Comments on: Are Short-Term Mission Trips Worth the Trouble? http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble Kingdom People - Living on Earth as Citizens of Heaven Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carrie http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3329 Carrie Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:56:23 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3329 Being a long term missionary and having many teams of short term missionaries come through, I am going to speak from another perspective. I felt ike many of those that commented after going on short term trips. However, when I was the missionary in the field, I started to see things with new eyes. I do agree with some of the pros mentioned here to doing STMs and I think STMs are fine to do but we do need to be honest with ourselves about them. Short term mission trips are about YOU. The purpose behind them is to expand your understanding of other cultures, build in you God’s heart for the poor, soul search about a possible future in missions, give you an opportunity to evangelize, ect. It really irritates me to hear STM talk about how they “made a difference” in 2 weeks! You didn’t- at least not a difference that someone local could not have done for much, much cheaper and could have done far more good with the money you spent to come make that “difference.” And really, isn’t that, even those with the BEST intentions, want from the trip- to feel like they did something good- they helped those less fortunate. This is not a selfless act that we are trying to portray it to be. I am not saying that I agree with the extreme portrayal as “vacationism” - I don’t think are motives are puposefully selfish or self-centered but when we are not transparent, people can feel it and start to question. I just took a course on ethics and it talks about weighing the good against the harm. STMs don’t see the harm they create- because they don’t understand the language or culture so they really don’t understand what the locals think/feel (When I read the Poisonwood Bible, I cringed at how accurate it can still be today), they leave and never see the long term effects, etc. I think leaders have an ETHICAL OBLIGATION to talk to the missionaries in the field and really examine what the pros and cons are not just for those going, but also being a good stewards of our gifts, and what my heart really bleeds for is for the locals we are going to help. You are not there to “serve” them, they are serving you- helping your faith walk, showing you grace with your culture blunders, hosting you in their country. If you walk away feeling you gave more than you took, I would seriously suggest examining yourself and the experience much closer. The local people benefit in only 3 ways: 1) If you go back and become an ambassador for those you worked with by talking to others and raising funds 2) bring supplies to the mission or encouragement/spiritual support to the missionaries. 3)bring some kind of skill/service that is not available (I caution that I have seen even good things like Operation smile that does surgical repairs of cleft lip and palate be a harmful thing because the doctors leave and there is no follow care so the repairs open up again and parents don't have the means to get proper medical care for their child.) Here is my advice for what it is worth: 1) Short term mission trips are NOTHING like full time missionary work and can give a very skewed perspective if you are using that experience as the basis for going into full time ministry. If God is truely calling you to the mission field, he can do that with or without short term missions. You know that the number of career missionaries has gone down despite the large increase in the number of STM. I wouldn’t spend 3,000 to decide if I wanted a future career as a nurse, so why would I do that about missions? I went to a conference on missions during college and this had a far greater impact on my decision to do LTM than my college STM trip. Read biographies of missionaries, email/call and talk to those in the field, and only if seriously interested, visit- and visit for no less than 3 months to get a real feel. 2) Why allow the same church members to return year after year on short term missions? You go once and give someone else a turn. If you really “have a heart for missions” and want to go every year (and some people twice a year), then maybe you should “count the cost” and go into the field full time. 3) Make those that go accountable when they return. Follow up and see if they are being ambassadors for those that are still there- are they financially giving to the missionaries/organization, raising awareness or funds for the organization, being a leader for the next group that goes, ect. I think you all would be surprised by the number of people that serve at our orphanage on STMs that DO NOT become child sponsors after they return home. (30/month - a cup of coffee a day- and they can’t sacrafice that for the kids they have personally seen and held and “made a difference in their lives”) 4) Leaders of the STMs- You and the whole team need to understand the potential harm you could do to the locals and the missionaries work. Your ONLY agenda should be the one that the local missionary gives you. I have seen many, many STM teams come through and each member has an assignment to give away a Bible (or 3) and share the gospel with a local so they can go home with a story to tell and a number of how many they converted on thier trip to validate them going. Meanwhile, we have newly converted “Christians” walking around proclaiming themselves as Christians but have no discipleship or clear understanding of it and that can negatively impact the work of spreading the gospel- although the intentions were good. 5) If you provide a service/skill that is not available - TEACH that skill to the locals so they can be self sufficient and their is follow up after you leave. If you can't teach that skill in 2 weeks sufficiently, then consider the harm that can occur if questions/problems arise after you leave. 6) Not everyone is called to missions. Like Paul talked about the body as an analogy for the church, we all have different roles. However, I think we are all called to support missions. I listened to a speaker at a mission conference once who was a lawyer. He said God did not call him to the mission field but what God did call him to do was make 150,000/year and financially support long term missionaries. I want to tell you I think people like him are the real saints- they write that check every month without the acknowledgment that LTMs get and without the great experience to tell everyone about or the tangible result to think "I made a difference" about that STMs get. They do however get the good feeling of knowing they are being faithful servants and affording the opportunity for God's children to be cared for and the Gospel to be spread. Lastly, I want to pose a question that I am not even sure what I think the answer is but are these short term trips actually preventing Christians from taking the leap into a more full time committment? Are they taking away from those that are in the field? For example, the thinking “I support missions- I go on a 2 week trip with my church every year.” I think one thing that really struck me, and gave me pause to feel somewhat ashamed, was how many Morman missionaries I came in contact with that have given not just 2 weeks- but 2 years of their lives- for short term missions. Think about it- 2 years with the locals to build relationships, spread their “gospel,” and disciple believers. They are willing to give 2 years of their lives for something that isn’t even the Truth. Being a long term missionary and having many teams of short term missionaries come through, I am going to speak from another perspective. I felt ike many of those that commented after going on short term trips. However, when I was the missionary in the field, I started to see things with new eyes.

