Teen Missions International

I have been on two teen missions trips, one in 2022 and one in 2023. Both were life changing in so many ways. I have wanted to be a medical missionary since I was 10 and this organization gave me the opportunity to experience hands on what it is like to serve people in other countries in the name of the Lord. These trips were some of the hardest things I have ever done in my teenage years including following rules I did not understand at the time, physical exhaustion from a rigorous schedule, making friends with 40+ (between my two trips) personalities, eating foods I did not like, wearing clothes I wasn't used to, and being away from my support people during all these new hard things. But I would not change a thing. Because none of that compares to the joy I experienced getting to serve the Lord, sharing His love with the people and kids we ministered to, the time spent digging deep into and memorizing His word, and all the lessons God taught me those two summers that made me into the child of God I am today. No organization is perfect, and no organization has perfect people working for them, but I truly believe the heart behind Teen Missions is spreading the gospel to all nations and showing the teenagers of this world you are never too young to be apart of that mission. I would and have highly recommended Teen Missions to many people in my life.

So many kids traumatized through this organization, but not many of us share due to the intense shaming involved. When I was seventeen, just after graduating high school, I spent a summer with Teen Missions. A summer to serve others, grow closer to God, and be spiritually led. None of this happened. What actually happened was 25 children were shamed, treated like livestock, and driven away from Christ. At debrief we wrote reviews of our leaders, I remember writing “If I wasn’t a Christian before this and these leaders were my only representation of Christ, I’d be a Satanist.” I wasn’t alone. Of my 27-member team, 25 of us completed the summer and 24 of us wrote negative reviews of these specific leaders. They went on to serve many more years. In fact, I think they might still be serving. After finishing the summer an old church friend reached out to me and asked the names of my leaders, when I told him he said “Those people are evil, and my time there was absolutely brutal.” But if SO many children had bad experiences with them and shared their experiences in reviews, why were they still let around so many children? Because Teen Missions, like many organizations, has no accountability, they defend sketchy staff and make the bad stories disappear. Reading through all the 1 star reviews on here, I’m surprised they haven’t found a way to make those go away. There are SO many children who have not shared their stories. Mine is not nearly as bad as the ones I’ve heard, but I figure it is still good to share regardless.


Firstly, boot camp is absolutely ridiculous. It’s like the military. They try to break your will, lose your identity of self, and make you completely compliant. CHILDREN. Speaking to a team member one day, I finished my sentence as my foot stepped out of our meal area and my leader gave me a “spiritual blessing.” This meant that not only me, but all of my teammates would have to work for hours in the scorching Florida sun to learn a lesson. A lesson of not speaking when you’re in line for lunch.. although we weren’t even in a line at that point. The purpose was to shame me for being a normal person and punish us so we would all remember who is boss. We walked in single file lines. We had to eat everything on our plates, even dirty potato skins. We couldn’t share food, even with those that required more calories than others. We ran an obstacle course every.single.day. This would often results in our boots that we had to wear all day everyday in the swamps of Florida to get and stay VERY wet. They wouldn’t dry. This led to many of us developing trench foot like symptoms. One of the arbitrary rules of boot camp was that your bare feet were not allowed to touch the ground. When our leaders were feeling particularly compassionate, they would allow us to remove our boot for a few minutes to place our foot on top, ensuring it didn’t touch the ground. Giving our feet and boots a chance to dry for a few minutes after DAYS of being wet. We slept in tents with strangers we weren’t allowed to converse with. We recited scripture as if we were in a concentration camp. Those with learning disabilities who struggled to keep up with the pace were punished for not learning scripture fast enough. Sounds pretty Christ-like, doesn’t it? Boot camp was so dehumanizing. And I was a 17 year old high school graduate, imagine what the 13 year olds went through. We had a few classes to teach us how to lay brick because that was our mission, to construct an addition of an orphanage. A few lessons obviously weren’t enough. We were CHILDREN. And paying more than three thousand dollars each, when flights to our country were maybe $300-400, meant most of our money was going where? We went to bed hungry most of the nights—it wasn’t the food. We’re talking about nearly a hundred grand to build a fraction of an addition that was poorly constructed? We could have hired locals to do a better job and boosted the local economy. Maybe our reused tents we shared is what ate all the money. As someone who travels a lot as an adult (I’m in the country we “served” as I write this), three grand ten years ago could have gone so so far. I suspect it went into the pockets of the people that came up with the idea to put children through a boot camp.

