Share Your Story

Participate in worship leadership at your church. Preach the sermon; write the liturgy; compose songs; create banners… soon after you return home, and 3 months later.
Plan a gathering with family and friends. Share your photos and experiences.
Show a relevant video to friends and relatives, church groups, student groups, etc., and facilitate a conversation about the issues you encountered. Have information available about the cultures, social and economic issues effecting people in your mission trip setting. Provide opportunities for conversation and dialogue.
Do a presentation for a larger community group, church congregation, or other group you may have a connection. Determine a format for the event then put together a PowerPoint presentation, slide show, or panel discussion, if possible. A compelling presentation will engage your participants.
Organize a teach-in. Partner with local organizations or activists involved with the issue to provide an educational event for the public.
Write a Letter to the Editor. Tie your letter into a recent story in your local newspaper. Your letter has a better chance of being selected for publication if it is a response to a recent story or issue. Limit your letter to 150-200 words and keep in mind that the editors may shorten it due to space limitations. Lead with the most important information and then write in short paragraphs, focusing on one main issue. Read other Letters to the Editor to get a sense of how letters are structured. Include your full name, address, phone number and e-mail at the top of the page and sign the letter at the bottom. The paper will need to verify via phone or email. Follow up to see if the letter was received.
Be an organizer yourself! With your stories, draw connections between what you observed in your mission trip setting and the reality of the community in which you live. Get involved in your community and help organize opportunities for others to interact with and serve with people affected by these same issues.