CHARIS SHALOM

No comments yet? Short term missions can be great. There are down sides. We wont win the world with these alone. But for small groups to go out and see God at work in their lives and the lives of those in total darkness is of great value. The positives are multitude and I wont go into them all but the negatives can be answered thoroughly with:
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and own life, he cannot be my disciple -Luke 14:26.
It doesn’t matter if it is dangerous. We are to count the costs, we are not to be foolish but obedient but at the end of the day our own safety and comfort are irrelevant.

Strider, thank you for responding, because I really wanted responses and have been sad more haven’t written in some thoughts. Your opinion means a lot to me because you are out there, long-term, every day in difficult circumstances sharing the love of Jesus.

Just stumbled across your website. Thank you very much for sharing what you have here. As far as short term missions, I have been on several to Africa, Asia & Europe. I definitely believe in them and from the missionaries I’ve talked with, they are very grateful. Of course, it usually works out for a lifechanging experience for the ones going. That being said, there can be some drawbacks. Short-term folks often have no idea how to get around in country and need constant attention. This can be straining on long-term folks. I am also afraid that it can lead some people to think that they did their part by going on a short trip and now they can get back to regular life and not commit to stay involved and help. Or possibly can lead locals to depend on the short term groups who come through a particular area bringing clothes, gifts, money, etc… but never investing with teaching and training. All of that to say I believe in it, I just want to be aware of the challenges and problems that could arise from it. Guess most comes down to prior preparation and mindset in going on the trip. No doubt, God uses our feeble attempts to spread His Gospel and I am very thankful for that. Thanks again for sharing and I’ll be back again to visit.

I’m glad you stumbled across the site and appreciate the responses. You do identify some of the potential issues, although one of them I am concerned less about than the others. You mention that someone might think “they did their part” and get back to “regular life.” My hope is that short term missions can be the thing that gets someone “hooked” for life, even if it is a life of returning short-term from time to time and supporting others who are going both short- and long-term.

I absolutely agree with you. That is what happened to me. God used a brief trip to Turkey to open my eyes a little to the rest of the world. Then in a summer trip to Northern Sudan, He completely changed me and helped me to see beyond my narrow, comfortable American world and into what He is doing for His glory in the unreached places of the world. So I agree, it should be the thing that hooks folks. As I said earlier, I think the key is gettin one’s mind fixed on Christ

We were just around th ecorner from you in Malaysia for a few years. We dealth with short termers really regularly. Of course they were a blessing. But the thing most short termers need to understand is that the “trip” is not ultimately for them. i truly believe it should accomplish long term goals and that actually helps those short term trips realize the grander scope. There must be a connect between church at home and abroad. Short term trips accomplish this in wonderful ways and help people realize missions is an every day reality. It shaped us to go long term, as it does with most. Most problems i have seen with short term (or long i guess for that matter) is that we try to be the savior instead of loving and telling people about the Savior.

Great response, Nick. Yes, we need to be seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness wherever and however He calls us to go, and, if we are all doing that, we will see great things happen in accordance with His strategic plan, not our own. Many in American culture today approach church like they do Burger King - they want it their way. I would guess that happens when people go on missions trips as well. May we all instead submit to His way, whether we are somewhere long- or short-term.