The way we were dehumanized on a daily basis was actually insane. Walking in single file lines, not allowed to speak the local language to locals, reciting verses, not allowed to share food, not allowed to talk at night, not allowed to look the wrong way. And if you broke any of these rules your punishment was literally to write an essay using scripture to talk about why what you did was wrong as well as clean bathrooms all day. My teammate got caught sharing food and had to do all of that, for SHARING HER FOOD. We varied from scrawny 13 year olds to 6foot tall 16 year olds.. our caloric needs varied. Our leaders didn’t care if some of us were starving while others wanted to vomit. The woman leader just had a constant scowl plastered on her face. I don’t know how it got stuck that way, if she did something or if she was born with it.

Many of the children on my team had difficult home lives. We bonded through sharing oppressive leaders and grew close and shared stories. Some talked about their struggles with depression, fighting the feeling that they’re gay, being sexually assaulted, and so much more. Rather than equipping us with anything of value, our leaders either told us to be quiet or pray about it. The thirteen year old on my team stole a piece of metal wire from the work site and slit his wrist. They wrapped his arm up and sent him back to work. I came in with a note from my chiropractor that I shouldn’t be doing anything strenuous on my back due to long term injuries. My leader insured I was the one who pushed the wheelbarrow of rocks up the hill everyday—the only back breaking job. It’s like they got off on making us suffer. I think the only member of our team of 25 that had a desire to come back ended up being involved for years and experienced all kinds of abuse and has also shared their story on here. It’s a 1-star review.

I see the Teen Missions logo and a chill runs up my spine. It somehow feels like both a cult, a military base, and a concentration camp all wrapped in one. The money is NOT benefitting the local communities. The children are being heavily shamed while their brains are developing that will take them YEARS to unpack. Nothing about this organization represents the things Jesus represented—love, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, grace, joy, kindness. The leaders are not held accountable at all. Girls get sexualized. Traumatized kids get told that they’re the problem. Everyone is shamed and stripped of their dignity. I cannot say a single positive thing about Teen Missions other than I love the team members I was abused with. Not going through it alone was the only thing that made it bearable. Please don’t send your children here if you love them or even if you hate them, no one deserves this experience.

I worked with Teen Missions for several years. I went on two teams as a member, joined their bible school and went through two more summers during that, and lived overseas at one of their international bible schools. I experienced so much neglect and abuse at the hands of the leaders of this organization. My time with them broke me in ways I have not yet recovered from. There is so much shaming and emotional manipulation that takes place there. Anyone who does not conform to their ideas of Christianity will be made to feel like they themselves are a problem.

My summers there were okay. There were definitely things that happened that looking back on as an adult weren't okay, but overall, I enjoyed that time. After high school, I moved onto their campus to live and work as a student there. I tried desperately to be the person that they had convinced me that I was supposed to be but I couldn't make it. Every hour of my day was scheduled out for me, I couldn't leave the property without permission, any job that the staff didn't want to do became our responsibility. We were served expired food and slept in rooms with mold but if we made even the slightest complaint we were lectured for not being grateful, for not having a servant's heart, for not being willing to make sacrifices for God. Any miscommunication was our fault. Any mistake because we had no integrity. Any emotional problem because we weren't truly submitting to God. The longer I was there, the more broken I became. (*TRIGGER WARNING*) By my last 6 months there I was praying desperately every night that I wouldn't wake up in the morning, regularly pulling my hair out, scratching my arms, and hitting my head against the wall. I made plans to kill myself several times. They knew I wasn't okay. They told me they knew I was struggling. They told me it was my fault. After a confrontation with a staff member, that staff member spread lies about me to the entire ministry. I was shamed for something I didn't even do. I was brought into a meeting with all of the heads of the ministry and told that all I cared about was "me, me, me". That I was selfish and immature and every problem I'd had for the past two years was because my heart was in the wrong place. I felt so ashamed of myself. So desperately wicked with no way to be better. Absolutely worthless. I thought it would get better after moving overseas but it didn't. I was sexually harassed while there after the person responsible for me left a known offender in a room alone with me. The leaders in Florida told me it was my fault. I got in a car accident after being left alone to manage a base a month after arriving. The leaders in Florida told me it was my fault for ever driving at all (despite being told that was one of my responsibilities). The person who was with me experienced medical issues and they wouldn't let them seek medical treatment in a bigger city. They booked flights home for us without telling us (when their medical problems were still severe and undiagnosed) and emailed us the tickets in the middle of the night, one week before we were supposed to leave. After I left the organization, they lied to the few friends I had left there about what happened. The story was twisted to make me irrational, rebellious, and impulsive. They banned anyone still involved in the organization overseas from seeing us. I lost all the friends I had left from there. I was told that I had broken a vow I made with God and that I should be ashamed of myself. I continued to consider suicide for months after I left. I lost myself. I was so angry, broken, and afraid that I sunk into a very very deep pit. I am better now, but to this day I have baggage from Teen Missions that I carry with me every where. Please please, do not send your children to be a part of them. Do not give them money. My story only barely scratches the surface of their abuse and neglect. There is much more to my story and so many people with stories much worse than mine, as well as many who testify of their dishonest handling of money. They cannot be trusted.

