;)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Short-term Missions
Posted by From the Middle East in Bible & Theology, Church & Missions
Those of us who have been on a short-term “mission trip” can certainly testify to the positive impact these experiences have on our lives. In addition to increasing our faith and obedience to God, short-term trips can have a positive impact on lostness – even among some of the most difficult to access and unreached peoples in the world. Below are a few ways in which short-term teams can help in Muslim countries:
- In many “closed” countries short-term teams can hep in the area of getting the word out. We cannot get to healthy, reproducing churches without getting the Story of Jesus to the people! A short-term group can usually get away with some things that long-termers cannot and play the “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m new here” card if pressed. Those who “have ears to hear” can then be followed up by the long-term missionaries or local brothers and sisters. The downside is that this strategy is difficult to implement in areas where there will be significant contact with local missionaries (risking their residence visas) and in areas where little English is spoken.
- In areas where poverty exists, short-term teams can build in-roads to difficult to access peoples by doing social needs service. Teams that meet practical needs in the name of Jesus also give the long-termers greater legitimacy and help build goodwill towards them. Examples of this type of service are: English teaching, water projects, medical/dental education, community development, economic development, assisting in orphanages and special needs schools, etc. The goal of this type of service is to demonstrate the Gospel by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and helping the oppressed in the name of Jesus. This is commanded in the Holy Scriptures to begin with, but an added benefit is that it can give long-termers access to otherwise inaccessible peoples.
- Teams that are smaller in number can spend a great deal of time with long-termers and simply “do life” alongside of them. Going through the daily routine with a long-termers has several benefits. First, it allows the long-termer’s friends and acquaintances to meet another member of God’s Kingdom and see God’s love demonstrated in the relationship between the short-termer and long-termer (John 13). Second, it gives the short-termer much greater insight into what God is doing and how to pray for and support the long-termer. The drawback that some may see in this is the amount of time that the long-termer is investing in the short-termer. This can prove difficult depending upon the situation and timing. But, I will say from personal experience that this was my favorite type of visitor. The visitors who were interested in being a part of our life and understanding how we operated both encouraged and enriched our lives immensely. And, I hope, it was a two-way street!
4. All teams that go out in humility, are willing to try new things and are open to being flexible in their schedules can be a great encouragement to the long-termers. All long-termers in the Muslim world (and I assume other areas as well) become frustrated at the least and burnt out at some point(s) during their time serving. Short-termers can really lift spirits and attitudes when they go full of encouraging and refreshing words and deeds!
Having covered the positives, there are possible weaknesses of short-term teams. Following are a few of the enemy’s snares to avoid:
- Pride. Some short-term teams go with the attitude that they know how it should be done. Going with irreversible presuppositions rather than a teachable spirit is not biblical in any setting. We should always be open to learning from our brothers and sisters.
- Divisiveness. Some teams are not unified. This is something that locals and long-termers alike quickly pick up on. Goals should be clear and those who are not onboard with the goals of the trip should not go.
- Lack of cultural understanding. In the New Testament the Gospel is proclaimed in a way the hearers can understand. In order for this to take place, some understanding of the hearer’s worldview must be present. This can be overcome, to an extent, through proper preparation and will improve with time.
- The “Missions Fad.” We do not go to the nations for vacation, a fun experience, adventure, etc. We go because God deeply loves those who have never heard the Good News and He has appointed us as ambassadors and heralds of His Kingdom. An attitude of “let’s go here this year and there next year and maybe….” dooms the short-term team to repeat the mistakes of number three above over and over. Rather, groups of people, whether they be Sunday school classes, home groups, like-minded friends or entire congregations, forming strategic relationships with areas, people groups and long-termers fosters strong relationships and creates more opportunities to proclaim God’s Kingdom in word and deed. A commitment to this type of relationship allows the Gospel to be both proclaimed and lived out among the unreached.
Do you see other strengths or weaknesses of short-term mission trips? Other comments or questions?
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
The biggest weakness for me was getting sucked back into this culture within two weeks of returning. While away it was easy to do without things and I thought that upon returning I still would do without them, I was wrong.
The laziness, time-saving, fast-food, technology driven culture soon had me at hello.
Short term missions can accomplish a good bit if properly coordinated with those who live and work there year round. One pet peeve I had as a missionary hosting short term groups and as a pastor leading them is the excessive use of our cameras. I would get embarassed at people taking pictures of my friends and their homes as if they were animals on some National Geographic shoot. I know you want memories and you want to tell others about your experience, but these are human beings and we need to be discreet and tactful when we take pictures. Thanks for letting me say that! And also, please don’t speak loudly in English!
