CITY
MISSION TRIP
$469
HOW WE SERVE
One of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston is known for its rich colonial history, diverse neighborhoods, iconic sports teams and beautiful architecture. Here, your students will have the opportunity to be a part of meaningful construction projects that help support organizations in the greater Boston area that are already pouring back into their own community.
THE MISSION IN
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
The capital of Massachusetts, Boston was founded in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England. This city has been the setting for many events in early American history, such as the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, Paul Revere’s famous ride and much more, all helping to build the foundation of this nation.
It’s not only the history that makes Boston so valuable, but also the culture and lifestyle of those who have come to call Boston home. From the unique Boston accent to fiercely loyal sports fans to world famous universities, Bostonians have deep pride in their community and everyone that is a part of it.
With all its cultural richness and amazing people, we have been blessed to have a partner here who, while not well known in history or the media, has become invaluable to Next Step. Ed, or Eddy as we like to call him, has poured so much of himself into the mission of Next Step Ministries. With an amazing heart for the Lord and an incredible story of God’s redemption, we couldn’t help but witness his heart for the people of Boston and all that God is doing there. One specific organization we connected with through Eddy was the Boys and Girls Club in Wakefield, a small suburb in the greater Boston area.
The Boys and Girls Club of America has become a staple in many communities across the United States, working to create safe places for kids to engage in a wide variety of programs. These programs include helping young people with their homework, computer training, learning and honing their skills in the arts, sports, as well as, learning strong coping skills that are needed for everyday life. As Eddy would say, there is something for every kid at the Boys and Girls Club.
Listening to Eddy speak more and more about the Boys and Girls Club and the diverse needs of Boston itself, we decided to take the next step, speaking with local officials, the Boys and Girls Club of Wakefield, and several nonprofits in the greater Boston area to see how Next Step could partner with local community development initiatives. It is with great joy that we are serving in Boston, and we look forward to seeing you there!
PARTNERSHIPS
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
Local Youth Organization
Serving with us in Boston, you will have the opportunity to partner with the Boys and Girls club of Wakefield, Massachusetts in the greater Boston area. The Boys and Girls Club with all of the amazing programs in education, physical fitness and the arts, unfortunately does not have enough space dedicated to accommodating the needs of this Club. To remedy this problem, the Boys and Girls Club has purchased a facility that needs renovated to be suitable for the young people to come and enjoy all the advantages the club has to offer. Here, your team will be a part of reconstructing an area dedicated to teaching and empowering the future of this community.
YOUR EXPERIENCE
WORSHIP
Next Step wants your students to grow together in faith and understanding who Jesus is. Each year we create new devotionals for you to guide your students through at different times during the day, and each evening includes worship, a speaker to challenge them through a brief message, and a new video series created by Next Step for your mission trip. All of our program materials are designed to help you get the conversations started, and then let you do the framing and guiding of your students in the specifics of their faith! Each night ends with your chance to gather in your group and go over the day's lessons.
CONSTRUCTION
At Next Step, we partner with local community leaders and organizations to ensure that the projects are meaningful to them and the work they are doing in the community. Not all of our sites have construction based ministry ..or may have it every week, but on sites that do, your students will work on projects ranging from full home builds and home additions, to drywall, siding, flooring, wheelchair ramps, and more. Feel free to contact us and see what projects might be in store this year for your community and week of choice!
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Do you want your short term mission trip to make a real difference? At Next Step, students serve alongside local community members, churches and nonprofits, as we meet the needs of the community together. With projects being selected by our community partnerships, you will be part of a movement in ethical and responsible short-term missions. We actively pursue this as more than just buzz words. We strive to continue to be a forerunner in the collision of short term missions and sustainable community development!
LOGISTICS
First Baptist Church
45 Woburn street
Reading, MA 01867
Next Step Ministries is excited to host your mission trip at First Baptist Church this summer. The church building is located in Reading, Massachusetts and is approximately a 10-20 minute drive from most work projects and sites.
The facility includes classrooms for sleeping areas separated for boys and girls. Your team will be sleeping on the floor so please have all participants bring a twin size air mattress, sleeping bag and pillow. There is also a kitchen, restrooms and sanctuary for worship.
We will be showering at the Stoneham, Pool, which the Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham oversee and run during the summer months. The showers have privacy stalls found within both the girls and boys locker rooms.
Accommodations:
Air Conditioning
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Shower Trailer
Internet (leaders only)
Bus and Van accessible.