I went on a trip with teen missions international when I was 12 years old. Little did I know it would change my life and not in a positive way. I went on the 2016 Malawi Orphanage and Playground preteen trip and I honestly cannot remember much which should be the first clue that something went horribly wrong. But this is my story so I’ll tell you what I know.

TRIGGER WARNING
When I first got to teen missions i remember my leaders didn’t like me and made it super obvious they didn’t as soon as I showed up. My memory then jumps to meeting my tent-mate that I would be sharing a tent with for two weeks while I was in boot camp. Then I remember the night my life was turned upside down never to be righted. I won’t go into detail but my tent-mate raped me. Yes you read that right. An 11 year old girl raped a 12 year old girl two days after meeting her. The next morning I asked the leaders to switch me tents to put me anywhere but before I could explain, I was shut down. They didn’t want to know what happened nor did they care. The rape went on every night for two weeks. When I got to Malawi all my stuff got lost on the flight except one bin of my clothes. No sleeping bag, no pillow, no blanket. I was put in my own tent alone. That’s when I started self harming because I couldn’t stand being there anymore and I couldn’t stand the shame and emotions of what happened to me. I was 12 and I couldn’t really make sense of it. My former tent-mate spread rumors to everyone that I would sneak out with my guy best friend and that we would have sex which was a lie. I wouldn’t let anyone touch me at that point. The girls bullied me. The leaders wouldn’t let me talk to let alone hang out with any of the boys because they believed that stupid rumor my tent-mate spread about me. I didn’t trust the girls. I couldn’t even talk to the guys. I was alone. I asked the leaders if I could stay in my own tent and instead of helping me, they put me in a tent with the main girl who bullied me which I heard from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed. I had to shower with these girls and with my rapist who would insist on showering with me and would insist on washing my body for me. I went home after that trip broken and wounded. I never told anyone for five years. I lost my faith in God after two years. And I tried to kill myself after one year of returning from that trip. I’m now 18 years old. I’m not able to go into a tent without having a panic attack. I’m not able to smell or taste artificial watermelon because my rapist made perfume out of her watermelon shampoo and water to “make our tent smell better”. The sound of duct tape makes me flinch. Going to Florida gives me a panic attack. And when June 24th comes up, I have a hard time doing anything and have a horrible time coping with what happened to me.

That’s my story with Teen Missions International. It was a never ending nightmare. The reason I’m sharing my story now 6 years later is so people (mainly parents) stop and think about where they’re sending their child. This happened to me six years ago so I’m assuming the leadership is different now. But as a message to all parents, please do your research about mission trip organizations especially if your child will be gone for three months without you with these people you’ve never met. Mission trips are great for those who are religious and want to grow their faith. But know that they also could do irreversible damage if the organization isn’t as it appears on their website. Please do your best to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to you child. I personally would look elsewhere if you want your kid to go on a missions trip. Keep your kids safe. Please.


For those who read this and are wondering about me, I’m okay. I’m working through my healing process. But this will affect me for the rest of my life. Which is why I encourage you to really look into this organization and make sure it’s safe for your kids or look at other missions trip organizations.

With love,
Me

I worked with Teen Missions for several years. I went on two teams as a member, joined their bible school and went through two more summers during that, and lived overseas at one of their international bible schools. I experienced so much neglect and abuse at the hands of the leaders of this organization. My time with them broke me in ways I have not yet recovered from. There is so much shaming and emotional manipulation that takes place there. Anyone who does not conform to their ideas of Christianity will be made to feel like they themselves are a problem.

