CITY
MISSION TRIP
$469
HOW WE SERVE
Next Step began serving in Oklahoma City after a devastating tornado tore through the neighboring community of Moore in 2013. Today our efforts have moved beyond immediate disaster relief to focus on long-term community development within the city.
THE MISSION IN
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
In May 2013, a devastating F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, a community on the edge of Oklahoma City. The statistics were heart-breaking – 24 deaths, and over 200 injuries and 1,000 homes destroyed. The storm caused 2 billion dollars in damages and would require a massive, coordinated effort to rebuild. 11 days later, another tornado, over 2.5 miles wide, struck just west of Oklahoma City near Reno causing a flash flood and even more destruction, and taking 23 more lives
In 2014, Next Step joined the city of Moore in their relief efforts. We partnered with Serve More to come alongside those who lost everything and help them rebuild. Through this partnership, we had the opportunity to not only help repair homes, but to also watch as God restored hope in the wake of devastation. With every new project and relationship, it was clear that God was moving in Oklahoma. As the clean-up from the tornado came to an end, our partners began to shift their focus from disaster relief to long-term restoration in Oklahoma City.
Next Step student teams get the opportunity to work alongside the Christian Service Center and Restore OKC in construction work on community centers, transitional homes, city beautification projects, and residential homes. But our efforts aren’t only focused on construction. There is a real need for community outreach. Many people in Oklahoma City are experiencing homelessness, battling addictions, and coping with dysfunction in the home. By serving alongside community partners like Cross and Crown and The Mission: Norman, students aren't only rebuilding neighborhoods, they are also helping to give them access to vital, Christ-centered resources and support.
Next Step’s hope is that Oklahoma City would see Kingdom restoration come alive — see addictions beaten, relationships renewed, and houses become homes. Our goal is to see Oklahoma City become a beacon of hope for those experiencing brokenness.
PARTNERSHIPS
CROSS AND CROWN
Local Cristian Services
Cross and Crown is a hub for the community in a variety of ways, including offering food pantry, counseling, legal, laundry, and medical services. Next Step has helped to renovate several of their properties that are used as transitional housing for individuals enrolled in their training program. This program teaches job and financial skills to keep people off the street long-term.
RESTORE OKC
Community Rehabilitaion
Next Step began partnering with Restore OKC in 2018 when we got word of a local school’s desperate need for school supplies. Restore OKC also hosts a job training ministry, coordinates mentoring efforts for children, as well as facilitates a community garden that supports local neighborhoods. Next Step and Restore OKC hope to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in Oklahoma City.
THE MISSION: NORMAN
Food Pantry / Transitional Housing
The Mission: Norman seeks to meet more than just the physical needs of the local community with spiritual support and meaningful relationships that share the restorative love of Christ. Next Step partners with The Mission through construction and maintenance, organizing donations, and ministering to thousands who come in from the community looking for food support.
SITE PHOTOS
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
The trip is hosted at Southpark Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Here we will worship, eat meals, sleep, shower, and hang out! Guys and girls will be separated into different rooms for sleeping arrangements. Sleeping will be on the floor so please bring a twin air mattress and bedding. There are bathrooms in the facility and a shower trailer on site with individual shower stalls.
This mission site is bus and van accessible. Some groups choose to fly and then rent vehicles for the week. The nearest airport is Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City and is a 15 minute drive from where we stay.
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
SUNDAY (ARRIVAL DAY)
3:00-5:00 pm – Arrive to Mission Location
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Worship & Weekly Orintation
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 – Depart Worksites
4:00 pm – Showers and Free time
5:30pm – Dinner
6:45 pm – Worship
7:45 – Church Time
9:00 pm – Church Time, Small groups, Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
FRIDAY (OPTIONAL FREE 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 – Return and Shower
5:30pm – Dinner
6:45 pm – Worship
7:45 – Church Time
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.