Please book any flights for arrival and departure through the Boston Airport. (BOS)
Twin Size Air Mattress
Bedding & Pillow
Water Bottle
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Towel
Toiletries
Swim Suit
Work Shoes
Work Clothes
Casual Clothes
Work Gloves
Safety Glasses
Hammer
SUNDAY (ARRIVAL DAY)
3:00-5:00 pm – Arrive to Mission Location
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Worship & Weekly Orientation
9:00 pm – Church Time, Small groups, Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
MONDAY – THURSDAY (WORK DAYS)
7:00 am – Wake Up
7:15 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
8:00 am – Morning Devotional
8:15 am – Depart for Worksite & Begin Working
12:00 pm – Lunch & Devotion
1:00 pm – Resume Working
3:30 pm – Clean Up/Return
4:00 pm – Free time/Showers/Leader Meeting
6:00pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Worship
9:00 – Church Time/Small Groups/Free Time
11:00 pm – Lights Out
FRIDAY (COMMUNITY / FUN DAY)
8:00 am – Wake Up
8:15 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
9:00 am – Morning Devotion
9:15 am – Leave for Free Day Activity!
4:00 pm – Shower Time/Free Time/Leader Meeting
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Worship
9:00 pm – Church Time/Small Groups/Free time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
FAQS
When should I register for my trip?
Registration opens in July and will be available through early spring. To get your preferred dates, locations, and spaces, it is recommended to secure your spots sometime before October.
What is the min or max people per group?
There is genrerally no set minimum group size for most of our summer mission trips, but based on the location and dates there may be some applicable suggestions and/or restrictions. If you have less than five participants in your group, please contact our office so we can go over the logistics of a trip with a smaller group size. The maximum number of people that can register for a trip will depend on the specific location capacity and availability.
What is the adult to student ratio required?
Next Step Ministries asks each group to bring 1 adult for every 6 students.
Are background checks required?
Yes. Each church group is responsible for conducting background checks on each participant 18 years of age or older.
When will we find out what our work projects are?
Your group will learn about the work projects on the first night of your trip! Our staff will contact you 1-2 weeks prior to the trip to share updates and provide an adjusted tool list.
How are the trips staffed?
A Next Step Area Director facilitates community partnerships, lines up projects, leads the summer staff, and coordinates other logistics such as lodging and accommodations. The trip itself will be facilitated by a team of energetic, mission-minded college-age summer missions staff. The site staff will include a construction team, worship team, speaker, meal coordinators, and administrative leaders to guide you through the week.
What if the trip I’m considering is already full?
Each location has a different max capacity, so please contact our office to learn more about spaces available. In the event we are fully booked for the trip you are interested in, we can put you on a wait list or help find alternative trip options. To avoid these delays, we recommend registering for your trip as soon as you can!
What is the payment schedule?
Payment for a Next Step Ministries mission trip is separated into a deposit and two scheduled payments:
- Deposit - $50 non-refundable and non-transferable deposit per spot reserved due within 30 days of your trip registration date
- March 15th Payment – 50% of remaining balance of trip cost due
- May 15th Payment – 100% of remaining total balance of trip cost due
Is Next Step affiliated with a denomination?
No, we do not affiliate with a particular denomination. Next Step Ministries is an interdenominational organization and we partner with hundreds of churches from all different denominations on our mission trips. Please see our Statement of Faith to learn more about what we believe. In simple terms, we stick to the basics of the Gospel. Our foundation for ministry is to provide opportunities for students to connect and grow in a personal relationship with Christ.
How are the work projects selected?
Next Step Ministries works alongside community leaders, non-profit organizations, and the local church in order to set up work projects. Next Step Staff called Area Directors work closely with our community partners to determine how to multiply our impact in the community and prepare the projects you will be working on in advance.
Will our group be paired with other groups?
You will most likely be attending a trip with 2-4 other youth groups. All groups will share sleeping quarters and we will have meals and worship together as a large group. Many of our mission site locations can accommodate for 80-100 volunteers each week. For work projects, we love to mix students, but also understand many groups prefer to stick together. Please let us know your preference and we will plan accordingly!
Is the mission trip safe?
Yes. Next Step Ministries exists to give middle school, high school, and college students an opportunity to explore their faith, experience God, and extend service to others on a mission trip. Students are our top priority and safety is always our primary concern. Thankfully, because of our long-term commitment and involvement within the community, we have developed many close relationships with local families and organizations. The community is familiar with Next Step and we’ve worked hard to humbly earn their trust and respect. Because of these close friendships we are the first to know if something out of the ordinary comes up or is unsafe.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Day or night, Next Step Ministries is happy to hear from you. Whether you have a question, comment or concern, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, or just type "TRIP" in the chatbox to get more information. You can quickly schedule a meeting with us HERE. And feel free to download this brochure below for all of our basic mission trip information.
