2025 Spring Break Missions Trips

We have the opportunity to partner with what God is doing all across the world over spring break! These trips are a great way to step out of your comfort zone, gain new perspectives, and minister alongside friends. We believe that if you take a step of faith, this will be a powerful and transformative week for you. As a wise pastor once wrote, “A change in place + a change in pace = a change in perspective.”

During the first week of spring break (March 7-15, 2025), we’ll be sending teams to Spain and France.

 

Grenoble, France

March 7-15, 2025

TEAM: Kat + 4 students 

COST:  ~$1770 (price dependent on airfare)

 WHY?

Despite its Catholic history, France—like most of Europe—is now characterized by militant secularism; only 1% of French people have a relationship with God. Like any religion or worldview, secularism provides a framework for living: a framework where the self is the only plausible option for organizing and making sense of life. 

Our missionary partners believe that now is the time to recontextualize the Gospel and accelerate the growth of strong communities of faith. By reaching university students with the Gospel and the love of Jesus, we can not only see French universities impacted but we can see French culture transformed as well.

This year Yale Chi Alpha will be returning to Grenoble, where we partner with local missionaries to invite French university students into a community where they can hear the gospel and see it lived out.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

  1. As fellow college students, we have a natural opportunity to connect with French students and do cultural interviews on campus. Hearing what they’re thinking and feeling is a huge help to the long-term missionaries who are trying to understand students and meet their spiritual needs! 

  2. These conversations will also give us opportunities to invite students to events at the cultural center. The cultural center hosts different events as a way to connect secular students to the ministry—and we will be helping! In 2023, the previous Yale team had an “American night” to have fun and share their culture with French students.

  3. We will also have an opportunity to volunteer with a community center in a predominantly North African/Muslim neighborhood and do ministry there too.

Vigo, Spain

March 7-15, 2025

TEAM: Jasmin, Hannah, Dan + 12 students 

COST: ~$2000 (price dependent on airfare)

WHY?

Vigo is in Galicia, a region in northwestern Spain. Every year more than 400,000 people travel to Galicia on the “Camino de Santiago,” an ancient Christian pilgrimage to the cathedral where traditional holds that the remains of St. James are buried.

Today, only 0.4% of Gallegos claim a personal relationship with Jesus. After a civil war, centuries of empire, religious persecution, and a dictatorship in recent memory, Spain has become a secular country—and Gallegos are the least reached with the Gospel in the entire nation. 

Our missionary hosts lead a church-planting team with the goal of establishing a “Gospel-centered, Spanish-shaped church” in the heart of the city. They’re part of a continent-wide group with a dream of seeing Europe saturated with the light of the gospel, filled with strong and healthy churches, and led by individuals who have been transformed by grace.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

  1. We will be partnering with a church planting team to launch a cultural center (called Raices), which will give the long-term missionaries a platform to engage with secular Spaniards through English-based activities and social opportunities.  

  2. As a group of university students, we have a unique ability to connect with students at the University of Vigo. This will have a long-term impact because our interactions with students will connect long-term missionaries to students who are open to seeking Jesus, and help the church-planting team understand the needs, culture, and rhythms of students in order to best reach them. 

  3. We would also be providing the momentum to launch a Students for Christ ministry (international equivalent of Chi Alpha) at the University of Vigo, giving university students an opportunity to experience Christian community and start a personal relationship with God.

Ready to go?

We will be holding an Interest Meeting on Saturday, November 9 at 10am in Dwight Library, to provide more details and answer questions!

To reserve your spot, you’ll need to fill out a quick form and put in a $100 non-refundable deposit. Click the button below to do both! Trips are filled in a first-come basis. The last day to sign-up is November 25, 2024.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never been on a missions trip, and I’m slightly anxious about going someplace unfamiliar.
Totally understand, it’s a real act of faith to step out of your comfort zone like this. A few points that might help:

1) Chi Alpha has been taking missions trips for years. Our staff know what to expect and are comfortable with leading these sorts of trips. We are also held accountable to our national organization, and we never lead teams anywhere or at any time without their knowledge and approval.

2) We’re being hosted by missionaries who we trust and have been thoroughly vetted! They live in these countries long-term and know how to host us well. We will never be left on our own.

What is the cost of the trip, and how will it be paid for?
Each trip’s cost varies, based primarily on travel costs. The cost of the trip covers everything including travel, lodging, and food for the entire week! The primary way we fund trips is through raising support — partnering financially and prayerfully with other individuals. If this is a foreign or uncomfortable concept, no worries! Our first official team meeting will be devoted to teaching and coaching you how to do this, and we will be with you every step of the way. Each team will also work together to creatively raise money.

I’m new to following Jesus. Can I participate?
We are all growing in our discipleship to Jesus! If you are comfortable committing to the preparation and team meetings and willing to learn, God can work with and through a humble spirit.

My parents would like to talk to a campus pastor about the trip before I sign up.
Not a problem! Just have them contact robert.malcolm@yale.edu and we can make that happen.