God bless you on your next trip,
Bill Pfister
For all the weaknesses of “short-term trips” that are mentioned on various blogs and books, I know the impact they can have a local body of believers. Our local body has seen 4 families move to the international field long-term where our church has long-term commitments. We have another 7 or 8 families waiting to go long-term in the places God has called them to. All of this began out of short-term projects to the same regions. We do not do what have been called “one-off” trips (unless it is an exploration trip). But we have to go on short trips to expose our folks to what God is doing. I suspect if it were not for short-term trips there would be few long-term M’s on the field. Through short trips God softens and calls long term M’s.
My hope is that long-term M’s not forget what it was like on there first trip. And like wise those of us who lead short term trips would be prepare short term participants for their trip.
I know we must continually warn against the dangers and pitfalls of short-term teams serving selfishly. But, much can be done and has been started by “short-termers”.
Thank you for being balanced in your presentation in this post.
http://lifepointchurch.org
http://thesendingchurch.com
Kyle Goen
I don’t know if it’s an enemy snare, but an obstacle is just realizing the great expense that could be leveraged into supporting a long-term family (or to spread it even further, native pastors.)
I realize there are opportunities for short-term Ms not available to others, and that God may use this to call them long-term. Additionally there can be dependency problems if we simply paid native pastors
But it can be disheartening to think about efficient use of funds.
Never make fun of someone who speaks broken English…that means they know another language.
When I went on a short trip to the Caicos Islands in 1975 and 84, the reality of Spiritual warfare came home to me. Outside of the USA. Satanic forces run rampant, and demonic activity is the norm.
Brother John,
Amen! I think it is much easier to depend upon God to guide my life when I do not understand what is going on around me and am not comfortable.
Brother Bill,
All people are ethnocentric/sociocentric to a degree. But shot-term teams do have the propensity to display this more than most! I agree. We go to love people, not to photograph them.
Brother Nick,
I am quite sensitive to dependency issues having seen it cause major issues in more than one setting. However, my calling is to those who have little or no Gospel witness… the people groups I work among are all well over 99% Muslim. Thus, I do not have to struggle with the issue of spending vast amounts of resource and wondering if they are being wasted. But, I do agree that we should all be very careful in the way in which we use our resources… we are accountable to God for ALL of our financial resources, not just 10%.
Brother Dr Paul,
I have been much more aware of demonic activity in other areas of the world. But it does make me wonder if it is not just as prevalent in the States and I explain it away here due to my Western mindset.
Peace to you brothers,
From the Middle East
I think an additional positive is that a short-term trip can give state-side folks a bit of a different perspective (even if it is only for a couple of weeks) of the missionaries that they support and the missions that they pray for. In many ways, we pray for missionaries on paper, but we really cannot get a real sense for who the missionaries are or what they do unless we actually go and experience it. I also think that this is better suited for those who are serious about missions and who do not treat the trip as a vacation.
As for a negative, it can also provide a wrong perspective on missions. I think in many ways it can be similar to the “camp high” that many youth get while at youth camp. Youth camp is great, but life isn’t youth camp. Similarly, short-term trips can be great, but its not living the life of a long-term missionary.
Kyle,
Excellent points. This entire subject is the focus of my dissertation. They key is long-term commitments of a church to a single small geographical area / people group. This takes the church’s experience way beyond “tourist missions.” And it is the calling field where God speaks to His people and calls them out long-term.
Nick,
I have heard your “diversion of funds” argument, and believe that is does not, for the most part, hold any water. The reality is that most people who invest personally in missions travel do so out of their own personal spending and finances – it is not a part of their regular giving. Those dollars would not be used or available for long term missions. In addition, studies tend to show that those who invest their personal funds and actually go to the mission field are actually better givers in the long run. Strategic STM is a winner, across the board.
My church is committed to a 4-year strategic partnership with the Panao Quechua people of Peru through REAP North (IMB). This is a micro people group … so small that no one will invest a full-time missionary family in this locale. If they are to be reached, then they must be the focus of a short term strategy.
I believe this is the wave of the present, not just the future, in missions … even alongside our Cooperative Program.
Great discussion! I will be out until this evening. But look forward to responding then.
Geoff Baggett,
My project was entirely on short-term teams and effective training for long term success. I am a huge proponent of short-term teams with training. I don’t bury my head to the potential “snags” of “short-termers” but we have proven success and fruit in our church of the positive impact on the M’s ministry and the stateside church involvement.
Check the links in my previous comment (#3) and be a part of the sending church conference.
Kyle,
Tell Ed that his old student, Geoff B, said, “Hi!”
I checked out your link. Would love to come, but will be heading out for Peru that week … teaching Christian Doctrine in the new Andean School of Missiology.