I do agree with some of the pros mentioned here to doing STMs and I think STMs are fine to do but we do need to be honest with ourselves about them. Short term mission trips are about YOU. The purpose behind them is to expand your understanding of other cultures, build in you God’s heart for the poor, soul search about a possible future in missions, give you an opportunity to evangelize, ect. It really irritates me to hear STM talk about how they “made a difference” in 2 weeks! You didn’t- at least not a difference that someone local could not have done for much, much cheaper and could have done far more good with the money you spent to come make that “difference.” And really, isn’t that, even those with the BEST intentions, want from the trip- to feel like they did something good- they helped those less fortunate. This is not a selfless act that we are trying to portray it to be. I am not saying that I agree with the extreme portrayal as “vacationism” – I don’t think are motives are puposefully selfish or self-centered but when we are not transparent, people can feel it and start to question.

I just took a course on ethics and it talks about weighing the good against the harm. STMs don’t see the harm they create- because they don’t understand the language or culture so they really don’t understand what the locals think/feel (When I read the Poisonwood Bible, I cringed at how accurate it can still be today), they leave and never see the long term effects, etc. I think leaders have an ETHICAL OBLIGATION to talk to the missionaries in the field and really examine what the pros and cons are not just for those going, but also being a good stewards of our gifts, and what my heart really bleeds for is for the locals we are going to help. You are not there to “serve” them, they are serving you- helping your faith walk, showing you grace with your culture blunders, hosting you in their country. If you walk away feeling you gave more than you took, I would seriously suggest examining yourself and the experience much closer.

The local people benefit in only 3 ways: 1) If you go back and become an ambassador for those you worked with by talking to others and raising funds 2) bring supplies to the mission or encouragement/spiritual support to the missionaries. 3)bring some kind of skill/service that is not available (I caution that I have seen even good things like Operation smile that does surgical repairs of cleft lip and palate be a harmful thing because the doctors leave and there is no follow care so the repairs open up again and parents don’t have the means to get proper medical care for their child.)

