How Effective Are Short-Term Mission Trips?
Posted by C. Holland on Nov 02, 2008We presently live in a culture that is quiet, shy and reserved. Street preaching, impromptu public dramas, or pavement witnessing with tracts do not work and, furthermore, brand you as a pariah. In towns as small as ours can be, this means that word spreads quickly amongst all residents that they should not interact with you in any way. Others in ministry here have had well-meaning short-term mission groups do any or all of the above, and the resident missionaries lost all influence and credibility with the locals, forcing them to start all over in another part of the country.
What has been interesting are the churches with groups who wish to come here on a short-term mission trip. Instead of asking us what is needed for ministry here, or how to convey the Gospel and be culturally sensitive, they tell us what they do on mission trips. Perhaps some of those actions work in other cultures (and I hope they do because, otherwise, what’s the point?), but when we politely explain that ministry needs are different here and shouting doesn’t work, they become disinterested very quickly.
But what does work here is taking the time to build individual relationships, waiting on the Holy Spirit to bring the situations or conversations (and He does). We have had new friends finally bring up questions that naturally led us to share the Gospel in full to them. But if we had started out with harassing and haranguing them from our first meeting, there would never have been a second meeting.
The difference in approach? Time. I suspect most Americans coming from the go-go culture would have a very hard time with how few people here come to personal salvation in Christ and how long it takes.
So is it worth it to invest the money, expand the carbon footprint, and run 20 people around a foreign country for a week or two in the name of the Short-Term Mission Trip? Yes, but here’s my short list of situations that fit the bill:
- Charitable construction or labour towards a church or community building
- Assisting an existing church and adhering to the specific ministry need that they have
- Fact-finding mission to gauge the spiritual need in a country for eventual long-term missions
This Church Relevance post lists some interesting statistics on the subject.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!Related posts:
- Are Short-Term Missions Sabotaging the Conversion to Long-Term Missionaries?
Short-Term Missions Done Right
Interested in Short-Term Missions? Some Good Thoughts
Missionary Confidential by Email
April 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I whole-heartedly agree with your post. I wish there was not such a disconnect in the way of thinking from those that want to do STMs and the LTMs in the field. I am constantly amazed with STMs who want to “serve” but do it THEIR way.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Hi Carrie, I agree that the attitude should be the same for both short and long-term mission groups. Hopefully groups will learn to be more open to God’s direction on ministry in foreign cultures.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I completely agree with you. I recently got back from a short term mission trip in Mexico where we helped a local church build a church building (they had been having church under a tarp in the pastors yard). It was very rewarding, and since the people from the town saw us working beside and hand in hand with them, they saw that we cared about them, and they opened up to us more than they would have if we were just walking around their town shouting. We recently got word that the church has tripled in size and is so large that they have three church services every Sunday! Praise the Lord!
May 1st, 2009 at 5:06 am
Hi Stacy, Praise God for such a blessing! A great example of listening for God’s direction and filling a genuine need in His name. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, especially in the mission field.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I agree with you too! I went on a ST trip to Ukraine, where I feel called to go Long Term. On the trip, some of the men in the group I was with preached fire and brimstone to everyone. One pastor, who I had previously had a lot of respect for, suggested that we split up and not go into the homes of the villagers, a very disrespectful gesture. It really made me mad because I believe that Jesus taught by caring for people first, healing their physical needs before meeting their spiritual needs. When I go into missions FT, that will be my strategy, if you will. I know that forming relationships and building trust are paramount into showing someone the way to Christ.
Sorry to be long-winded. This happens to be something I’m very passionate about. Pray for me as I learn what needs to be done to enter the ministry FT
!!!
June 1st, 2010 at 9:16 am
@Emily: Welcome to the blog. One of the things I’ve learned in the field is cultural sensitivity (within the bounds of God’s law, of course) is so very important when communicating the Gospel. If we as missionaries cannot demonstrate compassion as we minister, then what’s the point? God bless you as you seek God’s direction in ministry.