Even though they’re only separated by 12 miles of water (the Irish Sea) Ireland and Scotland are countries and cultures apart. On this combination mission trip, you’ll be immersed in the unique customs and traditions of Ireland and a multitude of diverse communities hidden in the hillside and inner cities of Scotland. These two countries found within the United Kingdom will bring forth a new understanding and appreciation as you share the Gospel through relationships you build over the month!

Ministry—While you’ll most likely connect well with Irish and Scottish teens, intentional relationships are pivotal in building wonder for exploring and sharing the Gospel. Young people in both countries consider God “irrelevant” and have little interest in spiritual things. You’ll also most likely be encountering Roma Gypsies (from Eastern Europe or Pakistani), Indians (from East Asia), and some people from the Middle East, which means ministering from a whole new perspective.  

Therefore, your ministry will really focus hard on building relationships and simply getting to know people. Once relationships are built and you’ve developed trust, you’ll be able to talk about Christ in a low-key, no pressure environment. You and your team will probably partner with the churches to host “drop-in” youth clubs, do street performances, and run VBS programs as well.

Adventure—Ministering in Ireland and Scotland and debriefing in London will provide countless things to do and places to explore! You’ll get to roam deserted beaches and search out crumbling thousand-year-old castles on Ireland’s North Coast, wander narrow, winding medieval streets of Glasgow, get lost in the lush meadows and rolling hills of Dunoon, or leave Buckingham Palace and stroll along the famous Thames River while keeping your eyes on Big Ben.

Experience Culture—You’ll find out right away that the Irish have a strong spirit of independence and are proud of their rich heritage of music, literature, and dance. Their official food mascot? The potato! The Irish tend to be night owls, and your ministry activities often start late and end even later! But don’t fret, if there’s one thing Ireland knows how to do right, it’s a proper cup of tea to keep you going. 

And the Scots? Your first cultural experience will be trying to understand what the Scottish are saying to you. And due to an influx of immigrants from around the world, Scotland is now a melting pot of culture whose streets are a mix of plaid kilts, Asian turbans, and colorful middle-Eastern hijabs. You’ll find a quintessential Scottish pub side by side to a curry restaurant with street performers competing for your attention in the shade of castle turrets. If we are lucky we might get to see the local clans compete in the Highland games!