My summers there were okay. There were definitely things that happened that looking back on as an adult weren't okay, but overall, I enjoyed that time. After high school, I moved onto their campus to live and work as a student there. I tried desperately to be the person that they had convinced me that I was supposed to be but I couldn't make it. Every hour of my day was scheduled out for me, I couldn't leave the property without permission, any job that the staff didn't want to do became our responsibility. We were served expired food and slept in rooms with mold but if we made even the slightest complaint we were lectured for not being grateful, for not having a servant's heart, for not being willing to make sacrifices for God. Any miscommunication was our fault. Any mistake because we had no integrity. Any emotional problem because we weren't truly submitting to God. The longer I was there, the more broken I became. (*TRIGGER WARNING*) By my last 6 months there I was praying desperately every night that I wouldn't wake up in the morning, regularly pulling my hair out, scratching my arms, and hitting my head against the wall. I made plans to kill myself several times. They knew I wasn't okay. They told me they knew I was struggling. They told me it was my fault. After a confrontation with a staff member, that staff member spread lies about me to the entire ministry. I was shamed for something I didn't even do. I was brought into a meeting with all of the heads of the ministry and told that all I cared about was "me, me, me". That I was selfish and immature and every problem I'd had for the past two years was because my heart was in the wrong place. I felt so ashamed of myself. So desperately wicked with no way to be better. Absolutely worthless. I thought it would get better after moving overseas but it didn't. I was sexually harassed while there after the person responsible for me left a known offender in a room alone with me. The leaders in Florida told me it was my fault. I got in a car accident after being left alone to manage a base a month after arriving. The leaders in Florida told me it was my fault for ever driving at all (despite being told that was one of my responsibilities). The person who was with me experienced medical issues and they wouldn't let them seek medical treatment in a bigger city. They booked flights home for us without telling us (when their medical problems were still severe and undiagnosed) and emailed us the tickets in the middle of the night, one week before we were supposed to leave. After I left the organization, they lied to the few friends I had left there about what happened. The story was twisted to make me irrational, rebellious, and impulsive. They banned anyone still involved in the organization overseas from seeing us. I lost all the friends I had left from there. I was told that I had broken a vow I made with God and that I should be ashamed of myself. I continued to consider suicide for months after I left. I lost myself. I was so angry, broken, and afraid that I sunk into a very very deep pit. I am better now, but to this day I have baggage from Teen Missions that I carry with me every where. Please please, do not send your children to be a part of them. Do not give them money. My story only barely scratches the surface of their abuse and neglect. There is much more to my story and so many people with stories much worse than mine, as well as many who testify of their dishonest handling of money. They cannot be trusted.

I went to Uganda this summer with Teen Missions and I absolutely loved it! It wasn’t easy but it was so worth it! I got closer to God and got to experience a different culture. I can’t wait for next year and would definitely recommend Teen Missions.

This ministry helped me come closer to God as a friend. It made my relationship with God more secure.

Awesome experience great people
The things they’re doing around the world are incredible making a real difference

This ministry is so near and dear to my heart! I volunteered during training once, then led 22 teams, 5 years on staff, and now I'm back to volunteering. Summers are challenging for both team members and leaders. Some summers are more challenging than others, and I haven't done everything right as a leader, but I have loved every summer and loved every one of my team members. It's so encouraging to see the Lord bring growth to many of these young people, and it's amazing how much the Lord has changed me through my experiences with Teen Missions. It's such a joy to see some of my former team members answer the call to full time missions!

I have been on 4 teams with Teen Missions Intl and every single one of them has drastically changed my life for the better. They have helped me to strengthen my relationship with God so much. They have taught me about leadership and service, and have created such an open and welcoming environment so that anyone who goes on a team with TMI feels like they are a part of one giant family. Going on a trip with TMI was definitely one of the best rescissions I have ever made, and I don't regret it at all.

It was an amazing experience were I learned and grew so much. It was impactful to help and serve and dedicate the whole completely summer to others and God. It wasn’t easy but it was what I needed and God showed me so much. I made lots of friendships that I still talk ro.

Teen Missions showed me what it was like to truly serve God and build godly relationships with those around me. Through Teen Missions, God showed me the importance of flexibility, the joys of being grateful through hardships and fun times, and the gift of serving others. I have been on two trips with Teen Missions and will treasure both for the rest of my life.

