Travelling through Europe this summer and supporting Christian ministries on the ground may change the life of young Christians.

This is the vision behind Race across Europe, a pioneer initiative of OM (Operation Mobilisation) for people aged 18-30 who wish to “share their faith with new friends”.

Using an interrail pass (which allows unlimited rail travel between European countries for a certain period of time), participants will join a ministry team for over a month to share their faith and serve alongside Christian ministries in 11 countries, including The Balkans, France, Greece and Poland.

The starting point will be the OM base in the UK, where participants will be trained 5 days before leaving to cities in the continent who have established teams on the ground. In these contexts, they will serve in practical work, youth groups, street ministry, refugee ministry and personal evangelism. There is time before 11 June to apply.

“Open eyes to the work God is already doing”

Lara Jenkins, one of the coordinators of the project, told Evangelical Focus: “Our prayer is that exposure to the mission fields they will be passing through and connecting with will open their eyes to the work God is already doing, and call hearts to serve him longer term”. 

The pioneer project this year 2023 could become “a staple of OM ministry experiences for young people” in the future. “A huge number of missionaries and missionary agencies were formed by people who went on a short-term trip first, experiencing mission first hand and then being called more long term”, Jenkins says.

But on the other end, local and long-term workers are “encouraged” and “refreshed” to continue their work after such visits. Meeting young people also “adds intrigue for the locals as to why people have travelled to them to share the gospel”. 

“We believe that God uses short term trips to build his kingdom, and we want to be part of that”, concludes Lara Jenkins.