Step interns landed in L.A. this mentality was tested.

It may still be freezing temperatures here in Wisconsin, but inside the Next Step office it is certainly starting to feel like spring. We are in full preparation mode for summer 2018, and could not be…

I recently googled the question, “What does it mean to be Christlike?”, curious to see what good ole Google had to say on the subject. I came across a link that defined Christlikeness in…

Perseverance. When I think of this word it makes me think of steadfastness in difficult times. That’s simply what this word means, to do something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. We live…

I want to challenge you to pray for hunger. Perhaps you’re hungry for God already and that’s not a problem, great.

I think I was in the 5th or 6th grade when my dad was my basketball coach through our church’s league. Anyone familiar with Upward Basketball? Two words…good times. Part of the Upward Basketball…

We are all guests in this world…created to bring glory to the ultimate host.

It may not have been the first summer we saw the answer, but even now we’re seeing partnerships form that are impactful in a way that is overflowing to everyone involved.

I’m going to stop putting things off, starting tomorrow! – Sam Levenson How often have you found yourself saying, “I’ll get to that tomorrow” or “Tomorrow, it will be different”? Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow has…

When we believe that God opens and closes doors for a reason, we can see obstacles as opportunities.

Transition is a beautiful thing. Now, if you would have asked me a few weeks ago how I liked my current state of changing from one season of life to a completely new one,…

“Awake my soul to sing with your breath in me I will worship And you taught my feet to dance upon disappointment And I, I will worship” –Heroes by Amanda Cook-

To Our Friends, On February 1st, Mel and I will be leaving our positions at Next Step and moving to Phoenix, Arizona to start a new adventure in our lives. After serving in full-time…

2018 is here. Woohoo!

One of the coolest privileges of living in a community is getting the opportunity to see the Lord work through different groups and individuals year round. During the summer months we are surely blessed…

Indispensable Love (1 Corinthians 13) Definition of Indispensable: absolutely necessary, essential, all-important, required, vital, must-have, KEY.   

Read more about what it looks like to relocate to a community here.

Because in that forgiveness, and in that freedom, we can “delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.”

It is hard to believe that it has already been 5 years since Hurricane Sandy hit the community of Long Island. This storm shook the area and everyone that lives in it. To this…

He told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you…

Going into this holiday season, my husband and I are experiencing a variety of firsts. This past week, we celebrated our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple. While many have unique holiday traditions,…

“I don’t believe God wants our church life to be centered on buildings and services. Instead, God wants our churches to be focused on active discipleship, mission, and the pursuit of unity.” -Francis Chan…

Every year we produce an original video series that plays during the evening worship on our summer mission trips. While every series is different, we always aim to share inspirational and challenging stories about…

A word from homeowner Gloria Loggins: Time doesn’t stand still, does it? How often do we hear these words? Where did the time go? Just a few months ago – in fact it was…

In this season when focused on our thankfulness let’s try our best to be thankful regardless of our current circumstances. Let’s rely on who God is- his amazing character- when we consider our thanks. 

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to…

‘Liz, this is Will. You put my mom’s ramp on the house this summer. I just wanted to let you know my mom passed away two days ago. I just wanted to tell you…

For most of my life, I’ve had the tendency to get sucked into the achievement culture that is so prevalent in today’s world; honestly, it’s hard not to do.

I recently attended a Wednesday Night youth gathering at FUMC and was pleasantly surprised.

“I do not mind working for the community, but I do not want to live amongst this community!”, this was my thought while sitting in my friend’s house in Phoenix, Arizona- having finished already…

Home. A four letter word that looks vastly different depending on who you ask. According to Pinterest, home is: where your heart is, where the wifi works, where your mom is, where the fridge…

Summing up just one summer with Next Step is hard. Summing up three summers is even harder. I try to think of where to begin and am reminded of a hundred different funny stories,…

This week I was reminded of the beauty and simplicity of simply saying yes to God. To obeying what He asks us to do. To taking a step in the direction where doors and…

But here’s the thing, dreaming is only the first step. It provides us an end goal, but also begs the question ‘So how do we get there?’ Here in Lorain we have been engaging in a series of community conversations around that very question.

I get to be in awe, because I can see The Creator in the created.

Community development sometimes feels like a big, vague idea. It’s something we really want to see happen here at Next Step but how do we tangibly do that? For the most part, it’s taking…

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  – Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV 

Quality of living hasn’t been like this for Patricia in years. Not everything is perfect, but everything is just right.