Go on a missions trip with teen missions, you will not regret it!! There are a lot of rules to follow but honestly I’d say a trip with teen missions is probably one of the most real short term missions trip you could go on. They take you through Bible classes as well as practical classes that prepare you for the field and for life in general. Then on the field they provide you with lots of opportunities to serve and to share the gospel as well as have fun and grow closer to the Lord. You will spend lots of time in the Word and lots of time sharing the Word! And you’ll make some amazing things and learn so stinking much!

Through Teen Missions, God changed my life. I went to Bulgaria with TMI in 2010, as a fourteen year old. I met God there in a way I will never forget. The whole summer was an incredible and deeply formative experience. I came back a significantly grown person. In 2021 I returned as a volunteer leader. That was a demanding but very worthy experience. I'm a big believer in Teen Missions. I would highly recommend Teen Missions for most teens who want to follow Jesus.

This was my first summer with Teen Missions and it was so much more than what I expected! The Lord really grew me this summer personally, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and even physically! I can't wait to go back next year!

I have been a volunteer, team leader since 2009. Every year I grow in my walk with the Lord because of my experience & time with Teen Missions. This organization cares about the people & kids coming to serve with them. Sometimes things are hard & God's plan is not always our plan, but this organization is ready to handle anything the Lord sends. I highly recommend an adult to come & volunteer either for two weeks during boot camp or as a leader. Time spent with Teen Missions will be a blessing & help you grow closer to the Lord.

Teen Missions is an amazing place to grow your faith and learn what it is like to serve the Lord in missions! I have gone as a team member and an assistant leader, and in both positions I learned so much, made so many memories and grew in the Lord. The staff are amazing and have real care and concern for the team members. The unique 2-week training at the start of the summer trains you spiritually, physically and mentally for what you will experience on the field, and through debrief they prepare you to apply what you learn when you go home. I would definitely recommend prayerfully considering spending a summer with Teen Missions International!

I have loved working with Teen Missions. This summer i went with them to Zambia and was super encouraged to see God's work overseas and in the hearts of the people He sent from Florida. I've been really blessed to have the opportunity to travel with Teen Missions.

I had an amazing summer with Teen Missions. From the work we did for the church in Ecuador, to the presentation ministry we did for kids clubs, and the work that God did in each one of our hearts, it was truly the best summer of my life. I would highly recommend this for every teen who loves the Lord and who has an able body to consider serving Him at Teen Missions.

Teen missions changed my life, I’ve been on 5 trips now and led 2 of those. Going on these trips taught me the importance of a positive attitude and really made me thankful for every little thing. I thought the importance of going on a trip was the project and completing it for the people in our country/area, and while that’s very important the true focus is in the kids personal relationship with the lord. I learned how to do devotions correctly and even read the Bible in a way that impacted my life. Teen Missions International was really that turning point in my life and I’ll never forget my experience there.

I have been on 3 summer teams with Teen Missions and all of them have been life changing experiences with huge spiritual growth for me. Teen Missions understands short term missions very well and has a very well thought out program. Yes some people in the past haven't gotten good leaders, but leader training and the implementation of more rules to be a leader has improved who can actually be a leader. I recommend Teen Missions to anyone who wants exposure to missions, or just wants their summer to be impactful.

I was mentally, physically, and spiritually abused by this organization. I went on a mission trip with this place just weeks after my brother had passed due to suicide. After seeking help and prayer for the loss I had just experienced- my leaders refused to pray for me and instead told me to stop talking about it because I was being "overdramatic" and they didn't understand "what my problem was. I needed to get over it" My leaders were so incredibly manipulative, abusive, and legalist. They joked about selling me to the men that approached me, an underage girl. I was locked in a room with a mattress on the floor and not allowed to leave for my "Special blessing" Do not send your children here. This is not a place of love and compassion. They caused me to completely walk away from the faith. I still have not forgiven what my “leaders” did to me. I was harassed and looked to my leaders for help - instead of helping me they continued it themselves. I was constantly embarrassed and humiliated publicly. After I was home and tried to move on the same leaders posted horrible things online about me and my team. I was messaged and constantly condemned for being "emotional" and "was one of the many problems they dealt with" Then without my permission, this organization posted my very personal story about the one I lost to suicide all over social media. what was posted was word for word what I had written as a prayer request and they used it as a good story to promote themselves. Please I'm begging you do not send your children here - there are so many other great organizations that won't manipulate and damage your child

