Jeff Goins writes about How Short Term Mission Trips Grow and Change You. Interesting that this article has nothing to do with the impact of a short-term missions trip on the people you are ministering among.
Don’t read that Jeff doesn’t care about the people you are ministering to, because I’m sure that’s not the case. But let me take this moment to ask–are short-term trips less/more/equally about ministry to others or about raising vision?
One pattern that a friend of mine and I worked up once:
(1) hold an event in a city in a Christian nation to tell people about the need. Decision: join a small group which will explore the need further.
(2) hold an 8-week small group to expose people to the needs in a particular place. Decision: take a short-term missions trip.
(3) go on a 1-week or 2-week trip to a place and see the needs first hand. Do a little ministry. Decision: 1 year of training to become ready to serve long term.
(4) take a year’s worth of training through a distance education-based course that is accredited. Decision: at the end, do a 2-month intensive practicum on sight.
(5) do a 2-month intensive apprenticeship/practicum on sight, with substantial ministry and exposure to real opportunities. Decision: go long-term in this place with a mission agency. (This is the “hand off” point.)
In this system, “short term” trips fit into an overarching process as a decision point on the way to longer term ministry. What do you think?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The hard question — the one that we ultimately need to ask — is this: Are short-term missions biblical? That should be the guiding principle in what we do, moving forward with missions.
Yes, it’s not an easy question. I think you can make a case, however, that they are–or at least, that they are not unbiblical. It depends on what’s done during the trip? Weren’t most of Paul’s trips “short-term”?
If I remember correctly, JONAH was a short term volunteer with a Bad attitude and God used him in a mighty way. PHILIP’s trips in Acts 8 might also qualify. I do agree with Justin, that it might not be the trip as much as what they do on the trip. I have worked with thousands of Short Term Volunteers in Brazil. Most had tremendous results. However, there is a lot of “American Christianity” that should not be Exported. Just sayin….