God did not just save us from something. He saved us for something. The good news of Jesus does not stop the moment we get saved. Our salvation is only the beginning of God’s…

Recently I had an encounter where a simple hello turned in to a multiple hour long conversation. The topic was on church youth attendance in the Long Island area specifically. From the other person’s perspective,…

Ultimately, we love others because Christ loved us.

Read more about long-term spiritual growth in the communities we serve alongside.

The 2in5 Initiative continues to pick up momentum here in Joplin! If you need a refresher on what the 2in5 Initiative is and the work being done here in Joplin, please click here.  We…

With anything new, there’s always big questions and a desire for direction.

Read more about bringing your mission trip home and serving alongside your own community.

Read more about what it looks like to partner with a community for the long term.

A story from Mission Medical: “Mission Medical Center does a very “soft” ask for a donation from our patients.  If they do not have the ability to give something, they will be seen by…

It’s hard to believe nine weeks have already come and gone. A lot has happened in nine weeks, including countless interactions with people from all walks of life.

During this time of celebrating an incredible summer of ministry, let us be aware to enter this next season with a new anticipation, realizing that maybe our mission experience does not have to end with the summer trips. Perhaps this is merely where it begins.

Instead of fighting short-term trips, what if we equip students with the information to have a more responsible mission trip that empowers the community they are serving in?

One of the more common questions we get at Next Step is, “When should I register for my summer mission trip?”  Well, the first answer of course, is whatever is best for you.  Next…

Isaiah 61: 1-3 NLT 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the…

We could celebrate Benaiah because he came out of the pit with the lion alive, and although that is amazing, it’s not the most incredible part of the story. It’s not coming out that was courageous, it was that he went in with the lion in the first place.

Be encouraged, friends, as we learn through construction that mess is a VITAL part of restoration. That without demolishing the old, the new cannot take shape. Without spending hours digging post holes in the mud, Ms. Dora would not have her new and beautiful wheelchair ramp.

A year ago Clendenin and I had a lot in common. Everything seemed like it was falling apart.

With a summer of trips in progress, it is easy to get caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle of worksites. The construction is going great and awesome progress is being made, but…

What is the gospel to you? Would you say you believe in it? Chances are pretty good that, if you’re reading this, you would say you do.

One of the best things about being a Partnership Coordinator, is having a group of other Partnership Coordinators who live in other communities to do life with, brainstorm ideas with, and study the Word…

The following week I poked in to see how the crews and projects were doing. The leaders and students placed at Gloria’s home were rock stars and were able to do more than we ever imagined.  To my astonishment, Gloria received new windows, a remodeled bathroom, and much much more than we initially discussed. Call me Thomas.

Hello Team and Supporters, All the planning and preparation for this summer is really paying off… I want to give a shout out to all the Next Step Staff who have done all the behind…

As a Christian I can’t believe in chance. To the world these things are coincidence and good luck. But to me these events are profoundly personal, planned and accomplished by a faithful God.

That’s the job of the church right? To come alongside and love on people, and here at Southpark that gets done everyday.

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in…

You see, the projects themselves are not where the true value lies, but rather in what is being built alongside of every roof, ramp, and porch – real and genuine relationships.

How often do we go through life and wonder, “who is this helping?” Or how is what we are doing impacting anyone?

My prayer for every student and leader coming on a trip this summer is that their first instinct would be to see gifts here in Joplin.

As Christ followers, we more than anyone, should learn how to rest. Because we can.

As of recent, the big news on the reservation is the fact that Whiteclay, NE has been shut down.

As we began a journey towards responsible missions, to be a place where short-term missions collides with long-term community development, we felt that the place to start was with ourselves. With our thoughts. With…

It’s unbelievable but, here we are, just a few days before Summer 2017 begins! The staff will soon be in Joplin, along with hundreds of students and leaders.

How have things been going in Colorado Springs? Well, busy.

For Next Step Staff, the month of May is usually filled with tons of summer planning and lots of excitement as we prepare to train and teach the Summer Staff about the communities they…

Taking a moment to consider the thousands of students and community members who will have the opportunity to take their next steps in faith this summer grounds me back to the heart beat of this mission- to encounter and embody Jesus Christ through service.

