The Gratitude Giving Program is what sets MinistryVacations.org apart as a genuine ministry — not just a travel agency that serves the faith community, but one that actively gives back to it with every single booking. When you book your sabbatical trip, family vacation, Holy Land tour, cruise, or mission trip through Grant Haynes, a portion of the commission MinistryVacations.org earns is donated directly to your church, your supported missionary, or a nonprofit organization of your choosing.

This isn’t a gimmick or a marketing campaign. It’s a conviction Grant has carried since his earliest days as a support-based missionary — when he learned firsthand what it means to receive an unexpected gift at exactly the moment it was needed most. The Gratitude Giving Program is his way of making sure that every trip booked through MinistryVacations.org becomes an act of generosity that reaches further than the traveler alone.

Every trip you take blesses the ministry you serve OR A MISSIONARY.

We really believe that one of the main themes throughout the Bible is “blessed to be blessing to all the nations“. We know that your vacation will bless you with some much needed rest, but we want it to bless others as well!

Most travel agencies take your booking and send you a confirmation email. At MinistryVacations.org, we do something a little different. When you book a trip through us and complete your travel, we donate a portion of our earned commission directly to your church, your missions organization, a missionary, or a nonprofit of your choosing — as a genuine thank-you for trusting us with your trip.

One of the little known secrets of the travel industry is that commissions are already built into every purchase you make. If you are already booking directly ot through another travel advisor, Hilton, Sandals, Carnival, Disney, Viking and other hotels, cruises, and travel providers are already paying out commissions regardless. Let’s put that money to good kingdom and Great Commission use!

No extra cost to you. No forms to fill out. No fundraising campaign. Just a real gift, from us to the ministry you love, because we believe that your vacation should bless more than just you.

who qualifies

Any of the following organizations qualify as a Gratitude Gift recipient:

Your home church or the church you serve

A missionary or missionary family you personally support

A Christian nonprofit or para-church ministry organization

A registered 501(c)(3) serving in the name of Christ

Global Frontier Missions or another organization that works with the unreached

A local outreach, food ministry, or community organization with nonprofit status

If you’re not sure whether your organization qualifies, just ask. We’ll do our best to make it work.

“I grew up watching people give sacrificially to keep missionaries on the field — including my own family. I know what a gift means when it arrives unexpectedly, when the budget is tight, and when you weren’t sure how you were going to make it through the month. The Gratitude Giving Program is my small way of keeping that spirit alive. Every trip we book is an opportunity to do something that matters beyond the travel itself. I hope it blesses your ministry in ways you didn’t see coming.”
— Grant Haynes, Founder, Ministry Vacations

why we do this

Grant Haynes has spent nearly thirty years as a support-based missionary. He knows what it means to depend on the generosity of others to stay on the field. He knows what it costs — financially, emotionally, and spiritually — to sustain a life of ministry.

He started MinistryVacations.org because he wanted to serve the people who serve everyone else. The Gratitude Giving Program is the most tangible expression of that conviction. When a pastor books a trip through Ministry Vacations, Grant doesn’t just want that pastor to come home rested. He wants the pastor’s church to feel it too.

Travel and generosity are not opposites. At MinistryVacations.org, they go together every single time.

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1 — Book Your Trip

Contact Grant and describe the trip you’re dreaming about. Whether it’s a sabbatical journey, a Holy Land tour, a family cruise, or an anniversary getaway, we handle every detail from start to finish.

Step 2 — Travel and Rest

Go. Unplug. Let yourself actually rest. That’s the whole point. We’ve already handled everything so you don’t have to think about logistics while you’re supposed to be on vacation.

Step 3 — Designate Your Recipient

When you book, simply let us know where you’d like your Gratitude Gift to go. Your home church. A missionary you support. A Christian nonprofit doing work you believe in. Any registered church or 501(c)(3) organization qualifies.

Step 4 — We Give on Your Behalf

After your travel is completed and our commission is received from the supplier — typically 30 to 60 days after your return — we issue a check or direct gift to your designated organization. You’ll receive a confirmation so you know it happened.

That’s it. Your trip. Your rest. Their blessing…

How Much Is the Gratitude Gift?

The gift amount is tied to the value of your booking. Here’s how it works:

Bookings under $2,000	5%
Bookings $2,000–$4,999	$100–$250 gift
Bookings $5,000–$9,999	$250–$500 gift
Bookings $10,000–$19,999	$500–$1000 gift
Bookings $20,000	$1000+ (custom arrangement)

These are our standard gift amounts. On group bookings — church staff retreats, Holy Land tour groups, mission team travel — we’re happy to discuss a customized giving arrangement that reflects the size and significance of the booking.

“What if your vacation could bless
more than just you?”

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7

A Commitment to Faith Travel

Founded to serve the unique needs of ministry leaders, MinistryVacations.org has grown into a trusted resource for faith-based travel planning since its establishment.

Building a Legacy of Faith-Focused Travel Solutions

Since inception, we have strived to support countless pastors, churches, and organizations in their spiritual journeys, developing exclusive relationships with travel suppliers to enhance service and affordability.

How to Take Part in the Program

Participating is simple. When you book any trip through MinistryVacations.org, just tell Grant where you’d like your Gratitude Gift directed — your home church, a missionary you personally support, a registered 501(c)(3), or a local outreach ministry. After your trip is complete and the supplier commission is received (typically 30–60 days after travel), MinistryVacations.org sends the gift directly to your designated organization, along with a confirmation so you know it arrived.

Want to learn more about the kinds of trips that qualify for the Gratitude Giving Program? Visit our Ministry Travel Planning or Christian Travel Specialist pages to explore sabbatical planning, Holy Land tours, family vacations, and mission trip travel — every one of them eligible for a Gratitude Gift.

For travelers planning international ministry trips, the U.S. State Department’s travel.state.gov offers up-to-date country information, travel advisories, and safety resources worth reviewing before you go.

Ready to book a trip that blesses you and your ministry at the same time? Contact Grant Haynes today at 770-609-7451 or info@ministryvacations.org to start planning — and start giving.