Been on a few teams and spent time as a volunteer. This ministry is great and has a big heart for people and ministry! 10/10 recommended for sure

My first experience with Teen Missions was when I was in high school, back in the 90's. I went as a member on three consecutive teams and had an awesome experience each time. Since then I have been a leader on a number of teams (most recently in the summer of 2019) and I have really enjoyed being able to help young students have an authentic mission experience. The two keys for Teen Missions with me are these:
1. The team members and leaders get trained for two weeks BEFORE they go to their overseas. mission projects
2. Teams stay on their project sites for 4-5 weeks, giving them a more comprehensive experience of the countries and people who they are ministering to.
I highly recommend this ministry for any student (10-19) or adult who wants to devote their summer to serving Jesus on the mission field.

I've learned a lot from Teen Missions! I have learned how to pray, grow in my walk with the Lord, and so much more! I have been on four teams so far, and it definitely won't be the last! It has changed my perspective on so many things. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend going!

It's safe to say Teen Missions helped change my entire family for the rest of our lives. I went on my first team as a bratty 14-yr-old, and I had no idea what I was in for! I didn't know anyone when I first flew to Florida. That summer was so hard for me, and I grew up fast. I learned a lot about myself, responsability, endurance, compassion, and how to live daily for Jesus. I also came home with a whole new family of friends! On my second team I brought my brother and a few church friends, they all had equally life-changing summers. That summer I came home with a new friend-family, a healed relationship with my brother, and a gift for writing worship songs.

Through those experiences my family grew a heart for missions. The nine of us ended up selling our house, quitting our lives, and moving to Guam as full-time missionaries! Soon after moving, I flew back to the states for a third team. I had an incredible summer driving around Africa, and that was the summer I truly experienced poverty. It gave me such a profound gratefulness and a heart for the spiritually lost.
And the fundraising for the team isn't easy either! But God provided even when it seemed impossible to raise the money.

Teen Missions certainly has it's flaws, every organization does. But the heart behind the ministry is so blindingly evident. Teen Missions doesn't just provide aid to impoverished countries. It ministers to teenagers like me. Teenagers that don't know what the rest of the world lives like. Teenagers that have never experienced real difficulty. Teenagers that have never had to rely on a team of people. Teenagers that have never needed God to get through the day. *Today's teenagers need to learn to do hard things!!!* living as a Christian in a sinful world isn't supposed to be easy.

Teen Missions doesn't have an easy program, but it is so worthwhile. And the program is pretty ironed out after 50 years. They're so intentional about everything they do. And they do a great job of keeping kids safe while still letting them have experiences.

I've had a lifetime of adventures in three short years. I'm stronger in my faith than I've ever been. My family has a whole new life that isn't easy, but is still beautiful it's own way.
I've spent my whole life moving as either a military brat or as a missionary kid. BUT! If I have one home in this whole wide world, it lies in Merritt Island, Florida... Where I found myself, a new family, and God.

I went on a summer trip to Tanzania in 2016. It was one of the best trips I have been on. We worked hard and the work was very rewarding. I made lots of life long friends, many of whom I still visit today.

I’ve been on 3 Teen Missions teams my first one at 12 years old and I’ve never wanted to stop. There is an atmosphere that is welcoming to all. I have made lifelong friends on Teen Missions with such a bond that I could never have with anyone else.

Teen Missions has benefited my life in many ways. TMI helped grow and strengthen my faith. They teach a wonderful work ethic and I am personally a better public speaker. They also grew my leadership ability and I am currently leading multiple groups. Over my two summer teams, I experienced many hardships but my teammates gathered around me through out. In fact, I still sent out prayer requests out. This last summer (summer of 2020) when my team was cancelled due to COVID-19, they created an online team with weekly challenges and a great network of teens. Teen Missions International has invested so much in my life and it is my prayer that they continue to do the Lord's work.

I have participated on 2 summer teams with Teen Missions, and God has changed my life while on these teams. The staff are excellent, the programs are well thought out, and it an overall awesome experience!