The people you meet in life is not accidental but intentional. In my case, my friendship with the Proto’s initially seemed to fall into the category of “work”, by creating a partnership and helping a family that might be in need in terms of physical home repair. God can use any simple interaction or reason in meeting someone, and go far beyond our minds and understanding.

It all goes back to loving your neighbor. This simple truth, when practiced, can help unite a city and restore what was lost.

“He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

“Help. Help. Help! Someone open the door!” I was trapped in my car, upside down. I am driving on my way to work. I am incredibly late. Honestly, I know it won’t be a…

Just let it happen. …and by that, I mean, let God. Let God move. Let God author. Let God provide. Let God choose the time. Let God take the lead. Let God change your…

Read about what’s been happening in Pine Ridge over the past month and how God is working to bring about transformation in this community!

Our community is compiled of amazing individuals with talents, gifts, and strengths. If we can collectively commit as individuals to applying these skills in an immediate time frame, I am convinced we will see movement here in Lorain.

You don’t have to move to a new location and work in full-time ministry to faithfully serve God. If He is calling you to do that, then, of course, you must follow that call. Do what He is calling you to do. Whether that is moving to a new place or volunteering at your local homeless shelter. Be sold out to whatever that thing is and do it with your whole heart. At the end of the day, that’s what’s radical. Recognizing you are redeemed by Jesus and because of that, you get to do amazing things.

Often times I pray and it feels like I’m throwing words into the air. You can’t even see it. How frustrating. Yet to a homeowner I recently met, that was far from the case.

Today was the most encouraging reminder to me that God’s plans are bigger than I can perceive. As I continue to work with partners on planning for projects this summer, I am pumped to enter into these ideas knowing in confidence that God has a specific and unique plan for each one.

One of my biggest passions is being able to educate others on the complex, deeply rooted issues that communities face. These are not cut and dry struggles. They almost always, do not have simple fixes.

Sometimes the needs in this city and the total sense of hopelessness within those needs, consume me. I would love to say that over the past year and a half of living in Milwaukee…

During our time in partnership with this community we have engaged in several different types of outreach all with great intentions of serving the community, connecting with homeowners, and sharing the love of Christ. But, to be very honest, some of these well-intentioned ideas have had different-than-expected impacts on the community.

Despite being taught the importance of listening from a young age (just think about how many teachers have asked you to “put your listening ears on”), the truth is, most of us aren’t as good at listening as we should be.

I’m thankful to be working on projects this summer that are completely community-led. I truly believe that if Next Step weren’t here, these connections would still be happening. Now we get to partner together, share resources, and make change happen in the lives of families in our neighborhood.

Pray that this summer the community doesn’t see different churches working together – but the same church working together.

As spring comes around it can only mean summer will be here before we know it. So in order to prepare for the summer I thought it would be good to share about the…

When was the last time you took your car for an alignment?

Then I said “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

As professionals in the trade, this body of water represented an area of great confidence and comfort in the lives of these men. Ironically- it’s where Jesus chose to shake them in a way that would alter the course of their lives forever. When they let Jesus take the lead, even the most mundane arena- their workplace- was transformed into grounds for a miracle to occur.

When we come together, eat together, and discuss with one another – we become equal through listening. Simply people made in His image and doing life together, trying to figure out what that means, and loving each other through it.

“At the end of the day, we have the power as citizens of Joplin to make some of these ideas happen, whether the council approves them or not. We still can live our lives in a way that inspires hope in our community and reminds people of the joys of living in Joplin.”

I will never forget the first time I visited the Woodlands neighborhood for a cookout during the summer of 2014.

Todays word of the day is “prudent”. The Webster’s definition is, “to show care and thought for the future”. While this term is usually found in business, it brought new meaning to my quiet…

We have some big visions this year. One being to build a new home at the property of Restoration Church, which we hope will be the start of a church community where people can live around other believers, where relationships can be strengthened, and where discipleship can happen.

The apostle Paul was a long-term missionary who advanced the Gospel through short-term missions. Paul seldom stayed longer than a few months or even weeks in a single location.

You can’t control the length of your life, but you have the opportunity to determine its width and depth.

Be encouraged that our labor is not in vain. We serve a risen and ascended Christ who has said… “I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” That is precisely what He is doing.

If God truly loved the city of Milwaukee, why wouldn’t He intervene and allow restoration to begin? Hopeless, is how I felt.

