Comments on: Are Short-Term Missions Sabotaging the Conversion to Long-Term Missionaries? http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries Life at the Intersection of Culture and Christianity Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:34:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Justin Long http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3512 Justin Long Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:25:46 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3512 C. Holland, LOL, risky on so many levels. C. Holland, LOL, risky on so many levels.

]]> By: C. Holland http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3510 C. Holland Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:08:13 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3510 Hi Justin, they come directly from a church, no agency involved, usually from one of our supporting churches in the States, so we already have a relationship with them and know that our missiology matches. However, we've been approached directly (via our mission blog) about STMs by at least five churches during our time here. Because we didn't know them at all--and they opened with what/when/how they were going to do here (without dialoging with us)--we politely rejected each as it was too risky. Hi Justin, they come directly from a church, no agency involved, usually from one of our supporting churches in the States, so we already have a relationship with them and know that our missiology matches.

However, we’ve been approached directly (via our mission blog) about STMs by at least five churches during our time here. Because we didn’t know them at all–and they opened with what/when/how they were going to do here (without dialoging with us)–we politely rejected each as it was too risky.

]]> By: Justin Long http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3509 Justin Long Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:22:32 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3509 Hi C, curiosity: are your STMs sent BY churches THROUGH an agency, or do they come directly from a church? As someone who has been involved for over 15 years in collecting and analyzing mission stats (including work on the World Christian Encyclopedia and now on Operation World) I can tell you it is a very big job! Hi C, curiosity: are your STMs sent BY churches THROUGH an agency, or do they come directly from a church? As someone who has been involved for over 15 years in collecting and analyzing mission stats (including work on the World Christian Encyclopedia and now on Operation World) I can tell you it is a very big job!

]]> By: C. Holland http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3508 C. Holland Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:23:50 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3508 @Justin: In my experience all my STMs come from churches; however, I'm not sent by an agency, either. It makes sense that stats would be available via agencies, but how do we get stats from individual churches who send directly? I've been wondering about missions stats in general for a long time as it would have to be culled from denominations, agencies and individual churches--quite a task in itself! @Grady: LTM recruitment and development is so important, and I feel like Christians in general are floundering to understand missions in the 21st Century, both LT and ST. I believe discussions like these are vital to moving forward and helping people embrace their calling. @Justin: In my experience all my STMs come from churches; however, I’m not sent by an agency, either. It makes sense that stats would be available via agencies, but how do we get stats from individual churches who send directly? I’ve been wondering about missions stats in general for a long time as it would have to be culled from denominations, agencies and individual churches–quite a task in itself!

@Grady: LTM recruitment and development is so important, and I feel like Christians in general are floundering to understand missions in the 21st Century, both LT and ST. I believe discussions like these are vital to moving forward and helping people embrace their calling.

]]> By: Grady Bauer http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3490 Grady Bauer Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:13:35 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3490 In my denomination they all come from churches. I would easily say the vast majority come from a local church that recruits, trains and leads them to the field. Our denomination doesn't typically have teams they put together and people join from various churches. So for us we can develop relationships both from overseas and while in the US with these specific churches to help them understand missions. For others like YWAM and Teen Mania I can see why it would be their responsibility for training but I still think it would be our responsibility on the field to continue dialogue with the individuals once they return to the US. In my denomination they all come from churches. I would easily say the vast majority come from a local church that recruits, trains and leads them to the field. Our denomination doesn’t typically have teams they put together and people join from various churches. So for us we can develop relationships both from overseas and while in the US with these specific churches to help them understand missions. For others like YWAM and Teen Mania I can see why it would be their responsibility for training but I still think it would be our responsibility on the field to continue dialogue with the individuals once they return to the US.

]]> By: Justin Long http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3486 Justin Long Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:45:54 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3486 Hm. I have not seen any research to back up the idea that the majority of STMs come from churches not through agencies. Do you have links? I thought most of it came through agencies like YWAM, Teen Mania, etc. There are stats in the Mission Handbook that show hundreds of thousands of STMs but those are the ones going through agencies... Hm. I have not seen any research to back up the idea that the majority of STMs come from churches not through agencies. Do you have links? I thought most of it came through agencies like YWAM, Teen Mania, etc. There are stats in the Mission Handbook that show hundreds of thousands of STMs but those are the ones going through agencies…

]]> By: Grady Bauer http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3485 Grady Bauer Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:42:12 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3485 The reality is alot of STM don't come through an agency, they come directly from a US church. Alot of these leaders have very little understanding of missions beyond short-term...their world view is 10 day trips. I think it's up to us on the field to educate and share the vision before they come, while they're here and after they return. No one can expand the vision to include LTM like those doing LTM. The reality is alot of STM don’t come through an agency, they come directly from a US church. Alot of these leaders have very little understanding of missions beyond short-term…their world view is 10 day trips. I think it’s up to us on the field to educate and share the vision before they come, while they’re here and after they return. No one can expand the vision to include LTM like those doing LTM.

]]> By: Justin Long http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3480 Justin Long Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:54:52 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3480 Perhaps also in part the responsibility of the agency that sends the STM? Or the team leader of the team that goes over? Someone needs to have a coaching relationship with the short-termers, and I'm afraid that the LTM missionary in place likely won't be that person. Perhaps also in part the responsibility of the agency that sends the STM? Or the team leader of the team that goes over? Someone needs to have a coaching relationship with the short-termers, and I’m afraid that the LTM missionary in place likely won’t be that person.

]]> By: Grady Bauer http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3479 Grady Bauer Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:49:28 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3479 Justin, Starting to see you everywhere! I think a lot of the responsibility falls on us LTM's. We host over 200 STM every year but have no process for recruitment or follow-up. I know how this works from being a STM for 10 years...you get home and the excitement wears off, life goes back to normal and you move on. If I had received regular emails, twitters or whatever I would have loved that...but most didn't and still don't. This change is a significant one. Most LTM don't see this as part of their responsibility, they default to their organization. But an organization has no personal relationship with the individual we do and it falls upon us to follow up with them. Just an idea! Grady Justin,
Starting to see you everywhere! I think a lot of the responsibility falls on us LTM’s. We host over 200 STM every year but have no process for recruitment or follow-up. I know how this works from being a STM for 10 years…you get home and the excitement wears off, life goes back to normal and you move on. If I had received regular emails, twitters or whatever I would have loved that…but most didn’t and still don’t.

This change is a significant one. Most LTM don’t see this as part of their responsibility, they default to their organization. But an organization has no personal relationship with the individual we do and it falls upon us to follow up with them. Just an idea!
Grady

]]> By: Justin Long http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/are-short-term-missions-sabotaging-the-conversion-to-long-term-missionaries/comment-page-1#comment-3477 Justin Long Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:15:50 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=508#comment-3477 Obviously, STM does help some folks decide for LTM. Unfortunately there is also the temptation to use STM as an easy way out to "fulfill my missionary commitment." Just look at the vast numbers of short-term missionaries, and the growth in them, compared to the smaller numbers of long-term missionary growth, and you can see the issue. The key is not to abandon short-term missions or shut it down, clearly. I'm not sure what the key is. But something needs to be done about LTM recruitment!! Obviously, STM does help some folks decide for LTM. Unfortunately there is also the temptation to use STM as an easy way out to “fulfill my missionary commitment.” Just look at the vast numbers of short-term missionaries, and the growth in them, compared to the smaller numbers of long-term missionary growth, and you can see the issue. The key is not to abandon short-term missions or shut it down, clearly. I’m not sure what the key is. But something needs to be done about LTM recruitment!!

]]>