The Value of Short-Term Missions

18 Jul The Value of Short-Term Missions

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

The title of this blog entry seems to spark debate from different folks (most of whom have way more education than me) in articles I have read lately.  Some folks use phrases like “Missions/Religious Tourism” to argue against short-term mission trips claiming that for many the goal of such trips are purely self-seeking and have minimal positive impact on the communities for which they come to serve.  The claim is that folks come on these trips to enjoy a warm climate, to take pictures of themselves seemingly helping those less fortunate, and, generally, to just feel better about themselves.  Please let me go on record as being a strong opponent to this mindset!!  Not to say that some folks don’t possibly come down with these ideas, but to label an entire ministry as tourism based and purely self-seeking is absurd to say the least.  Let me provide some examples against this mentality.

Here at the Sparrow Children’s Home, we have hosted two teams and two interns thus far this summer.  Our first team was a construction crew of five guys from Virginia who came to help us with renovations on an apartment behind our house.  These guys worked tirelessly for six days and went over and above all we could have asked from them.  Did I mention it was very hot over the spread of days that they worked?  And that we had the longest power outage we have yet experienced in country during that stretch as well?  Still, the work went on without complaint, without much rest, and without stop (even during said power outage).  They even sacrificed their “free day” to spend more time doing work as needed.  Suffice it to say, this trip was not about them.  It was about five guys going and serving others and looking for every opportunity they could find to do more!

A couple weeks later we had a team of nine (9) from a church in Frankfort come to help us put on a VBS in a local public school (yes, you read that right, in a public school)!  Throughout the week we also visited a local men’s ministry and home for the elderly with which we work.  The days were long, hot and tiring, but this group continually wanted to do more.  They connected with people in our community.  They loved on the kids in the school.  Not once did I see them trading photos with one another and marveling at the work they were doing.  No, I saw tears in their eyes as they departed the school on the last day, I heard endless questions of what more they could do while in country to help our community, and I saw the genuine love of Christ displayed by them individually to each person they came into contact with.  All this without complaint and without concern for their own needs or comforts, but rather solely focused on what should be the goal of every trip…seeing God at work and joining Him in that work by learning from and serving with others.

These are just examples from those that have served with us personally, but I have seen examples to combat this notion of “Missions Tourism” in other teams as well.  In short, what it comes down to is not the effectiveness of short term missions, it is the mindset and motivation of those involved.  God can and will do extraordinary things through ordinary people when we just take ourselves out of the equation and let Him completely guide every situation.  These short one or two week long trips could be the start of something even more amazing.  Most long-term missionaries I know originally felt the call to do so through being a part of short-term teams.  Roxanne and I can both attest to the fact that we felt our initial call to move here and serve long term on our first trip to Honduras six years ago.  And even if these short-term experiences do not lead to long-term commitments overseas, they may open our eyes to equally important opportunities right in our own backyard.  These are benefits of being short-term missionaries.

Some folks entertain the idea that rather than spending money to pay to send folks on a short-term trip, that money would be better served being donated directly to the missionary or community.  Well, while our ministries could all certainly use the money, don’t we serve a God who is big enough to supply our needs while STILL allowing folks the opportunity to serve alongside of us?  Truth is, I believe the experience of seeing firsthand what God is doing and connecting folks to that ministry is one way God impresses on the hearts of some folks to give.  We also need to remember that money can’t hug a fatherless child or enjoy fellowship with Christian brothers.  It also can’t play soccer with kids in a poor squatter’s village or spend quality time with special needs children at a local orphanage.  As Christians, we are called to serve the poor, sick, widows, and orphans.  But while money can buy food for the poor and build houses for the homeless, these folks also desire the touch of a loving and merciful hand.  These are benefits of being short-term missionaries.

Finally, one thing that many people often overlook is the encouragement and support that short-term missions provides for long-term missionaries.  I can tell you firsthand the overwhelming feeling of love and encouragement that is experienced when a team arrives with suitcases full of items from the US that many folks would look at as trivial needs, but we value tremendously!  When just the presence of familiar faces and loving arms of friends and family comes just at the right moment to combat feelings of homesickness or loneliness that we feel from time to time.  These folks are to us like Epaphroditus was to Paul.  Go back to Philippians 2:25-30, and 4:18, and you’ll find the mention of a man who was sent by the church of Phillipi with a “care package” to Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome.  The church gathered supplies and sent them by way of Epaphroditus, but we learn that he was much more than just a delivery guy.  Paul calls him a “brother, co-worker and fellow soldier”.  You see, he not just delivered the goods, he also devoted himself to help Paul in his ministry while he was with him.  We have so many folks who we view as Epaphroditus missionaries, and cannot express how much they mean to us.  Again, these are benefits of being short-term missionaries.

Whether you’re a fan of the short-term mission’s model or not, there is no disputing the impact that can be made by a group of people, no matter the size, when guided by the Holy Spirit to move.  God seeks those who will follow Isaiah’s example in Isaiah 6:8 and step out in response to His calling to volunteer for the positions He is looking to fill.  Whether your trip is what some may label as “Missions or Religious Tourism” or a genuine short-term mission trip, what these trips provide is an opportunity to meet your extended family (the people of God around the world) and to join in what God is already doing in those places.  Loving on kids in need, spending time with elderly folks whose families have abandoned them, encouraging brothers who are relying on God’s strength daily to battle addictions, praying for sick and dying folks in the hospital, and being Epaphroditus to long-term missionaries in the field.  That’s what these trips are all about.  It’s not our job to fix the world, but if these trips help us know and love our family around the world, then I give thanks for “Missions/Religious Tourism.”

God Bless,

Eric Bowman (aka Beef!)