Jonathan Haney, pastor of the Manhattan, Kan., RPC, went to Uganda in 2007. “The trip to Uganda was used by the Lord to direct me into pastoral ministry,” he said. “We continued serving on RP Missions teams during my time in seminary, and then I was ordained as a pastor in 2011. The time we spent in Australia with RP Missions, and the relationships we made on that trip, opened the door for a pulpit exchange with the Frankston, Australia, RP Church in 2015, nearly six years after we first went.”

Jonathan, and his wife, Adrienne, went on three further mission trips together: to Elkins Park, Pa. (2008); White Lake, N.Y. (2008-2010); and Geelong, Australia (2009). “The trips broadened my view of the church as you can see first-hand the great commission,” Adrienne said. “There are brothers and sisters all over the U.S. and world who believe in the same God and Lord Jesus Christ. I think almost anyone, young or old, should go on a short-term missions trip. I think it stretches your faith and grows you in many ways.”

Bekah Troup Mastris went on the Cyprus trip in 2006 with a man who would become her husband, Tony Mastris. Also participating were Loukious Nousios, Kaitlyn Gladfelter Baumann, Jenny Baumgardner Knox, and Laura Muir MacLeod. Bekah was 18 at the time. “This trip changed my life in so many ways. It was an opportunity to see Tony’s culture—to see him gripped by the vision for it and to be spiritually led by him,” she said. “It gave me opportunity to experience something outside of my knowledge—a different culture, climate, language, and in some ways, a different way of seeing the world.”

Bekah and Tony spent four years in Cyprus, and are currently in the U.S. so he can attend the RP Seminary. Bekah said, “[The trip] gave me a love for the island of Cyprus and the people of God there.” They hope to return to Cyprus after seminary to serve indefinitely and raise their family.

Joe Rizzo, now an elder in Broomall, Pa., RPC, went on two RP Missions trips more than 10 years ago when he was 23 years old. He participated at Airdrie, Scotland (summer 2004), and Phoenix, Ariz. (winter 2004). “Getting to spend such focused time in the service of a congregation and getting out and doing some practical work in both of them, really helped to show me the work of the church,” he said. “It also encouraged my faith, and further equipped me to bring back the things I learned in service to my home church. The focus on devotions, evangelism, and working in a team environment helped me grow.”

Joe met his wife, Laura (Bond), on the Phoenix mission trip. Together they have maintained friendships with those they’ve met on mission trips. One friend is Audrey Bryce, whom they each met on separate trips to Scotland. “To see her mature in faith as a part of the Airdrie church for many years now is a wonderful thing,” Joe said.

Jill Hanson, of Southside, Ind., RPC, was 22 when she went on a mission trip to Kaiserslautern, Germany. “We served a PCA church plant ministering primarily to American military families who were stationed in the surrounding area,” she said. “I learned so much about being open and honest with other believers. Rather than focusing solely on developing lifelong, consistent relationships, they were willing to be vulnerable even with someone who was going to be in their life for two weeks.”

She continued, “This trip helped me to see and develop a heart for the greater body of believers and also encouraged me to be willing to get close and be appropriately vulnerable with other believers that we might spur one another on to love Christ.”