Here is my advice for what it is worth:
1) Short term mission trips are NOTHING like full time missionary work and can give a very skewed perspective if you are using that experience as the basis for going into full time ministry. If God is truely calling you to the mission field, he can do that with or without short term missions. You know that the number of career missionaries has gone down despite the large increase in the number of STM. I wouldn’t spend 3,000 to decide if I wanted a future career as a nurse, so why would I do that about missions? I went to a conference on missions during college and this had a far greater impact on my decision to do LTM than my college STM trip. Read biographies of missionaries, email/call and talk to those in the field, and only if seriously interested, visit- and visit for no less than 3 months to get a real feel.
2) Why allow the same church members to return year after year on short term missions? You go once and give someone else a turn. If you really “have a heart for missions” and want to go every year (and some people twice a year), then maybe you should “count the cost” and go into the field full time.
3) Make those that go accountable when they return. Follow up and see if they are being ambassadors for those that are still there- are they financially giving to the missionaries/organization, raising awareness or funds for the organization, being a leader for the next group that goes, ect. I think you all would be surprised by the number of people that serve at our orphanage on STMs that DO NOT become child sponsors after they return home. (30/month – a cup of coffee a day- and they can’t sacrafice that for the kids they have personally seen and held and “made a difference in their lives”)
4) Leaders of the STMs- You and the whole team need to understand the potential harm you could do to the locals and the missionaries work. Your ONLY agenda should be the one that the local missionary gives you. I have seen many, many STM teams come through and each member has an assignment to give away a Bible (or 3) and share the gospel with a local so they can go home with a story to tell and a number of how many they converted on thier trip to validate them going. Meanwhile, we have newly converted “Christians” walking around proclaiming themselves as Christians but have no discipleship or clear understanding of it and that can negatively impact the work of spreading the gospel- although the intentions were good.
5) If you provide a service/skill that is not available – TEACH that skill to the locals so they can be self sufficient and their is follow up after you leave. If you can’t teach that skill in 2 weeks sufficiently, then consider the harm that can occur if questions/problems arise after you leave.
6) Not everyone is called to missions. Like Paul talked about the body as an analogy for the church, we all have different roles. However, I think we are all called to support missions. I listened to a speaker at a mission conference once who was a lawyer. He said God did not call him to the mission field but what God did call him to do was make 150,000/year and financially support long term missionaries. I want to tell you I think people like him are the real saints- they write that check every month without the acknowledgment that LTMs get and without the great experience to tell everyone about or the tangible result to think “I made a difference” about that STMs get. They do however get the good feeling of knowing they are being faithful servants and affording the opportunity for God’s children to be cared for and the Gospel to be spread.

Lastly, I want to pose a question that I am not even sure what I think the answer is but are these short term trips actually preventing Christians from taking the leap into a more full time committment? Are they taking away from those that are in the field? For example, the thinking “I support missions- I go on a 2 week trip with my church every year.”

I think one thing that really struck me, and gave me pause to feel somewhat ashamed, was how many Morman missionaries I came in contact with that have given not just 2 weeks- but 2 years of their lives- for short term missions. Think about it- 2 years with the locals to build relationships, spread their “gospel,” and disciple believers. They are willing to give 2 years of their lives for something that isn’t even the Truth.

