As I talk to American churches about the Biblical Institute of Zagreb and our work, one of the things I regularly hear is, “We would love to come and visit, but what would we do?”

In American churches, it’s traditional to send groups of people on missions trips to help build or maintain buildings at missions stations in Mexico and Haiti and on the Navajo Reservation, etc.

But what would people do on a mission trip to the Biblical Institute? We don’t have any walls to paint or buildings to build or knock down.

What we can offer, however, are DiscipleTrips.

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“DiscipleTrips” to Croatia

WHAT ARE DISCIPLETRIPS?

DiscipleTrips are mission trips that focus on spiritual growth instead of building/maintaining facilities, etc. They bring mature Christians from the United States to Croatia to grow and build relationships with Croatian believers.  Serving, praying, and studying together cross-culturally is a powerful, transformative experience.

Does your church have …

• … mature believers who are gifted for ministry? 
• … people whose walk with Jesus would be enriched by cross-cultural service?
• … a group of deep, mature people from a particular occupation or industry (e.g., medicine, counseling, education, music)?

If you have any of these, a DiscipleTrip to Croatia would benefit your congregation.

WHY DISCIPLETRIPS?

• Deepen Your Faith: Engaging in deep discussions with Christians from other cultures challenges your perspectives and helps you grow in your ability to live out biblical truth.
• Experience Jesus in Others: Pray, work, and study side-by-side with Croatian believers.
• Experience Croatia: Explore the beauty of Croatia, its rich history and culture.

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER A DISCIPLETRIP?

• Mature believers with a heart for service.
• Individuals seeking to deepen their walk with Jesus and broaden their understanding of the Christian faith.
• Groups from specific professions or industries who want to explore the intersection of their vocation and their faith.

THE BENEFITS OF A DISCIPLETRIP

• Gain valuable cross-cultural experience.
• Deepen your understanding of the Christian faith.
• Develop lasting relationships with Croatian believers.
• Experience the beauty and culture of Croatia.
• Make a tangible impact on the lives of others.

TYPES OF DISCIPLETRIPS:

1. Ministry-Focused Trips:
   1. American participants actively plan and execute a ministry event for Croatian believers, such as a weekend conference on parenting, marriage, or prayer.
   2. This involves fundraising, organizing logistics, and potentially bringing in expert speakers.
   3. The emphasis is on practical application of biblical truths in specific areas of life.
2. Vocational Roundtables:
   1. Bring together American and Croatian believers from the same professions (teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, etc.) to discuss how their faith and vocation intersect.
   2. Explore how cultural differences impact professional practices and how faith can guide ethical decision-making in various work settings.
   3. Possible topics for discussion include:
      1. What is it like to be a Christian businessperson (or schoolteacher, or doctor / nurse) in Croatia?  How does it differ from in the USA?  Can we learn from each other about facing barriers and taking advantage of opportunities?
      2. Industry-specific questions: how does our faith guide the way we treat employees (or students, patients, customers)?  How does faith guide ethical decision making, financial controls, reporting., etc?
      3. How can Christians in the USA and in Croatia approach their vocations as service to God?
   4. The goal is for all participants to think more deeply about their vocation and their faith, and the connection between.
3. Cross-Cultural Discipleship:
   1. The Biblical Institute would offer special classes, designed to bring American and Croatian believers together to study, discuss, and pray through a biblical topic.
   2. Involves a combination of lectures and interactive discussions, fostering deep spiritual growth through cross-cultural interaction.
   3. Talking and praying through your faith with mature believers from other cultures is a powerful way to deepen your own faith and walk with Jesus.

DISCIPLETRIP STRUCTURE:

• Typically 5-10 nights, depending on the type of trip and sightseeing options.
• Includes time for ministry activities, cultural immersion, and sightseeing.
• Involves worship services in Croatian churches.

Are you interested in organizing a DiscipleTrip for your church? Reach out to me to start the conversation.