“The past serves the future by feeding faith, because of all the faithful works of God to make a future for us in the past.”

At first, this time felt unproductive as Carole’s situation seemed to remain stagnant. But as the weeks go on and I continue to experience this friendship transform the both of us- I am more and more convinced that God just might have been on to something in choosing presence as His most powerful expression of love.

As we served the families a home cooked meal, sat with them and heard their stories, the Kingdom of God became alive right there before our very eyes.

The problem we have, just as Adam and Eve did, is that we tend to shy away from responsibility when things go south.

Two thousand and sixteen. 365 days of community development. In each of those days, it didn’t feel like much was happening. It was just another day. But that collection of days created change.

Christ is best displayed in Christmas, not through colorful lights, words or displays, but through you and me, through our affection and love for others, while enjoying the season and all it has to offer. Is your light shining this holiday season?

I wish there were more times of the year like this.  Times where you can stop and put the perspective front and center of why you do what you do.

When we live in light of the incarnation of Christ, our lives will be shocking to others. Although we are sons and daughters of the King, we will humiliate ourselves by serving others.

Jesus is the ultimate restorer of relationships. Through healed relationships, He restores our health and our wounds and everything else that’s wrong in our lives. Issues of poverty will only be resolved through restored relationships: relationship with self, relationship with God, and relationship with man. I’m praying this today for those in chronic poverty in Joplin and all over the world. Join me?

It’s hard to experience a place like Catholic Charities and not be changed. Seeing the community it creates and how the homeless love one another opens up the gospel right before my eyes.

“Sometimes the pain outweighs the happiness, but the joy has always outweighed the pain”.

As I served stuffing for three hours to hundreds of families and church members I was overwhelmed by the power of unity. The diversity that filled the Evangel’s gym as families young and old ate, served, played, and embraced each other genuinely and authentically, was the most beautiful picture of unity I have ever seen. Unified joy and thankfulness was taking place before my eyes and I got to witness and be a part of it.

With all the issues facing the city of Los Angeles, there is an underlying temptation to focus all of our attention on justice in the city, and “drift” from our first purpose which is the mission of God to multiply His church on earth.

Of course Christ’s story was carefully planned, pieced together and accomplished. God is His Father. He cares for Him. Jesus’ name is literally translated as “Yahweh Saves”. But does the same apply to us and our lives?

The same way I learned to speak into the life of a jail committed youth, will be the similar process of getting to know Colorado Springs. How dare we enter a community and begin telling them what they need, rather listening and hearing their needs first?

“I always thank my God for you because of His grace given to you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way with all kinds of speech and with all…

Love thy neighbor as thy self. It’s a phrase we hear all the time growing up as children; children still learning what it means to respect and care for needs that are not our…

Read more about what it looks like to come alongside a community’s vision.

If you have ever felt at a loss regarding what Living on Mission looks like after your mission trip, you are certainly not alone! Read more to learn about the five week Living on Mission challenge.

Adullam has the tools and resources, but was in need of the right person to implement this big vision.

Allowing time to observe usually opens our eyes to see something we may not typically notice. And that is what happened during this morning at the coffee shop. I noticed a timeline on the wall.

Doing justice means giving people their due. It means giving people what we owe them as fellow image bearers of God. Everyone human being deserves and longs for vocation, dignity, hope, meaning, and value. Through the Gospel, Christ offers people the ultimate vocation as His servant, the ultimate

When we get frightened or scared, are we realizing the restoration that is happening? How different would our lives look if we had constant reminders of the restoration that was taking place in our lives?

Through our lunch devotions, prayer as a group, afternoon meetings with community members, the entire day on the worksite, nightly worship and everything in between, it was evident God was at work.

Every year, a church in Joplin hosts and organizes an event called Great Day of Service. It occurs on a Sunday morning and instead of attending church services that morning, the entire congregation goes…

As a representative of my community, the task of delivering our volunteers a comprehensive picture of the work the Lord is doing year-round in Lorain County is always tricky. Throughout their trip, Next Step…

Read more about Community Leadership Boards and how we are using them to listen to the community. 

