Overland Missions

Any Alpha Males or Females out there? Anyone interested in a mission opportunity that requires GPS, satellite imagery, and the best all-terrain vehicles out there? Do you have a passion to go deeper into the jungles to find the really unreached (or unreachable) people? Check out Overland Missions.

Started by a former member of the South African military, Overland's mission statement is: Committed to every tribe, tongue, and nation in the uttermost parts of the earth to bring the gospel, humanitarian care and economic opportunities, to save and empower lives.

From what I've heard around the office, Overland is always a hit at our conferences. They roll up in their signature white 4WD ready to find the people willing to go where no one else goes, be it the jungles of South America, the bush of Africa, or the frontier of Southeast Asia. They need rugged types, willing to backpack for miles, sleep in hammocks, and share the Gospel without hesitation.

Overland Missions does more than share the Gospel though. In Africa, they help develop a sustainable infrastructure that combats diseases through The Life Project. They also work in Zambia to develop agriculture and micro-enterprise in order to give more people the opportunity to go to school. This is called The SAM Project.

On their FAQ page, they answer the question, "Is it safe?" Their answer sums up this ministry:

Define safe. We guarantee that while on an Overland Mission you will be out of your usual comfort zone and will experience any number of the following: eating something that doesn’t agree with your body (and the bathroom may be the side of the road), coming into contact with dangerous wild life, strange rashes or bug bites, adrenaline rushes (that could have varying effects on your body) and you will most likely be absolutely ruined for the status quo. However though there are risks involved in this type of adventure travel (see disclaimer), understand that you will be traveling with experts in the field who have the experience and the best technology at their fingertip to deal with unsafe situations, should they arise. If you are the type of person limited by fears, this type of mission may be just the thing you need to help you to realize how big our God is and that the earth truly is the Lord’s and everything in it. We believe that we have been commissioned by God and that with that comes His protection. This of course does not mean that everything will be easy, but we do believe that He is bigger than any other force in this world.

Check them out if you're interested in short-term missions. I don't think you'll be able to come back the same!