Case Study: How Valley Christian Schools 3X'd Their Mission Trip Program
Overview: Valley Christian Schools, a private Christian institution, faced a unique challenge: offering a growing number of mission trips with hundreds of their students in a highly condensed timeframe. The logistical complexity was overwhelming, until they partnered with ServiceReef.
Now, with a streamlined system that serves students, parents, and staff alike, mission trips have become a celebrated part of the school's culture. In the words of Dr. Greg Tonkinson, the Director of Spiritual Life, “It has become the backbone of these trips. It was exactly what we were looking for.”
The Challenge: Managing Potential Chaos Across Continents
Valley Christian’s mission program began humbly in 2016 with a single trip. But what started as a class project led by a passionate teacher soon blossomed into a school-wide initiative with trips to Costa Rica, Curacao, Romania, Australia, and more.
“We were excited, but our team had no idea how to really do this,” Taylor, one of the coordinators, shared. Using ill-fitting software and disjointed communication, the team struggled with paperwork, fundraising, missed emails, and parent confusion. “It was like the blind leading the blind, hunting and pecking on this massive platform… failing miserably.” Dr. Greg admitted.
Despite the friction, their program grew. But after COVID-19 and a renewed sense of mission, Valley Christian needed a new platform—something that could handle the size, scope, and structure of their vision.
The Turning Point: Discovering ServiceReef
A referral led them to ServiceReef. The difference was immediate.
“We fell in love with it—because of the customer service and because the tool is so comprehensive,” Greg said. “We’ve grown this process together with the ServiceReef team.”
What truly set ServiceReef apart was the partnership. COO Micah and his team didn’t just sell software—they co-created solutions and offered personalized support.
“When we came with our school-specific needs, they said, ‘Let’s make it happen,’” Dr. Greg shared. “The development team listened to our chaperones' needs, and when we rolled out the changes, the room literally erupted in applause.”
The Results: A Culture Transformed
Since adopting ServiceReef, the transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary:
Recently, they managed 15 mission trips simultaneously and plan to do more
$900,000+ raised through centralized fundraising this past season
250+ students and staff mobilized and impacted for the better
All communication, paperwork, fundraising, and logistics handled in one place
Every document—passports, medical forms, parental consent, insurance—is all uploaded and accessible. That’s not just helpful. That’s essential for safety, liability, and peace of mind for the school administration as well as the students and their families. “Honestly, you cannot fall back on manual processes when you’re offering this program at this scale.” Taylor said.
As a parent himself, Dr. Greg offered perhaps the most heartfelt endorsement:
“I have five kids, four have been on trips. I can see every one of them in the ServiceReef dashboard, even trips they’ve been on several years ago. It's all there on one screen. It’s a huge win. And I can rejoice in those memories and the impact.”
Why It Works: Simplicity, Support, and Security
The team emphasized three key benefits:
Simplicity yet Comprehensive:
“Everything you need is right here. No more juggling multiple platforms. And trying to get our teams and parents to remember all that. Just one site. One login. All your answers.”
Unmatched Customer Service:
“We know the COO. We know Emily. These aren’t just names—we have relationships with the people running this tool. That’s very different from other larger software companies.”
Security & Scalability:
“We’re sending minors across the world. ServiceReef gives us the infrastructure to do that responsibly, safely, and excellently.” That helps cover us as an organization, but also we and the parents obviously care about these students so this gives us more peace of mind too.”
Impact Beyond Logistics
ServiceReef isn’t just helping Valley Christian manage documentation and other processes—it’s empowering students and connecting families to life-changing experiences. Ultimately, it’s serving the Great Commission.
“Parents can read their kids’ trip blog entries inside the platform. I just read about Tanzania, Australia, and Brazil. Students witnessing miracle births in less than optimal conditions. Students feeling a call to ministry after their trips. And I’m in awe and glorifying God for these stories!”
What began as a leap of faith into missions has now become a pillar of school culture, powered by a platform that enables growth, excellence, and lasting impact.
“The students care about the mission they go on. They don’t necessarily care about the platform, but we care about the platform because we know we have to do all this with excellence. ServiceReef has truly become the backbone of this program. We could not be happier!”
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