Decline in Short-Term Missions
The heartbeat of 127 Worldwide hasn’t changed — we desire to be the bridge that connects people with the goal of empowering vulnerable communities. For
March 27, 2025
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Be Their Guest
If you do a quick google search of “voluntourism”, links to some horrifying stories of child exploitation are likely to surface. Orphanages in Cambodia drawing
October 5, 2022
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Join God At Work
This video does an excellent job of introducing how a commitment to human dignity informs the way Christians see material need and address physical poverty.
July 26, 2022
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5 Steps to Serving Others Well
A distinctive of 127 Worldwide is that we believe all relationships are mutually-edifying. We are not the experts with knowledge or wisdom to impart, but
July 26, 2022
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Handling Handouts
We’ve all driven past a homeless person holding a sign at an intersection or been asked by a stranger for money while visiting a big
July 26, 2022
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Resist Simplistic Solutions
Western do-gooders need to resist the allure of ‘exotic problems’ This article published in The Guardian hits us where it hurts. Most of us can
July 26, 2022
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Paternalism
When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, has shaped much of the way 127 Worldwide interacts with vulnerable communities. We recommend their book
July 26, 2022
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Does Christianity Belong in Africa?
This article on The Gospel Coalition Africa website is intended as an apologetic tool for refuting a common objection that Christianity is a religion for
July 26, 2022
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Managing Culture Shock
If you’ve ever considered traveling internationally, you’ve probably heard tales of the infamous “culture shock” upon arrival in a new country. Maybe you’ve even experienced
July 26, 2022
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Championing Local Leaders
Pippa Biddle, a well-intentioned, multiple time short-term missions-tripper, witnessed firsthand some of the drawbacks of mission projects and came face to face with her own
July 26, 2022
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Not Bad Just Different
The Oxford dictionary defines worldview as “a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world.” It’s woven into our assumptions, our biases, and that
July 26, 2022
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3 Primary Culture Types
Perhaps most exciting about traveling to another country is experiencing the new foods, languages, and approach to life that a different culture offers. We can
July 26, 2022
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Realistic Expectations for GO Teams
You spent the last six months fundraising to participate in a 127 Worldwide GO Team traveling to Kenya. Even though you had to dig into
July 26, 2022
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To Western Missionaries: From An African Pastor
Chopo Mwanza pastors Faith Baptist Church Riverside in Kitwe, Zambia, and his thoughts about missions in Africa provide insightful context to the work of 127’s
July 26, 2022
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Ministry of Presence
“Ministry of presence” is an important part of 127 Worldwide’s ministry philosophy and plays a huge role in our GO Teams. It also is integrally
July 26, 2022
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Helping the Poor Without Hurting Them on Your Mission Trip
If we’ve learned anything from our combined years of ministry experience, it’s that good intentions are not enough and cultural sensitivity requires constant cultivation. Even
July 26, 2022
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127 GO Teams
Whether you’ve never traveled far from home or you’re a frequent flyer miles millionaire, welcome! We are excited to invite you into a conversation that
July 26, 2022
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Rediscovering Our Place in the Story
We are motivated to care for the needs of others because we were once needy, orphaned, spiritually dead, separated from God and without hope in
July 26, 2022
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Local Leaders Bridge the Gap
We aim to be a reliable resource to connect, equip, and empower our partners so that they can thrive in the work they’ve been called to do.
June 15, 2022
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How Mutual Edification Shaped My Time in Kenya and Beyond
Throughout my walk with Christ, I’ve participated in several mission trips, but it wasn’t until I served alongside 127 Worldwide and Swahiba Youth Networks that
June 15, 2022
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How 127 Equipped Me for My First International Trip
During the spring of 2021, I discovered 127 Worldwide through a blog on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Intersect Project. The blog, titled “3 Things Your
June 15, 2022
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When Happy Endings Hurt
When I was a kid, I loved the book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. These surprisingly morbid children’s stories followed the tragic lives of
June 14, 2022
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What a Candid Photo Taught Me About Human Dignity
Have you ever done something on a mission trip that, upon looking back, makes you feel sick to your stomach? Sometimes our best intentions result
June 14, 2022
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3 Ways to Increase Cultural Sensitivity
Whether you have traveled abroad or not, you are probably familiar with the “ignorant American” stereotype. It’s almost assumed in movies that the American character
June 14, 2022
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What Helps and What Hurts in Relief and Development Aid?
Try to think back to how you felt before your very first mission trip experience. Or, if you’ve never gone on a mission trip, imagine
June 14, 2022
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 3 Things Your Next GO Team is Not…
Try to think back to how you felt before your very first mission trip experience. Or, if you’ve never gone on a mission trip, imagine
June 14, 2022
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Powerfully Indirect
I won’t be surprised if someone says to us one day, “Wait a second, you guys don’t really mobilize mission trips at all!” Unknowingly, they’ve
June 14, 2022
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4 Ways to Evaluate the Self-Centeredness of Your Service
In ministry, it is paramount that our service flows out of a heart of thankfulness for the gospel. The gospel reminds us that everything we
June 14, 2022
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Who Are You Ministering To With Your Presence?
I was visiting rural Kenya with a team building an aquaponics system that would benefit a local church. It was hard work, and our team
June 14, 2022
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4 Principles for Reevaluating Your Missions Strategy
This is the first summer in twenty years that I have not gone, or helped people to go, on short-term mission projects. Twenty years means
June 14, 2022
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5 Ways to Help the Poor Without Hurting Them
When I boarded my jet for Kenya in 2015, I couldn’t wait to arrive at the Nairobi slums and get busy. Many people there needed
June 14, 2022
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