Serve International | Upcoming Mission Trips

God leads us to different places, people, neighborhoods, homes, and settings to share Christ. At First Woodway, we are ready to go wherever God sends us. Whether it be across the ocean or south of the border, we are ready to share God’s love with others.

We are excited to showcase our upcoming international trips! Use the provided links to sign up for a trip for yourself or your family. Each person going on an international trip will need to fill out a separate form no matter what the age of the person. Please follow the directions on the form carefully. Then, be in prayer about how God will use you in this region to love and serve others.  In the past, we have served alongside our global partners in Cambodia, Chile, Southern Asia, Lebanon, and the Dominican Republic. Our work has included leading Bible studies, completing construction work, providing medical ministry, and most importantly – sharing the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ.

In February, we helped out at kid’s camp for the elementary students at Hope International School, run by our long-time global partners, the Ecklund family.

Cost: $2700 Per Person | Sign-Up Deadline: Jan 4, 2026
There is a desperate need in this South Asian village for the school to continue being a spiritual and educational light to the community. Our global partner has requested us to host a training session with the village teachers, so we are in need of teachers (pre-school through 12th grade) for this trip! We are also in need of speech pathologists to work with English sounds for their teachers. Be on the lookout for the final trip date to be announced soon.

Cost: $2300 | Sign-Up Deadline: Apr 5, 2026
We are excited to begin this new partnership with the North American Mission Board and the Canadian National Baptist Convention. We will be supporting and serving alongside several churches in Calgary through helping lead Vacation Bible School and community outreach. Please be in prayer how you might serve in this new partnership.

Cost: TBD | Sign-Up Deadline: TBD
Join us as we partner with Emmanuel Baptist Church in Rio de Janeiro for an unforgettable week of ministry and outreach. Our team will serve alongside local churches, sharing the love of Christ with the surrounding community and in area schools.

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. Sign-up to attend the pre-requisite training class – Mission Ready: Preparing to Serve Here, Near, and Far.
  3. Fill out a Liability Release Form.
  4. Submit your deposit (cash or check) to a member of the Missions Staff or to the church office.
  5. 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.

Global Partner Monthly Prayer Focus

Our church adopted the Rohingya peoples because they are an unreached people group who are considered among the most persecuted. Previously living in Myanmar, they were forcibly removed from their homes and were relocated to the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. Through our giving, the gospel is spreading throughout the camp. Pray for these new believers to have boldness to share their new faith with their friends and family. Pray for open and softened hearts for the gospel among this people group. Pray for our new brothers and sisters in Christ as they face persecution for their new faith. We have a team going to Bangladesh this month to see the work that is being done.

Redcar is both a long-standing and renewed partner of First Woodway. For years, our youth have served there, and several mid-term students have joined their efforts. Now, we’re partnering with them as a church to help change the story of decline in their town—bringing hope and transforming lives in Jesus’ name. Pray for God’s guidance as they lead their church. Pray for members to join in reaching their community. Pray for local youth to be drawn to Jesus.

Cameron and Jennifer, Claire and Chloe
Our global prayer partners for this month are the Gunnels family who serve in Thailand. They lead a local team that plants churches among several unreached people groups in northern Thailand and East Asia. Pray that God would raise up local, mature spiritual leaders to help with church planting. Pray for Cameron as he shares the Gospel with lost people. Pray for new believers as they are being discipled.

Please keep our global partner in Japan, Andrew Piña, in your prayers this month! He was an active student in our college ministry and recently transitioned from a mid-term worker to a full-time missionary with the International Mission Board (IMB). Andrew is currently in language school and works with a local church to disciple and train leaders in outreaching to unchurched areas. Pray for Andrew as he continues to get settled into his new home. Pray for local friendships with believers and nonbelievers and for his studies as he learns Japanese to be able to share the Gospel in their language.

Pastor A lives in the most populated country in the world! There are 2,717 people groups here, and 2,445 of them are completely unreached! Our prayers can make a difference in this very dark and lost country. Pray for believers to have continued strength and boldness to live out the Gospel surrounded by nonbelievers. Pray for workers to enter this harvest. Pray for God to pour out His spirit and move in this place.

Adam & Emily, Gianna, Selah, & Kaiya
This month we are praying for the Ecklund family in Cambodia. Adam is the director of Hope International School in Phnom Penh; this school is hosts mostly “third culture” students – missionary children or those living outside of their original culture. The Ecklunds disciple and guide them as they share God’s word through the school. This year, their oldest child, Gianna, is in Waco attending Baylor. Please pray for Gianna and the family as they are separated during her time at college. Pray for the children of the school to be open to the Gospel that is taught and modeled. Please pray for the missions team that will be serving later this month in Cambodia.

STCH – South TX Children’s Home
This month we are praying for our partners in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Our partners there work with schools, churches, and orphanages to care for those who are stuck in poverty. They also strengthen and encourage families to become models of the Gospel in their communities. Please pray for their hearts to be refreshed as they work tirelessly and diligently. Pray for God to uplift these families so they may reflect Christ’s love to their community.

Blake and Cara, Thad, Remy, & Alice
This month, we are praying for the Sherman family in England. Blake, along with another pastor, recently planted a church in the Birmingham area. Please pray that this new church plant would flourish in a region where Christianity is declining. Pray for hearts to be softened to the Gospel and for the church members to have boldness in sharing their faith. Also pray for the Shermans as they adjust to a new rhythm of balancing the church plant, family life, and serving their community.

Meet the MISSIONS Staff

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