Having been A Street child in rehabilitation for a year and being taken to formal school where i was for the next six year's, the gospel of the Lord was not very appealing to my life as it was delivered by the project staff who also had the mandate to discipline us with corporal punishment. At the end of my primary school, i was given the first opportunity in the project to attend the Lords Boot Camp in the summer of 1998 which gave me a life changing opportunity that i only came to know after i had left teen missions. Many people noticed the change in me in terms of Prayer behavior, interaction and commitment to life matters which i had not realized my self. In fact at the end of the camp, i remember one of my leaders (MARGARET teen missions Uganda) approached me and inquired whether there is anything that has changed in my life ''Charles do you feel any change in yourlife ever since you came to this camp?'' to her dismay my reply was that i feel no change at all and that the only benefit have obtained during this camp was a certificate, t.shirt, and the food which i have been depositing daily in the toilet. I also made her know that iam extremely happy to return home because i was fed up with such life in the camp and stated that i would never again set foot in teen missions, a thing that i had to repent about later. to be honest, these where my words but the Lord had already done his work in me. though i didn't know, the people around me back at home started to notice the different me, this gave the project officers encouragement to take more children to the camp during the next lot. The word i received during the 40 days of the camp kept me strong for the next 10 years +. I was glad to share this testimony with the teens when i had the opportunity to visit the Kaberamaido Site where i had taken some teens from my work place to receive the same wonderful discipleship that i had 10 years ago. they all had wonderful testimonies and wanted to have another opportunity. I was amazed that the same principles and christian ideals that were passed to us many years ago were still the same cherished values being instilled to the now campers.All children need to experience the life training opportunity that will not leave them the same for the rest of their lives.

Charles Okwii
Uganda East Africa

I went on a Teen Missions team three summers in a row when I was 16-18 years of age. Teen Missions was life changing!! It is where God called me into full time Christian service...knowing that is what I would be doing with my life one day. Teen Missions is where I truly learned to start trusting God. From stories of boot camp, to working together as a team to get 100 pieces of luggage onto a train in a 3 minute time period, to seeing jobs accomplished at work sites or people coming to know Jesus, Teen Missions is a life changing time! I praise God that my parents allowed me to serve with TMI for 3 summers. My sister also went on a team. She was greatly impacted as well. Please know that TMI has changed so many lives for the good. A few other kids from the church I grew up at also chose to go after I had had such a great experience. God is good and truly works thorugh this amazing ministry!

Starting in 1994, four of our five children have been on at least one team each. Our oldest didn't go because we never heard of Teen Missions until she was too old. Teen Missions was a positive, life changing experience for every one of our kids who went. It would take much too long to expound on all the blessings and benefits they gained from participating. As a mother, I encourage parents everywhere to encourage their kids to go on at least one TMI summer team. You will be glad you did.

I spent 3 summers overseas with TMI and it was life-changing in that it opened my eyes to a world that I had never known existed. I spent the summer of 1990 in Pakistan. While there, my team was able to work for a camp that needed new structures built. We worked manually, but also were able to interact with local kids who had never seen an American before in their small remote village 9000 feet up in the Himalayas! This year I will have the opportunity to represent TMI during a concert tour. I can't wait! TMI is an organization that I wholly support and would encourage anyone to go on a team or join as a team leader.

Spent 2 summers serving with Teen Missions! Now my teen daughters will go on their 2nd summer with Teen Missions this coming summer. Love this group and what they stand for!

I have been on four summer trips with TMI, one preteen and four teen, and I can definitely say that each and every one has been life changing. I know for sure that I would not be the person I am if I had never gone on a TMI trip. I have never in my life felt as close to the Lord as I do when I`m on a summer trip. The bond that grows between you and your team mates is amazing, and there is nothing else as incredible as when your standing under the big top with 500 other teens, all covered in dirt, sweat and mosquito bites with your hands raised praising the Lord of host. I have worked hard on each of my teams, I`v helped build a house and a dorm, I`v installed a septic tank, and biked over mountains to reach the children on the other side. And I`v seen the hungry look in the eyes of men and women who want to know of the God I serve. That to me makes each summer worth whatever hardships I have to go through. No one can know how truly blessed they are until they have seen families who can`t afford to clothe their children, or seen homeless men and women who`s lives have been ruined by drugs and alcohol. Without Teen Missions int. I would never have known what it was like to look at people who have no hope I thank God that He ever directed me to TMI.

