So you want to go on a "mission trip" That's great. But why? What's the motivation? Our goal is that your vision will match our mission which is to connect your group with one of our groups in the spirit of equipping, encouraging, and empowering each other for greater acts of service during and after your mission trip.
God called me to urban missions in the summer of 1983 when I was serving as a seminary intern in the heart of NYC Times Square at a place called Lambs Church. Back then, Times Square was a bad part of town. We served hot meals for the homeless, offered tutoring and children's activities for those living in cheap welfare hotels, and much more.
When I finished my degree, God called my wife and I to start Shepherd Community Urban Ministry in Indy which is now a national model with over 50 staff. In 1990 we felt God's call to be missionaries in Africa where we served at a mission hospital. My wife is an OB/Gyn. We were then asked to start another urban ministry based on "Compassion, Church, Community Development" in Denver. Compassion International saw what we were doing so successfully that they asked me to be their USA Ministry Director in 2000. A few years later with Compassion's sponsorship and support we started CityConnexx as a way to get more youth & college students directly involved in missions here in the US.
Over these years, we've seen thousands of young people make a direct long lasting impact in some of our nation's most at-risk communities. We've been able to give hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct support to our ministry partners. Over $5 million dollars in volunteer labor has been poured out by CityConnexx groups in dozens of cities.
Our prayer is that as you look out over the city or Native American reservation where you will serve, you too will catch a vision of what God can do through you. When Jesus looked out over his city, the bible tells us, "He wept". He saw such great need. It moved him to his core. It moved him to tears.
Jesus weeps for the poor. He came to preach the gospel to the poor and release the captives. You can be part of that vision and mission. You can make a difference. "Just as the son of man came not to be served but to serve and give his life . . ."
Rev. Dean Cowles
