Serve in the US | Mission Trips for 2024-25

God has called us to go share his love with others – including right here at home in the United States. First Woodway sends people to serve all through the year – including week long summer mission trips for the entire family and smaller fall trips to serve at the Texas/Mexico border. Come join others at First Woodway and share the good news with those here in the United States.

We are excited to showcase our stateside trips for 2024-25! Use the provided links to sign up for a trip for yourself or your family. Please follow the directions on the sign up forms carefully. Then, be in prayer about how God will use you in this area to love and serve others. In the past, we have served alongside our partners in Texas, Massachusetts, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Washington . Our work has included leading Bible studies, completing construction work, and most importantly – sharing the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ.

Cost: $175 Per Person/$500 Per Family | Team Size: 10 – 15 | Trip Leaders: Tom & Elizabeth Gutierrez | Sign-Up Deadline: Nov 1, 2024
We will once again be partnering with this Texas Baptist River Ministry work and Iglesia Bautista Los Vecinos in Harlingen, TX. We will be ministering to refugee boys, working and encouraging the church, Los Vecinos, and assisting this church with community outreach events. This is a family friendly trip which includes three-night lodging at a local hotel, (breakfast included), and three other meals. We will be taking one church van to carry some team members and have others drive personal vehicles. Sign up here if you are interested in joining us this fall.

Cost: $200 Per Person | Trip Leader: René Maciel
Come serve the Spruce Pines community in North Carolina with us! We will be led by Texans on Mission and will carry out some relief efforts from Hurricane Helene in Yancey County at Burnsville. Cost is $200 per person. For transportation, we will take two vans, or volunteers may fly at their own expense. Sign-up online or on the app. Reach out to Missions Pastor and leader of this trip, René Maciel, with any questions.

Cost: $175 Per Person/$500 Per Family | Team Size: 10 – 12 | Trip Leader: René Maciel | Sign-Up Deadline: Jan 17, 2025
This is another Texas Baptist River Ministry mission experience where will be working in Del Rio and across the border in Ciudad Acuña.We will serve at an immigration processing center and at a mission point in Acuña with a Mexican Baptist church. We will leave on Thursday morning, attend church in Del Rio on Sunday morning, and return back home. We will be staying at mission housing in Del Rio with the Young Living Stones Ministry. Trip meals are covered in the cost. Sign up here if you are interested.

Cost: $500 Per Person/$1500 Per Family | Team Size: 12 – 15 | Trip Leaders: TBD | Sign-Up Deadline: May 16, 2025
Come join us as we travel to Shoshoni, Wyoming. This will be the fifth year that we partner with Wind River Church. We will serve alongside their new pastor by leading VBS and participating in other community outreach events to connect the church in their community. You will travel to Shoshoni on your own, and the cost includes your food and lodging. Sign up here if you are interested.

Cost: $500 Per Person/$1500 Per Family | Team Size: 15 – 20 | Trip Leaders: Tom & Lynn Brooks | Sign-Up Deadline: Jun 7, 2025
Our partnership is with the Red River Community House located in the middle of downtown Red River and FBC-Questa. Our main objective is to connect with residents and serve their community. We will do this as we complete work projects, clear trees, lead a Good News Club, and host outreach events in the evenings at the community house. This is a great family friendly trip. You will be responsible for your own transportation, and we will stay in a lodge right in the heart of the town. Sign up here if you are interested.

Cost: $1000 Per Person | Team Size: 10 – 12 | Trip Leaders: Jeff & Gina Irwin | Sign-Up Deadline: May 17, 2025
Come travel with us to the Seattle area to once again partner with The Mountain Church. We will work with this young and exciting church to assist with community outreach around their new church location in Federal Way as well as assist with the Waterland Festival in Des Moines. We will also encourage this church in their discipleship and service to others. Please sign up as early as possible so that we can obtain the best airfares. Sign up here if you are interested.

Cost: $1000 Per Person | Trip Leader: René Maciel | Team Size: 10 – 12  |  Sign-Up Deadline: June 13, 2025
Join us for our second trip to North Carolina, partnering with Texans on Mission to assist with Hurricane Helene disaster relief. We will fly into Charlotte, then drive to Spruce Pine, where we’ll stay at Pine Branch Baptist Church and have meals at a nearby location. We welcome volunteers with all types of construction skills, or simply those with a willingness to serve wherever needed. Sign up online or through the app by June 13.

Cost: $1000 Per Person, $3,600 Per Family of Four | Trip Leaders: TBD | Sign-Up Deadline: June 27, 2025
This is the second year for this North American Mission Board-Church Plant Partnership. We will partner with Grace Harbor Church in New Bedford. We will fly into Providence, RI and then drive 45 minutes to New Bedford, MA. We will be assisting with service, outreach projects, and construction. We will be housed at Grace Harbor to sleep and eat our meals. Come be a part of this new stateside mission trip to the Northeast to help them share Christ in their community.  Sign up here if you are interested.

Thanks for your interest in one of our domestic or international trips! We are excited to partner with you to share the Good News to the ends of the earth.  To officially register for a trip, complete the following steps:

  1. Fill out a Trip Application Form.
  2. Fill out a Liability Release Form and Background Check Authorization Form.
  3. Submit your deposit (cash or check) to a member of the Missions Staff or to the church office.
  4. A member of the Missions Staff will contact you with required training dates and any additional information.

Financial Support for Trips

Raising Support for Short Term Mission Trips

Scholarship Information for Short Term International Mission Trip Volunteers

Short Term Trip Scholarship Application

One of the most common concerns for those interested in serving on a short-term or mid-term mission team is the cost. It can seem overwhelming to consider paying for a trip that is outside of our normal budget. However, as a body of Christ, we do not want money to be the reason we do not serve on a mission team or share the Good News. We believe that God can and will provide for our needs. It will take some intentionality and hard work, but time and time again God has proven that He is faithful to those He calls. Perhaps the most valuable part of your preparation for a trip is developing your own support team. This support team is made up of both prayer supporters and financial contributors. The goal here is to develop a team – not just raise funds! We encourage each team member to enlist 5-10 people to pray for the team, team member, the area the team is traveling to, and the ministry on the ground. This is a great opportunity to involved small groups and those who are unable to go on the trip.

Another way you can participate in missions is through giving. 

You may not be aware that whenever you give to First Woodway you are already supporting missions. Eight percent of your regular gifts are used to fund mission work in Texas and around the world through the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. That is significant!  But why not pray about doing more?  Many of our members contribute to missions over and above their regular tithe. These gifts are used to support our church’s mission partners, help us send teams to the mission field, and fund projects in Waco and around the world. You can designate a gift for missions by indicating your desire on your giving envelope or the memo line of your check.

Meet the Staff

RENÉ MACIEL
RENÉ MACIELMissions Pastor
LYNN BROOKS
LYNN BROOKSCommunity Outreach Coordinator
SHERRIE ANDERSON
SHERRIE ANDERSONInternational Missions Coordinator