I found out about Teen Missions in 1985 at school. I went on a mission trip to Germany and it simply changed my life. Again, in 1989 I went on another mission trip to the Philippines. This year, I had the privilege of sending my daughter on a mission trip to Ecuador. The trips are amazing but the amazing part is the change that occurs in your heart. Teen Missions uses teenagers to change the world! They teach these kids how to do hard manual labor, live up to high expectations with no exceptions, and work together as a team in a foreign country. Most of us parents feel like raising teenagers mean we are living in a foreign country trying to navigate the trials of teenage-hood. It is a great organization - it gives people the opportunity of a lifetime to go to a foreign country, preach the gospel, and learn a lot about yourself in eight weeks! Simply amazing because I can't think of a better word to describe an organization that cares so much for the people they serve!

I am not on staff or have recently donated to the ministry, but I am a former team member and leader. My life was drastically changed by TMI when I went on my first team as a 14 year old. It is intense and the intensity that exists in the organization is for a reason. We live in a very permissive society now that has been training children to have no rules and to do whatever they want. Working in Canada with a government licensed daycare, I see that as the rules keep changing to promote that kind of attitude. I was a social work major and I have also had years of experience in youth ministry both in a pastoral role and in working with other teen-oriented mission organizations and have found the result of lack of rules and organizations. On my first team, I had been a high-school drop-out due to depression, completely spoiled, lazy, and materialistic. I had a strong victim's mentality and a lack of personal responsibility attitude. Being at Teen Missions helped me to overcome much of that as I was encouraged to see all that I could do, all that I needed, and what God could do. I did overcome depression through a lot of hard work and counselling, went back to school and finished, because I learned the limitations I thought I had were just thoughts and that God could help me overcome everything. I went back for 3 more teams. Once as a team member, Twice as a leader, where I saw once more the reason and logic behind the rules, the intensity, and saw for myself the life change in the teens that I lead. Also, as all the staff, from the President on down, raise their own support to be year-long staff, you know that the money spent is not paying anyone's salaries and that the staff is not there for the money (though I do not have a problem with organizations paying their staff at all) and truly believe in the ministry of this organization. This, of course, is not including all they are doing in Africa to help with the aids orphans, provide safe housing to girls going to school, building airstrips to remote areas, building churches, dorms, or any of the other practical work they have been doing for missionaries and other organizations all over the world! I am only waiting for my children to be old enough so that I can send them or can join myself to go on another team!

This is an amazing organization. I served on a team to Germany in 2006. It was incredible to get to do this as a 15 year old. I was so scared, but The Lord provided in so many ways!! Such a life changing experience for me, my team members, and the people we got to meet. Definitely worth supporting.

I am a member of the public, a volunteer, a person who's children have participated many times, and someone who's life changed a lot through this ministry. My husband led one team, but usually stays home and works. I went once as a teenage team member and 20 times as a leader of all ages except mustard seeds. My 3 sons have been many times and eventually became leaders. One son and his wife went to the free bible college which uses the work-study program and now are full time missionaries with TMI. They, and all other missionaries there, including the names listed as pres. Etc. raise support through churches, friends, etc. the monies do not come from monies contributed to a students summer team, etc. when a team member or leader goes on a mission trip, thy raise support for food, travel ( air fares, trains, trucks, etc) , building supplies for project, evangelistic and other printed materials they take with them, a sight seeing event they try to do once during the project, and money for a third world teen to participate in their own country. All of this is specified and info can be given if you are interested. It is a wonderful group, but is not like other more traditional non profit organizations. They are quite candid and above board with their financials and are audited each year. As leaders, we have to turn in very detailed forms showing monies spent and must supply receipts. I would give to this group, helping a young person or leader go on these life changing trips. If you are ever near NASA! fl, you are only about 10 miles from Teen Missions. Drop in and take a tour. But not in the summer...it is too busy right then and not nough time to take you around. Try the fall, winter or spring. Also, they could use volunteers in many ways during any time of the year. Come and help!

We are parents that have personally visited the TMI campus several times in the last three years. During that time our three teenagers have completed six mission trips with the TMI. Our youngest daughter attended their Peanut Camp program. Additionally we traveled to Saskatchewan to see firsthand the work that is being accomplished. This is a wonderful program operated on a shoestring budget. Our children have returned happy and excited about going back into the field with TMI. I cannot say enough good things about TMI and I hope this review will help you trust in the Lord and His direction when deciding if TMI is for your family.

I spent 3 summers with teen missions as a team member and now my son has spent 2 summers as a second generation team member. They spend their time taking changing the lives of North American kids and supporting missionary work around the world. I trust them with my money and my kids.