As a veteran of several mission trips, I think their greatest strength is the way they get people first hand knowledge of missions.
A previous church I served takes an annual trip to a country to build churches. It is a great ministry that has accomoplished much good.
The biggest problem is that the people tend to become dependent on the American teams. “Why should we do this? Let’s just get a mission team to do it for us.”
It is very important that mission teams work with and for local missionaries. We can actually make their work harder if we are not careful to work under their direction.
Your words above are wise.
Does anyone know how many orphanages the IMB has or supports? I know of many that are run or supported by churches that are not Baptist.
Wayne
Wayne,
I think that the IMB has withdrawn from that kind of ministry almost entirely (though I will happily be corrected). I think that we have invested all of our efforts in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting, and have left the major bulk of social ministries to other groups or organizations.
Maybe some of our M’s can help clarify …
Let me preface my statements with the caveat that I am by no means the “official spokesman” of the IMB, although I do serve through the organization. The following is my explanation as I understand it. The main focus of the IMB is on “missions” — i.e. evangelism that results in NT churches, the main strategy that the NT presents as propagating the gospel to a lost world. To maintain this focus, the IMB makes some sort of distinction between “missions” and “ministry.”
Even though biblically the distinction may be somewhat arbitrary, it is has been described as the difference in the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. The apostle Paul left three things behind on each of his missionary journeys, and these three things help define the task of “missions”: (1) new believers, (2) new churches, and (3) developing leaders. For the IMB the focus is on “missions.” The rest would be considered “ministry,” and should be the ongoing task of the local churches. Such a distinction is not to make any sort of judgment upon other “missions groups” that consider benevolence ministries as their main focus.
The IMB has had in the past, and continues to have, many “ministry” projects (e.g. hospitals, disaster relief, hunger relief, literacy training, agricultural training, etc.), but these are never an end within themselves. These are always a platform for “evangelism that results in NT churches.” For many “missions groups,” new believers and local churches are not the focused goals of their ministry. Any “ministry” the IMB does is for the purpose of “missions.”
The reason the distinction between “missions” and “ministry” should not be too great is because the Great Commission includes “teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” “Everything I have commanded you” includes taking care of orphans and widows and ministering to the needs of people. As I read the Great Commission, these are the sorts of ministries that the “disciples” should learn to do. The main focus of a missionary is to make disciples, plant churches, and train them as leaders to carry on the ministry long after the missionary has gone on to other parts of God’s kingdom. The goal of the missionary is not to do all of the ministries that the local believers should be doing. Some ministries are left behind for other believers so that the missionary may “preach the gospel where Christ is not already known” (Rom 15:20). The local ministries may be good, valid, and needed. But they may indeed become distractions from the missionary call.
Brother Andrew,
I agree on both counts. While it is not possible to comprehend how life really is for a long-termer in just two weeks, it is a great window into their ministry.
Brother Geoff,
Thanks for the input. It seems to me that these “strategic partnerships” are an essential component in getting to the Gospel to those who have no access.
Brother Kyle,
Thank you for your kind words. More importantly, thank you for taking part in what God has commanded us to do!
Brother Dave,
Thank you.
Brother Wayne,
I am no longer with the IMB, but do coordinate strategic partnerships with IMB missionaries in a couple of areas. What Brother Kevin said is my understanding as well.
Brother Kevin,
Thanks for the insight.
Peace to all of you,
From the Middle East
I had a much longer post that got lost because something timed out..
Here’s the nutshell. I believe that short-term projects CAN be a valuable part of a strategy, but it takes effort on the part of both the volunteer team leaders (and church leaders) and the SC.
One of the best thing an SC ever did for our church was sit down with several of our leadership before we partnered, and walked us through the strategy–mission statement, endvision, critical path, methodology, etc. We know exactly what our role in the strategy is, and (maybe more importantly) what it isn’t.
If church missions leaders are willing to accept the SC’s authority and work within the perameters of the strategy, and if SCs will invest the time and energy to get to know the partnering church’s gifts and abilities (and limitations!), then the volunteers will be a true “partner” in the strategy and short-term projects will be both meaningful for the volunteers and useful to the larger strategy.
Just my $.02
Brother Stuart,
You said:
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! Short-termers often go home and end up with something akin to buyer’s remorse thinking, “How did what we do really help the Kingdom?” The only way to overcome this is by the long-termer(s) explaining how the whole thing (strategy) works and how the short-terms fit into it… this includes saying “no” to the short-termers when something is proposed that does not fit into their (long-termers) ministry and is counterproductive to the Kingdom.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you are working with an excellent SC!
Peace to you brother,
From the Middle East
[...] previously wrote a post on STMs here. I even reused his [...]