]]> By: peppermintpatty777 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3314 peppermintpatty777 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:34:15 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3314 I guess you have to ask yourself is it a short term mission or a short term trip. I work with pastors around the world, which means I am often invited to speak to Pastor's conferences around the world. This takes me into mud villages, refugee camps, slums, etc. Most of the time, I travel alone. I've never been a "tourist", but always worked 20 hours a day. While my "trips" were short, the mission is long! Working with pastors around the world has given me a better appreciation for the work that is being done, in turn, I bring this attitude of gratitude back into my own home and work. In all areas of ministry, we need to be responsible stewards-- would it be better if churches focused more on their buildings and less on the sending out? I think it is good for churches to send out short-term, well-trained teams, as it creates a more mission-minded church. People are too accustomed at throwing "money" at an issue, when we need to be investing ourselves. I'm leading a short-term mission team to Kenya in September. We are building a church/school for a Maasai tribe, renovating a children's center in the world's second/third largest slums, hosting a Mission to Kenya's Kids for orphans and street kids and leading a pastors' and women's conference. You can read more about it at www.lydiaministry.com We are recruiting a handful of great volunteers for this shorst-term mission trip, training them and then empowering them to be effective in the field. I guess you have to ask yourself is it a short term mission or a short term trip. I work with pastors around the world, which means I am often invited to speak to Pastor’s conferences around the world. This takes me into mud villages, refugee camps, slums, etc. Most of the time, I travel alone. I’ve never been a “tourist”, but always worked 20 hours a day. While my “trips” were short, the mission is long! Working with pastors around the world has given me a better appreciation for the work that is being done, in turn, I bring this attitude of gratitude back into my own home and work. In all areas of ministry, we need to be responsible stewards– would it be better if churches focused more on their buildings and less on the sending out? I think it is good for churches to send out short-term, well-trained teams, as it creates a more mission-minded church. People are too accustomed at throwing “money” at an issue, when we need to be investing ourselves. I’m leading a short-term mission team to Kenya in September. We are building a church/school for a Maasai tribe, renovating a children’s center in the world’s second/third largest slums, hosting a Mission to Kenya’s Kids for orphans and street kids and leading a pastors’ and women’s conference. You can read more about it at http://www.lydiaministry.com We are recruiting a handful of great volunteers for this shorst-term mission trip, training them and then empowering them to be effective in the field.

]]> By: » Hey There Short Timer Words: A Paradigm of Synergy http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3319 » Hey There Short Timer Words: A Paradigm of Synergy Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:35:51 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3319 [...] interesting article that gives an even handed approach to answering this question by a fellow named Trevor Wax. He brings up a good point - for instance, many short term missionaries end up becoming long term [...] [...] interesting article that gives an even handed approach to answering this question by a fellow named Trevor Wax. He brings up a good point – for instance, many short term missionaries end up becoming long term [...]

]]> By: Theology and minstry catch up « Chris Kidd - applied youth ministry http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3321 Theology and minstry catch up « Chris Kidd - applied youth ministry Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:13:49 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3321 [...] Short-term mission trips: there are lots of struggles with these kind of trips: do they benefit the person going more than the people they’ve gone to help?  Trevin Wax has written some helpful thoughts on this. [...] [...] Short-term mission trips: there are lots of struggles with these kind of trips: do they benefit the person going more than the people they’ve gone to help?  Trevin Wax has written some helpful thoughts on this. [...]

]]> By: Trevin Wax http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3318 Trevin Wax Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:23:51 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3318 I agree, Biff. The tourists need to stay at home. Wise churches will make sure that those who want to go on a mission trip are doing so out of the correct motivations. I do not believe that "anyone who wants to go" should be able to go. These trips are too important to take the wrong people. Leaders need wisdom in deciding who is best suited for the task at hand. I agree, Biff. The tourists need to stay at home. Wise churches will make sure that those who want to go on a mission trip are doing so out of the correct motivations. I do not believe that “anyone who wants to go” should be able to go. These trips are too important to take the wrong people. Leaders need wisdom in deciding who is best suited for the task at hand.

]]> By: Biff http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3317 Biff Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:14:45 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3317 I do not know, as I have never been on a mission trip, but from the very limited experience I have personally had with individuals from groups that go on these trips for a limited duration, with very few actual objectives, that they would be better described as tourists that are using the infrastructure of the missionaries and church. If the intended purpose of these trips is to really make a difference, leave the tourists who seek personal justification at home. Being a missionary demands life altering commitment (as it should). Spend their airfare wisely on local teachers & books or other basic necessities of life. To me, this is another example of how we Americans just do not "get it". If the objective is to develop future missionaries, then that may work out okay, but I would doubt a very high percentage of success. I do not know, as I have never been on a mission trip, but from the very limited experience I have personally had with individuals from groups that go on these trips for a limited duration, with very few actual objectives, that they would be better described as tourists that are using the infrastructure of the missionaries and church. If the intended purpose of these trips is to really make a difference, leave the tourists who seek personal justification at home. Being a missionary demands life altering commitment (as it should). Spend their airfare wisely on local teachers & books or other basic necessities of life. To me, this is another example of how we Americans just do not “get it”. If the objective is to develop future missionaries, then that may work out okay, but I would doubt a very high percentage of success.