In 2015 Next Step Ministries had the privilege of filming Francis Chan for a worship series in San Francisco, which in turn gave us an opportunity to film at some of the most breathtaking…

Four years ago at this time, I was just another college student rushing to my next class when I glimpsed a flyer that had the words “construction” and “missions” written in the title. I…

I was recently in Los Angeles on a trip to meet with partners and begin the planning process for our 2017 summer. I had the honor to teach an afternoon Bible class on the…

Have you ever been shaken up by the words someone has spoken to you? Shaken up in a way where your perspective changes, or you see someone or something in a new light? Maybe…

“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us; none can compare with You! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be…

When this summer started, I had big plans in mind. In the 9 months of preparations before the summer began, I worked to create plans to help students and staff reach the most people…

Compassion. Who or what stirs it up in you?

‘Where short term missions collide with long term community development.’

In a city that is ranked the most segregated city in the US there is a level of desperation for unity. In the city of Milwaukee it is the community partnerships that truly combat…

Thank you All Saints Camp.

God has done amazing things this summer through Next Step. Communities are growing closer together and our partnerships in the communities have been nothing short of amazing.

This summer was the very first for what we call, community worship night. As our staff reflected more and more on how the community can be a part of our worship services in the…

One of the more popular questions I get asked is “how do you choose your new sites”?

The answer is a complicated journey of questions, prayer, growth and one thing we’ll never do again.

One night, a group of thieves broke into a jewelry store. But rather than stealing anything, they simply switched all the price tags.

I love comic book origin stories. Watching an awkward teenage Peter Parker transform into the Amazing Spider Man or seeing a broken Bruce Wayne turn fear and hate into something virtuous as Batman. Knowing…

Our Father, who art in Heaven You are such a good God, a God who reigns on high and is working in so many powerful ways. We worship you. We stand in awe of…

It’s 8am on Wednesday morning and the donuts are on the conference table at the Next Step office.

So often within the full-time staff at Next Step we talk about worship being a lifestyle. The guys in our construction department will be the first to say they are actually in the worship…

  In a world of missions it is easy to get in a routine. And for us at Next Step our routine often hinges around a packed summer of nearly 150 mission trips, 150…

John F. Kennedy once said “the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.”

Over one year in the community and we have already seen the work of each Partnership Coordinator create a foundation for development. Partnership Coordinators are those full-time staff members at Next Step who live…

Every year we produce a new film series for Next Step that shows to students during our summer mission trips. Each video series is unique and different. We strive to find the balance between…

I remember my first mission trip, do you?

Isn’t it crazy how when we were young time never seemed to move fast enough? Now, however, every day seems more like a mere moment in time, a mere memory.

“And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is…

I remember watching the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake play out on every news channel. It was devastating. Over 100,000 dead and many more injured. A whole city displaced. I wanted to help. I…

If you’re like us, it feels like summer was just wrapping up yesterday and your mission team bus was pulling out of the community as you waved goodbye.  But here at Next Step, we…

For many years when our kids were younger we would spend a week vacation renting out a small but quaint cabin on a lake. It was a place where the kids could swim, bike,…

The alarm goes off at 6:00 AM. It’s time to begin preparing breakfast for 75 volunteers that will soon head out to various families’ homes to engage in new relationships and build with their…

Have you ever returned home from a mission trip only to wonder what happens next? Mission trips are a unique and incredible opportunity to live in community, worship, and ask questions of faith. At…

Have you ever had someone tell you to “put your money where your mouth is”? Well that’s exactly what we are trying to do here at Next Step. There are many ways of looking…

Creativity influences just about everything we do at Next Step, but it’s especially evident in our summer worship series. Every year around August after the craziness of the summer has ended, Todd, Neil and…

The vision has been cast. Prayers have been answered! You have been hearing it all over the Next Step front – there is a new movement! We are making every effort to cultivate community-based work,…

A shift in missions. Community-based missions. Short-term mission trips collide with long-term community development. Words such as sustainability, partnership, collaboration, empowerment, and development emerge in the unfolding story of the new direction our ministry…

For the first time in our seven-year history, Next Step has raised the cost of our week-long mission trips. We still offer domestic trips starting at $299, but most domestic participant costs rose from…

You may have noticed, our website looks a bit different. While thousands of students are serving around the world this summer, Next Step’s media team has been hard at work designing and developing a…

All praise and glory to God, thousands of students are coming to faith, serving God, and loving extravagantly on mission trips! Looking back on the first four weeks of the summer, many students, adults,…

Do you ever wonder if your short-term mission trip really made a difference?  Would it shock you to hear, that as a short-term missions organization, we have thought the same thing? The truth is…