Fuel Missions – Every Trip Starts at the Pump
Why Missions and Family Road Trips Have More in Common Than You’d Think
In 1972, my mom and dad decided it was finally time for a family vacation. We didn’t fly, we didn’t cruise, we hit the road in our 1966 gold Chrysler New Yorker and headed from Nebraska to the newest destination in the country: Walt Disney World. Disney had only opened a year earlier, and to us, it felt like traveling to another planet.
We did what every family did in those days.
We packed up the car.
We loaded snacks.
And the first stop before anything else?
“FILLER UP!”
We fueled the tank and launched our journey south.
Somewhere on A1A along the Florida coast, the Chrysler dropped its muffler in the middle of the road. There we were, pulled over in the heat, trying to fix it with some wire my dad had stashed in the trunk.
Before he could finish the job, cars started stopping. People checked on us. Someone called it in. A Highway Patrol officer pulled over, made sure we were safe, and even offered us an escort to the next town for a proper fix.
We were never alone.
The help came before we even asked.
Just Like Mission Trips
That’s how missions work.
You may only see the trip—the construction project, the kids’ program, the church service—but behind every mission trip is a quiet group of people fueling your journey long before the plane takes off. You’re never alone.
Fuel Missions like Paul
Paul never ran solo. Every “short-term” was fueled by people who sent him, people who went with him, and people who let him crash when he showed up. Sounds a lot like TIME.
Start in Antioch. Leaders pray, fast, lay hands, and basically shove Paul and Barnabas out the door (Acts 13:1–3). That’s our Home Office our staff who don’t get on the plane but sure do fuel it. On the road, the roster shifts: Silas jumps in (Acts 15:40), Timothy signs up—and even goes under the knife just to remove barriers (Acts 16:1–3). Luke starts writing “we” (Acts 16:10). A whole gaggle of guys haul offerings and handle headaches (Acts 20:4; 27:2). Interns, site staff, translators… ring a bell?
When Paul lands in a city, he needs a base. Lydia says, “Stay at my place” (Acts 16:15, 40). Jason posts bail when the mob gets loud (Acts 17:5–9). Priscilla and Aquila give him a bed and a day job in Corinth (Acts 18:2–3). Titius Justus flips his living room into “church mode” (Acts 18:7). Gaius hosts a whole crowd (Rom. 16:23). Hospitality wasn’t a side note—it was the plan.
That’s why TIME built TIME Centers. Not “hope someone’s got a couch,” but a ready-made hospitality hub—beds made, meals planned, tools stacked, buses loaded. Our missionaries and staff are the modern Lydia/Aquila crew: doors open, coffee hot, and a clear plan for tomorrow’s ministry.
Meanwhile, the Philippians keep sending support “again and again” (Phil. 4:15–16). The Macedonians and Achaians pitch in for Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8–9; Rom. 15:25–28). That’s the donor who drops $30 and the church that covers airfare—unseen but essential.
So, here’s the point: Paul’s trips were never about one guy on a camel. They were a body in motion. Same with TIME. Churches send. Teams go. TIME Centers receive. Local pastors guide. The Spirit ties it all together. Your group pours concrete; Paul stitched tents. Different tools, same pattern.
The trip isn’t the finish line, it’s the spark. Keep the Filler Up moment and help TIME Fuel Missions! Send, Serve, Sustain and Jesus stays in the driver’s seat. Let’s roll.
What the Home Office Actually Does
The Home Office is often invisible to most participants. And that’s fine—we’re not trying to be seen, but without it, missions stall out.
At TIME Missions, administration is not a department, it’s a ministry.
It’s a network of deeply committed believers who do the behind-the-scenes work to:
• Coordinate with churches to schedule trips that meet real needs
• Ensure every team member is trained, equipped, and cleared
• Handle airport pickups, housing arrangements, and food coordination
• Manage budgets, donations, and international compliance
• Provide on-call backup for health issues, travel changes, or team needs
• Write devotionals, prep itineraries, communicate with pastors, and help churches debrief when they get home
• Pray by name for every single team, every single week
We're not just moving paper. We're Fueling Missions with every email, spreadsheet, budget, and phone call.
We’re the ones getting your team to the starting line—so the field can be your finish line.
What You Didn’t See (But Made It All Happen)
Every mission trip is powered by:
• Missionaries on the ground
• Local pastors who open their churches
• TIME team members who coordinate every step
• Donors who give ahead so others can go
• Prayers that cover the trip before you ever board the plane
That’s the engine.
But trip fees alone can’t keep the tank full. We’re asking for churches, leaders, and past participants to come together and help Fuel Missions again.
Like the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:19–21, TIME depends on the generous supply of Christ through your prayers.
When you talk with Jesus, you help Fuel Missions.
