How A Church Planting Retreat Is Changing Lives and Shaping Faith

W hat happens when a group of North American young adults (and older ones too) travel across the world to meet with church planters in a post-Christian European context?

Trip planners hoped for—even expected—transformation. Go. Connect. Grow. But the Holy Spirit moved beyond their imaginations, not just during the initial pilot trip a few years ago, but in the subsequent trips each year that continue to spur growth.

“This trip is an incredible way to see how God works in different contexts and how personal his relationships with people are,” says trip participant Chris Molette.

As incredible as the sights and relationships were, the impact for Chris went much deeper.

Related: How global experiences led me to my call

Go: one trip, two years, and lasting impact

Chris participated in the European Church Planting Retreat two years in a row but had profoundly different experiences each year. Both experiences were impactful, he says.

“The first time I went on the trip, I honestly wasn’t motivated by anything faith-related. I loved the idea of exploring new countries,” he says. “The second time, however, was different. I was looking for a ‘redo.’ My first trip was marked by poor preparation and a negative mindset. I approached it as just a vacation, missing the deeper opportunity to experience faith in a new context. Looking back, the challenges I faced that first time were actually God’s intentional way of shaping me, even though they didn’t feel like it at the time.

“On the second trip, I was in a much better headspace,” says Chris. “I encountered God’s love through the people around me and saw how he works uniquely in each person’s life, meeting their specific needs. I learned a lot about the ways people experience God’s love, and it was a transformative experience.

Related: Short-term mission reveals the unity we have in Christ

“I was surprised in year one by the discomfort of being challenged and open, and in year two, I was amazed at how directly and intimately God loves his people,” adds Chris. “The impact of this trip continues to unfold for me, even months after the second year.”

Connect: mutually encouraging transformative relationships

The goal of the trip, a collaboration between RCA Global Mission and Generation Spark, was for people to lean deeper into the work of the Reformed Church in America’s mission partners—to connect with them, learn from them, and encourage them in their efforts. Participants were able to choose from a handful of European mission sites and church plants for their visit, then the full group spent time together processing what they had witnessed and learned.

During the inaugural trip, a quick bond of friendship was forged between participants, both young and old. Then, as participants met with and learned from church planters, missionaries, and other practitioners, more connections took root, establishing lasting relationships to grow and strengthen the global church. These points of connection transform participants and hosts each year.

“The missionaries we worked with were a huge part of [my] growth,” says Chris. “Seeing people … who loved strangers with such authenticity gave me a concrete understanding of God’s unconditional love. [The missionaries] showed me how to genuinely love others as God’s children, treating each person with care and respect.”

Related: A tale of two church plants: friendship and shared mission in Europe

The unique role of intergenerational relationships

As a catalyst for transformation, Chris points to a key relationship with his mentor, Taylor.

“When I first started meeting with Taylor, I had a lot of questions—big and small. Moving from a youth group setting, where I wasn’t comfortable asking certain things, to a one-on-one relationship with Taylor gave me the space to ask those ‘dumb’ questions that I needed to begin my faith journey. Over time, our meetings evolved from very formal sessions to more relaxed conversations, where I felt comfortable just hanging out and catching up. Taylor has become someone I can go to with personal struggles, and he helps me find faith-based answers.

“He’s also the reason I attended the trip both times,” adds Chris. “Both times, he encouraged me to go, even when I was unsure, and without his push, I probably wouldn’t have gone. Having him as a mentor has been incredibly important to my growth. He’s supported me through my lows, pushed me when I needed it, and celebrated my victories with me.”

Watch: More from Chris and Taylor on the power of mentoring relationships

Past participants also give testimony to the unique way this trip brings together generations, quickly turning strangers into friends and erasing age differences.

Grow: not just a physical journey but one of faith

Much of the impact from the trip, says Chris, relates to his faith.

“This trip was a significant turning point in my faith journey,” he says. “It was the first time I truly felt challenged by God, where I knew there was purpose but couldn’t yet see the bigger picture. God prompted me to question my identity and my purpose in his kingdom. I asked myself questions like: Where does God want me? What does he want me to do?”

Those questions and others like them, led to deep conversations which “helped me grow vulnerable and explore my faith at a deeper level,” adds Chris.

Related: How to foster lasting spiritual growth on mission trips

Back on home soil, Chris continues to experience growth as he builds on the connections he’s made and the conversations he’s had.

“One of my biggest takeaways is from Matthew 6:34: ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ This reminds me to live in the tension of trusting God, wherever he has me, and to have faith that he’s using it for the good of his kingdom.”