Adventures in Missions
Overview
Adventures in Missions (AIM) is an interdenominational Christian missions organization headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia. Founded by Seth Barnes, AIM focuses on discipleship through missions, emphasizing prayer, relationships, and servanthood in its work around the world. Since its establishment, the organization has taken over 160,000 people into the mission field, ranging from week-long short-term trips to year-long commitments and beyond.
AIM seeks to disciple as Jesus did. The organization's vision is that God would use them to raise up a generation of radically committed disciples of Jesus Christ. The corporate mission is: We develop Christ-following leaders to be the change this world needs.
The organization ministers year-round through its ministry bases, strategic ministry partnerships, short-term mission trips, long-term missions placements, and signature programs such as the World Race, Beauty for Ashes, the Ambassador program, child sponsorship, disaster relief, and the Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA).
Founder: Seth Barnes
Seth Barnes is the founder and president of Adventures in Missions. He is a speaker, author, and prolific blogger. Seth is married to Karen, and they have five children and nine grandchildren. Seth's life work has been built around restoring Jesus's model of discipleship to the modern church. He observed how Jesus walked with His disciples: investing deeply for three years in a small community, on a journey, modeling the message, targeting the poor in spirit, meeting felt needs, telling stories, and sending them out in dependence. AIM was built to help young people discover this same journey.
Organizational Timeline
- 1989
Founding
Seth Barnes founded Adventures in Missions. Working out of his garage, he led nearly 1,000 youth to the mission field over the next three years. (Some sources reference the organization's faith-based nonprofit status as established in 1986, with formal operations launching in 1989.)
- 1992
Growing Demand
Demand for mission trips grew rapidly, and Seth moved Adventures from his home to a storefront office to accommodate the expanding operation.
- 1996
Ambassador Program Launches
The Ambassador program began, offering students ages 14–18 the opportunity to go on 2–4 week mission trips — AIM's first dedicated youth individual program.
- 1997
Mexico Base (The Gateway)
The Gateway, the Adventures Mexico Base, began reaching out to the people of Matamoros with food, clothing, diapers, and house construction. This was AIM's first international ministry base.
- 2000
Expanding Focus
Adventures expanded its programs beyond its original focus on youth groups, sending thousands of adults, families, and college students to minister around the world.
- 2004
Eswatini Base Opens
Adventures Eswatini Base opened its first Carepoint, a gathering place where orphans and vulnerable children are fed, educated, and discipled. It has become one of AIM's most significant long-term ministry partnerships in Africa.
- 2005
The World Race Is Conceived
Anna Marie Franken received an idea from God for young people to go on a pilgrimage around the world. She shared it with Seth Barnes, who began exploring a race featuring competitive components and leaving behind substantial fruit through church planting.
- 2006
The World Race Launches
In January, the pilot World Race launched from Mexico and touched foot in over 20 countries. Twenty-two Racers went on an 11-month experiment to live out Luke 10 — literally knocking on doors and sleeping on streets. Adventures Peru was also founded by church-planting missionaries in Lima that same year.
- 2008
Growth Milestone — 100+ Racers
Three squads launched, totaling 111 Racers. Alumni started returning as squad leaders, establishing the pipeline of discipleship leadership that would define the program.
- 2011
Cause-Oriented Routes
The World Race started launching squads focused on specific causes or people groups, such as Spanish-speaking routes or Human Trafficking routes.
- 2012
Parent Ministry Launches
Parent Ministry launched, giving the parents of World Race participants a place to connect with each other and with Adventures in Missions.
- 2013
Major Expansion Year
Parents began going on Parent Vision Trips during months 6–8 of their Racer's Race. Adventures Guatemala launched in February. Adventures Philippines launched that fall alongside Wipe Every Tear. The Center for Global Action (CGA) opened as an alumni program, and the Fellowship program began as professional development for alumni.
- 2014
Kingdom Journeys and Gap Year
Kingdom Journeys sent out its first 6-month team. Gap Year launched, sending young adults ages 18–21 to three countries in 9 months. AIM celebrated 25 years of ministry in October.
- 2015
Disciples Making Disciples
Adventures Guatemala launched its first short-term international team, sending Americans and Guatemalans to Honduras. Adventures Mexico opened a trade school for 10 students from a local orphanage.
- 2016
A Decade of World Races
The World Race celebrated 10 years by launching six squads in January, including the first World Race: Expedition. Adventures Cambodia and Adventures South Asia also opened.
Programs and Ministries Today
As of 2026, Adventures in Missions operates a wide portfolio of programs and ministries spanning short-term missions, long-term missions, youth programs, women's ministry, child sponsorship, disaster relief, and discipleship training.
Short-Term Mission Trips
Adult trips, youth group trips, family trips, sports trips, and custom trips across the Americas, Africa, and beyond — Guatemala, Eswatini, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Cherokee NC, Maine, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Texas, and more.
The World Race
AIM's flagship young adult program. Expedition: ages 21–30, 6 countries, 11 months. Gap Year: ages 17–20, 4–5 countries, 9 months. Semesters: ages 18–30, 1–4 month options.
Journey School
A semester-by-semester study abroad program for ages 18–23, combining academic learning with missional living and discipleship.
Ambassador Program
2–4 week mission trips for teens ages 14–18.
Beauty for Ashes
A women's ministry inviting women into the freedom God designed for them. Trips and facilitator training in multiple countries.
Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA)
A launching pad dedicated to holistic development, formerly known as the Center for Global Action (CGA).
Child Sponsorship
For $45/month, sponsors meet immediate needs with food and clean water while sustaining long-term transformation through discipleship and family-strengthening programming.
Long-Term Missions
Opportunities to serve overseas for a year or longer.
Disaster Relief (Adventures Relief)
Rapid-response teams that mobilize after natural disasters, including sustained recovery in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
Parent Ministry
Supporting the parents of missionaries through community, Parent Vision Trips, and resources.
Ministry Bases
Year-round ministry presence in Eswatini, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Cambodia, South Asia, and others.
Leadership and Governance
Adventures in Missions is led by Executive Director Seth Barnes, with a Board of Directors chaired by Paul Schmidt. Board members include Dave Carlson, Rusty Gordon, and Charles Payne, with Tara Tankersley serving as Board Liaison. The organization maintains accountability mechanisms including regular board review and a commitment to stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to the ministry.
Impact by the Numbers
Over 35+ years of ministry, Adventures in Missions has taken more than 160,000 people into the mission field. The organization operates across dozens of countries, maintains multiple international ministry bases, and continues to expand its reach through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to raising up leaders who follow Jesus into the hardest places.
The World Race
What Is the World Race?
The World Race is AIM's flagship young adult mission trip program. It is designed to help participants seek first the Kingdom of God and develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. Through intentional community, service, and discipleship, participants grow in faith, share the love of Christ, and are equipped to live a missional life beyond the trip.
The World Race is a program of the interdenominational mission organization Adventures in Missions. Staff and leaders come from a wide range of Christian churches and denominations. The program has been featured in media outlets including Charisma News, The Daily Signal, The Christian Post, CBN, and USA Today.
Origin Story
The World Race began in 2005 as an idea that God gave Anna Marie Franken, a South African, for young people to go on a pilgrimage around the world. The vision was for participants to understand and experience God personally, serve in communities where they could make an impact, and leave behind a lasting contribution. She shared this idea with Seth Barnes, who began exploring the possibilities, envisioning a race that featured competitive components and would leave behind substantial fruit through church planting.
In January 2006, the pilot World Race launched from Mexico. Twenty-two Racers went on an 11-month experiment to figure out what it would look like to live out Luke 10: literally knocking on doors and sleeping on streets in a raw adventure of faith. The pilot team touched foot in over 20 countries. Anna Marie Franken traveled with the Racers while Seth Barnes, Andrew Shearmen, and Gary Black provided teaching and debriefing.
Growth and Evolution
From those 22 pioneering Racers in 2006, the World Race grew rapidly. By 2008, three squads were launching per year with over 100 Racers. Alumni began returning as squad leaders, creating a self-sustaining leadership pipeline. In 2011, cause-oriented routes launched, focusing squads on specific themes such as Spanish-speaking ministry or human trafficking. In 2014, the Gap Year program launched for younger participants (ages 18–21), and Kingdom Journeys sent out its first 6-month team. The World Race celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016 by launching six squads in January, including the first World Race: Expedition.
Current World Race Programs
World Race Expedition
The flagship 11-month experience for ages 21–30. Racers travel to 6 countries (historically described as 11 countries in 11 months during earlier iterations), living in intentional community, serving alongside local ministry partners, and growing through discipleship. The Expedition is the program closest to the original World Race vision.
World Race Gap Year
A 9-month program for ages 17–20, traveling to 4–5 countries. Gap Year is designed for young adults who want to discover their purpose, grow in their relationship with God, and develop leadership skills before or alongside college. Current routes include Guatemala, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Eswatini.
World Race Semesters
Shorter-term options of 1–4 months for ages 18–30, traveling to 1–2 countries. A more accessible entry point for those who cannot commit to a full Expedition or Gap Year.
Journey School
A semester-by-semester study abroad program for ages 18–23. Journey School combines academic instruction with missional living, discipleship, and cross-cultural experience.
Alumni Trips
For those who have completed a previous World Race program, alumni trips provide opportunities to return to the field, reconnect with the World Race community, and continue living missionally.
The Racer Experience
Each day on the World Race looks different. Some days are packed with construction, VBS, evangelism outreach, relationship building, or praying for the sick. Other days are slower: shopping for groceries at the market or spending time in prayer for the community. Regardless of pace, every day is focused on being part of God's Kingdom work.
Racers raise their own financial support through a community of prayer and financial partners. AIM provides Admissions Advisors (all World Race alumni themselves) to guide participants through fundraising and logistics. The application process includes an online application, a $49 fee, trip/route selection, and a phone interview. International applicants are welcome but must coordinate additional logistics including visas and travel to Training Camp.
Safety and Risk Management
AIM maintains an experienced risk management team that monitors political, health, weather, and other risks in the regions where teams serve, including U.S. State Department travel warnings. All Racers carry travel insurance. External consultants assist with safety protocol design and field implementation. Internal risk management creates contingency plans and maintains readiness to move teams quickly if needed. An extensive network of ministry partners provides on-the-ground intelligence for ongoing risk assessment.
Mission and Values
The World Race's mission is to awaken the church to radically follow Jesus and advance His Kingdom. The program is built on the conviction that following Jesus is an adventure that transforms lives. With over 132,000 participants sent worldwide (across all AIM programs), the World Race helps people discover their identity in Christ, deepen their faith, and make a lasting impact.