]]> By: C. Holland http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3316 C. Holland Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:40:54 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3316 As a missionary, I think the biggest determinant as to whether a short-term mission trip is justified or not is the attitude of the group who is going. If they are there to fill a real need (i.e. helping to build shelter) as identified by the long-term missionary, plus they are willing to learn and adapt their actions so they do not cause offense in the mission field, I still think it's a good idea. The opposite of what I just listed does not then warrant a short-term visit. I just blogged on this earlier this month: http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/how-effective-are-short-term-mission-trips/ As a missionary, I think the biggest determinant as to whether a short-term mission trip is justified or not is the attitude of the group who is going. If they are there to fill a real need (i.e. helping to build shelter) as identified by the long-term missionary, plus they are willing to learn and adapt their actions so they do not cause offense in the mission field, I still think it’s a good idea. The opposite of what I just listed does not then warrant a short-term visit.

I just blogged on this earlier this month: http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/how-effective-are-short-term-mission-trips/

]]> By: In Light of the Gospel » Blog Archive » Short-Term Mission Trips http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3320 In Light of the Gospel » Blog Archive » Short-Term Mission Trips Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:24:55 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3320 [...] As a pastor, I struggle with the benefit of short-term mission trips. Are they worth the trouble? Will it benefit the people who go, or the missionary or church? Trevin Wax has a short post reflecting on both the negative and the positive aspects of a short-term mission trip. Read it here. [...] [...] As a pastor, I struggle with the benefit of short-term mission trips. Are they worth the trouble? Will it benefit the people who go, or the missionary or church? Trevin Wax has a short post reflecting on both the negative and the positive aspects of a short-term mission trip. Read it here. [...]

]]> By: Pastor Sylvester Williams http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3322 Pastor Sylvester Williams Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:33:30 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3322 I have been to India and the Philippines for short stays. I go alone most of the time for the financial reason cited. The money for travel and stay goes a long way in these countries. However, I think it is important to connect with our brothers and sisters around the world. In the world today, politics, business even family gatherings can be done via telephone, email or even video conferencing, but to see your supporter or family member face-to-face adds another dimension to the relationship. I am richer for the people I have met around the world and based on the correspondences I have received they are truly thrilled to meet an American brother who is truly concerned about them. When God told us to go into all the world, He did not just mean our country. The lives of the Apostles were constantly on the go. Why should we limit ourselves in spreading the Gospel if we have the resouces. Pastor Sylvester Williams I have been to India and the Philippines for short stays. I go alone most of the time for the financial reason cited. The money for travel and stay goes a long way in these countries. However, I think it is important to connect with our brothers and sisters around the world. In the world today, politics, business even family gatherings can be done via telephone, email or even video conferencing, but to see your supporter or family member face-to-face adds another dimension to the relationship. I am richer for the people I have met around the world and based on the correspondences I have received they are truly thrilled to meet an American brother who is truly concerned about them. When God told us to go into all the world, He did not just mean our country. The lives of the Apostles were constantly on the go. Why should we limit ourselves in spreading the Gospel if we have the resouces.

Pastor Sylvester Williams

]]> By: Short Term Missions Trips: Yea or Nay? « Thinking Out Loud http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/11/25/are-short-term-mission-trips-worth-the-trouble/#comment-3324 Short Term Missions Trips: Yea or Nay? « Thinking Out Loud Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:52:44 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=2259#comment-3324 [...] Wax, who blogs at Kingdom People and knows a thing or two about missions, has an article called Are Short Term Missions Trips Worth The Trouble? He outlines three negatives and four positives, though I think his first and third negative are [...] [...] Wax, who blogs at Kingdom People and knows a thing or two about missions, has an article called Are Short Term Missions Trips Worth The Trouble? He outlines three negatives and four positives, though I think his first and third negative are [...]

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