RURAL
MISSION TRIP
$599
HOW WE SERVE
Once a gold rush boomtown, Fairbanks is now considered the “Golden Heart of Alaska”; the last true frontier. Here, your students will work to combat homelessness and be a part of spiritual healing to the community through construction and social initiatives.
THE MISSION IN
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Alaska is the largest state in the U.S.A in land area at 663,268 square miles, which is over twice the size of Texas, the next largest state. Alaska is known for its breathtaking, natural beauty, but that’s not all it’s known for. If you decide to partner with the greater Fairbanks community you will quickly notice that the partnerships are just as breathtaking as the landscape.
Since 2009, Next Step has strategically aligned itself with organizations in Fairbanks that are committed to sharing God’s love by combating homelessness and being a part of the spiritual healing going on in Fairbanks today. It’s also where the 3 founders of Next Step Ministries were first commissioned by two amazing spiritual leaders and locals, Will and Yvonne Mayo. Will, a former Athabaskan Chief and his wife, Yvonne, a Co-Director of the Vine Ministry in Fairbanks encouraged the founders to go out and continue God’s good work through missions. It was after much prayer and God’s working through Will and Yvonne that they decided to create Next Step Ministries.
Since the founding of Next Step, our community connections in Fairbanks have expanded and we’re excited for you to have the opportunity to serve alongside our partners. When you join us in Alaska, you get the chance to attend a Sunday morning service at your host church. The students will have an amazing opportunity to connect with some locals in a church wide potluck meal after the service. That afternoon you’ll set out on a hike into God’s glorious creation, a great way to center your hearts at the start of your trip. For the next three days, you get to be a part of God’s mission in Fairbanks by serving with our partnerships located all across the city. Your Alaska adventures may even lead you to serving with some of our partners in North Pole! (Yep, you read that right, North Pole, AK! Not THE North Pole, although you can visit Santa’s house!)
Known as the golden heart of Alaska, we work within the heart of the city of Fairbanks through urban ministries like The Door and the Fairbanks Rescue Mission who help combat the homelessness in the area. We also partner with the 7th Day Adventist Church, Adventist Community Services (ACS) who run a disaster response warehouse that supports the local community as well as provides supplies to rural regions of Alaska when disaster strikes. In North Pole, we work with Unity Outreach to split and stack firewood for winter fuel as well as help with their facility renovation as they help the community in many physical and spiritual ways. All of our partnerships combine a unique balance of practical physical support, such as construction and repair, along with highly valued relational involvement with members of these communities. Whether you are helping with construction at the disaster response warehouse or working on maintenance or construction at Pioneer Park and getting to share the love of Christ through interactions with both locals and tourists alike, students will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
During your free day, students will travel up to Denali National Park to explore one of the most beautiful preserves in the country. There are a variety of hiking options with magnificent views around the park as well as local adventure tours like ATV rides. You can take an exciting white water rafting trip down the Nenana River or hop in a helicopter for a ride to the massive Yanert Icefield and land on an actual glacier! Nowhere else can your students experience this type of adventure!
PARTNERSHIPS
Adventist Community Services
Community Services
One of our long term partners in Fairbanks. We have been working with them on building a warehouse that houses beds, furniture, and other things for families that are in need of basic necessities for living. Projects may also include but are not limited to roofing, framing, drywalling, siding, and painting homes in the community
THE DOOR
Youth Shelter
A 24-7 shelter for homeless youth aged 12-18, provides a safe place to sleep, nutritious home cooked meals, clothing, supplies, and connections to community resources to help youth find stability. Serving here, you will have the opportunity to renovate their shelter facilities and help create a environment that is both imaginative and creative.
UNITY OUTREACH INC
Community Resources
Unity Outreach helps individuals physically and spiritually. We have helped with improvements to their facility to better serve the needs of their ministry, and assisted with gardening and building a year-round greenhouse to provide fresh produce from their location, as well as splitting wood to provide fuel for winter months.
PIONEER PARK
Community Resources
Pioneer Park is a 44 acre historical park located in the heart of Fairbanks, Alaska where history is celebrated and preserved. Here we are able to soak in the history of Fairbanks and work alongside the city to rebuild and help to upkeep several of the buildings and boardwalks in need of repair due to the harsh winter conditions.
SITE PHOTOS
YOUR EXPERIENCE
WORSHIP
We’ve been told our worship experience is where summer camp meets mission trip. At Next Step, your students will create unforgettable memories and friendships while worshipping and growing together in their understanding of who Jesus is. Each evening will include great bands, challenging speakers and a powerful video series created and filmed exclusively for your mission trip.
CONSTRUCTION
Have you ever gone on a mission trip and been disappointed by the work projects? You’re left wondering— isn’t there something more we could have done? At Next Step, we have partnered with local community leaders to ensure that the projects are meaningful and alleviate vital building needs. Your students will work on projects such as full home builds, home additions, drywall, siding, flooring, wheelchair ramps, and more.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Do you ever wonder if your short-term mission trip really made a difference? At Next Step, students serve alongside local community members, churches and nonprofits, as we meet the needs of the community together. With our full-time staff living in the communities we partner with, and projects being selected by the community, you will be part of a movement in responsible short-term missions.
LOGISTICS
The trip is hosted at Lighthouse Church in the heart of Fairbanks, Alaska. Guys and girls will be separated into different rooms with bunk beds, cots, and air mattresses. All that is needed is a pillow and bedding! Showers with individual stalls are located in host church facility.
Van Accessible (Not Bus Accessible)
Many groups prefer to fly to Fairbanks and rent vehicles upon arrival. If you choose to fly, please plan to fly into the Fairbanks International Airport (FIA). The airport is just 15 minutes away from where we stay. Vehicles with four-wheel drive are recommended.
Bedding & Pillow
Water Bottle
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Towel
Toiletries
Swim Suit
Work Shoes
Work Clothes
Casual Clothes
Eye mask
Work Gloves
Safety Glasses
SATURDAY (ARRIVAL DAY)
3:00-5:00 pm – Arrive to Mission Location
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Worship & Weekly Orientation
9:00 pm – Church Time, Small groups, Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
SUNDAY (WORK DAY)
8:30 am – Wake Up
9:00 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
10;00 am – Morning Devotional
11:00 am – Church at Lighthouse Church
12:30 am – Lunch/Cookout at Lighthouse Church
2:00 pm – Depart for Angel Rocks Hike
5:30 pm – Clean Up/Return
4:00 pm – Free time/Showers/Leader Meeting
6:30pm – Dinner & Cleanup
7:45 pm – Worship
9:00 – Church Time/Small Groups/Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY (WORK DAYS)
7:00 am – Wake Up
7:15 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
8:00 am – Morning Devotional
8:30 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
THURSDAY (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
8:30 pm – Church Time/Small Groups/Free time
11:00 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?
For summer mission trips you must have a minimum of five participants to be eligible for a group. If you have less than five participants on your team, please contact our office. The maximum number of people will depend on 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 Partnership Coordinator 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 8-12 energetic, mission-minded, and highly trained college interns. 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. Full-time Next Step Staff called Partnership Coordinators live and serve within the community year round and are well connected. Next Step collaborates with the community to plan 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. As an additional resource, feel free to download this brochure for all your mission trip information in one place.