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2026 Short-term Mission Trip Opportunities
We are thrilled to announce our short-term mission opportunities for the coming year! We’ll be returning to the same incredible locations as last summer, just with updated dates. Take a look at where we’re headed—and keep in mind, these dates may not include travel time.
Missions
Empowering and deploying Salem’s church family beyond our doors to share the love of Jesus
Serving in Christ’s Name Near and Far
We are passionate about sharing the love of Christ in tangible ways
At Salem, we define outreach as any opportunity that our church community has to engage in ministry beyond our doors in both one-time and ongoing settings. These efforts include serving at local partner church and community organizations, equipping and sending short-term missions teams to a variety of local communities and around the world. For more information, email Pastor Terri Russell.
Here
In Mark 3, Jesus gathers his disciples together to be with him and learn from him and then sends them out to serve and share the Good News with the community around them. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives the Great Commission to his disciples to, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” In following the missional modeling and directive of Jesus, we encourage Salem members and attenders to do the same – gather regularly at Salem with the body of believers to be equipped and empowered to GO into the world to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
Take a look below and see where God might be leading you to put your time, treasure, and talents to work alongside others members of the Salem Community. Contact Community Engagement Pastor Terri Russell with any questions.
Salem’s Ministry Partners and Regular Service Commitments
- Loaves & Fishes – Each month, Salem Covenant Church partners with Loaves & Fishes to prepare and serve meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Click HERE to view a short video featuring Salem volunteers.
- Manna Market – Manna Market is a food pantry housed at Fridley Covenant Church. Every Tuesday, volunteers work around the clock to unload delivery trucks full of food, sort and shelve it for low income residents of Fridley, Columbia Heights, and Spring Lake Park.
- Community Support Center (CSC) – Serving the communities of New Brighton, Mounds View, North Oaks, Shoreview, and Arden Hills, CSC works with residents in need to prevent homelessness, solve financial crises, and provide long-term relationships. Salem Covenant Church supports the CSC as a founding member, serving on their board, and helping to facilitate the annual Walk-A-Mile fundraiser.
- Good Neighbor Team – Salem volunteers come alongside refugee families for up to one year to share Christ’s love and ease the transition to life on the Twin Cities. Families are referred by Arrive Ministries. For more information, contact Pastor Terri Russell.
Near
We are excited to connect Salem folks to meaningful service throughout the region (near). We are called to share the love of God to others with Joy!
Regional Service Partners
- Joni and Friends: Joni and Friends Family Retreat addresses the needs of families who live with the daily struggles of disability. Family Retreat is five days of inspirational worship, biblical teaching, informative workshops, refreshing recreation and precious time for families to build lasting memories. Salem short-term mission volunteers serve as one-on-one friends to campers with disabilities. https://joniandfriends.org/family-retreat/
- McGregor Young Life: The McGregor Young Life program provides after school Christian instruction and fellowship to school age children in McGregor, MN. Salem provides financial support to leader Lisa Schmidt.
Praying for Our Missionary Partners
As the church, one of the ways we participate in mission is through intercession.
The Serve Globally Prayer Calendar can be used as a convenient daily prayer guide to pray for God’s work around the world and specifically for Covenant missionaries, ministry partners, and the countries in which they serve.
Each day includes a Covenant missionary and a partner country with information on how they are bearing witness to the Good News in their context and how you can pray for them!
A few hard copies are available on the ledge by the Missions bulletin board. You can also subscribe for a daily email reminder.
Short-term Mission Trips
As the church, one of the ways we participate in mission is through going.
We would love for you to join us on mission this year to share the love of God with others. Click on the button below to hear what some of our past participants have experienced on mission.
Past Short-term Mission Trips
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Construction and maintenance at Alaska Christian College
Salem Members strapped on their tool belts and volunteered painting, installing windows, working on the floor for the new Welcome Center, and more this summer. Check out the travel blog.
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Support staff at Joni and Friends family retreats
(June 15-20 and/or August 15-20)
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Basketball Camp at Alaska Christian College
The camp had 33 players and 14 coaches!
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2025 Czech Republic Mission Trip
A team from Salem taught English and shared the good news of Jesus Christ with the local population of the South Bohemian town of Trhové Sviny. Check out the travel blog.
Journeys for 50+
Members from Salem Covenant Church took part in a basketball camp at Alaska Christian College, sharing God’s love and peace with campers. The camp had 33 players and 14 coaches!
Friday Fellowship
If you’re an adult age 55 or older, you’re invited to join us on the third Friday of each month, September—May, for Friday Fellowship. Each month, we’ll meet for lunch and entertainment at Salem as we learn, laugh, and grow alongside others in the second half of life.
Call Judy Sonstegard at 612.719.9881 for more information.
Journeys for 50+
Members from Salem Covenant Church took part in a basketball camp at Alaska Christian College, sharing God’s love and peace with campers. The camp had 33 players and 14 coaches!
Friday Fellowship
If you’re an adult age 55 or older, you’re invited to join us on the third Friday of each month, September—May, for Friday Fellowship. Each month, we’ll meet for lunch and entertainment at Salem as we learn, laugh, and grow alongside others in the second half of life.
Call Judy Sonstegard at 612.719.9881 for more information.
Groups
Small Groups
Grow your faith with more focused, in-depth studies and get equipped to live out your faith in everyday life with a smaller group of people. Small Groups have independent focuses based on each group, such as Bible study, book study, or special interest. All Small Groups are devotional in nature and include a time of prayer. Small Groups launch in September and refresh in January, though new participants are welcome in many of the groups year-round.
Life Groups
Gather with others throughout our community to discuss the previous week’s sermon, key takeaways, and how we can apply the sermon to our lives, as well as support each other in prayer. Life Groups meet for seven weeks in the fall and seven weeks over the Lenten season in the spring. Registration is required for group placement.
Register for a Life Group
The MomCo
2nd and 4th Fridays
9:30–11:30 am
Moms of every age and stage are invited to gather twice a month, September—May, for connection and encouragement. Enjoy speakers, activities, and fellowship just for moms in a judgment-free setting. Childcare is available for infants–age 5.
Love Mercy Do Justice
Salem is committed to joining God to make things right in our broken world by helping hurting people (love mercy) and addressing the causes of that hurt (do justice). This team is committed to raising our cultural intelligence, advocating for those in compromised positions, and being an ally to vulnerable people and the earth God has instructed us to care for.
Email Pastor Terri Russell for more information.
Connecting Ministries
Connecting Ministries’ mission is to create a welcoming environment for new and regular attendees and members and to connect people to each other and to God. We are focused on building strong relationships between people and ministries. Some of the ways Connecting Ministries lives out its mission is by greeting people on Sunday, volunteering at Connecting Lunches and at all-church events.
Contact Sarah Whitworth for more information.
Multicultural Team
The Multicultural Team works to welcome Salem’s diverse neighbors, celebrate the cultural richness of our attendees, and foster growth in cultural understanding and enjoyment. Our events include the annual Multicultural Lunch, teaching sessions with Faith 20/20, multicultural nativity displays, cooking classes, and restaurant outings.
Contact Kris Livingston to learn more.
