Why the New Year is the Best Time to Start Planning a Pilgrimage or Mission Trip
Planning a pilgrimage or mission trip is one of those things that constantly gets put off to “one day.” Like clockwork, every January, something familiar happens in churches, staff meetings, and ministry conversations.
Someone says it.
- “Maybe this is the year we finally start planning a pilgrimage for our youth group.”
- “If we could pull it off, a mission trip would be incredible.”
- “Someday, I’d love for our adults to experience a real pilgrimage.”
And then the conversation moves on.
Not because the desire isn’t real, but because if feels safer than when.
But what if your church’s “when” starts now?
The beginning of a new year brings hope. It invites us to imagine new rhythms and new realities.
It’s no accident that so many people set intentions in January. Psychologists call this the “fresh start effect”—a mental reset that makes change feel possible again. Yet, according to Forbes, only 13.1% report that their resolution is still in place in April.
The reason isn’t a lack of passion.
It’s a lack of clarity, structure, and support.
And this is especially true when your resolution is around planning a pilgrimage or mission trip—something sacred, meaningful, and logistically complex. These journeys aren’t meant to be rushed. But they also aren’t meant to live forever in the realm of “someday” either.
January offers a quiet invitation:
What if you stopped asking if this journey could happen and started with when?
Why “When” Changes Everything in Pilgrimage and Mission Trip Planning
There is a subtle but powerful difference between these two statements:
“If we ever plan a pilgrimage…”
“When we plan our pilgrimage…”
One keeps the dream safely hypothetical. The other opens the door to action.
Decisions feel more real when we frame them as inevitable, even before all the details are resolved. This doesn’t mean forcing outcomes—it means acknowledging intention.
Churches that successfully move from idea to journey often begin with one simple decision:
We may not know every detail yet, but we are committed to exploring this faithfully.
That decision alone shifts conversations, calendars, and priorities.
Why Make Planning a Pilgrimage or Mission Trip a Priority?
Planning a pilgrimage or mission trip offers three significant advantages for your church.
- It forms identity, not just behavior.
Most resolutions focus on what we should do differently. Planning a pilgrimage or mission trip focuses on who we are becoming—as individuals and as a community rooted in God’s story. You aren’t changing a habit; you are starting a new one. - It happens in community, not in isolation.
Personal resolutions often fail because they’re carried alone. Planning a pilgrimage or mission trip is a shared decision, sustained by relationships, accountability, and a sense of belonging. - It moves the church from intention to action.
Many resolutions stay abstract. Planning a pilgrimage or mission trip turns longing into action. It breathes life into the words we speak.
Especially when you have an expert on your side every step of the way.
You aren’t trying to change a habit for its own sake. You are seeking transformation and faithful presence in your community and in the world. When framed this way, planning becomes an act of discipleship rather than a logistical burden.
When Planning a Pilgrimage or Mission Trip Feels Overwhelming, Start with Meaning
One reason churches hesitate to move forward is that planning feels heavy before it feels holy. Flights, budgets, safety, schedules—it can all crowd out the original sense of calling.
But sustainable decisions don’t start with logistics.
They start with why.
Before asking how to plan a pilgrimage or mission trip, ask:
- What kind of transformation do we hope this journey will create?
- Who in our community needs this experience?
- What might God be inviting us to notice, learn, or unlearn?
For many churches, revisiting the deeper purpose of Christian pilgrimage reframes everything. Pilgrimage is not spiritual tourism. It is a practiced way of walking slowly, paying attention, and allowing place to shape faith.
When the meaning is clear, the planning becomes lighter—not easier, but steadier.
How to Break Planning a Pilgrimage or Service Trip into Manageable Steps
Research consistently shows that decisions stick when they are connected to clear next steps, shared with others, and revisited regularly. Goals grounded in meaning and broken into manageable actions are far more likely to endure than goals driven by emotion alone.
Instead of treating the journey as one massive project, consider framing it as a series of discernment milestones:
- January: Clarify purpose and establish preliminary budget. Explore destinations with Wonder Voyage.
- February: Set a date with Wonder Voyage and invite commitments from the church.
- March – May: Start fundraising efforts.
- Summer–Fall: Continue fundraising and work through The Way of Wonder.
Each step builds momentum without demanding perfection. Each step is an act of faith.
Let This Be the Year You Ask “When”
You don’t need all the answers to take the first step. You only need the courage to shift the question.
From: “If this could happen…”
To: “When should we begin?”
And when you’re ready to explore what that journey could look like, Wonder Voyage is here to walk with you.
Not to rush the process.
Not to sell a trip.
But to help your community reconnect with wonder and move forward with confidence.
This year doesn’t have to look like the last.
This can be the year if finally becomes when.
Want Some Inspiration?
Check out these blog posts about moments of wonder from past Wonder Voyage trips, along with some locations to consider as you plan.
Jamie has been involved with Wonder Voyage for over 15 years. She is our Communications Director and Legacy Co-Director.