More on Short-Term Missions
by Bill Blair on 26/11/08 at 5:30 am
Last month I posted a link to a Wall Street Journal article that questioned the wisdom of short-term missions. In my post, I reflected on a couple thoughts I had regarding inefficient missions that can be read here.
Yesterday, Trevin Wax posted an article that weighed the pros and cons for short-term mission trips that can be read here. Trevin has had experience both doing short and long-term missions. In fact, he found his wife while doing missions in Romania. Given his experience, his insights on this topic should be given due consideration. After listing the pros and cons, Trevin believes the positives outweigh the negatives. Here is his conclusion:
Overall, the positive aspects of short-term mission trips outweigh the negative aspects. Yes, we should seek to make our mission trips more effective and efficient. And no, short-termers are never as effective as full-time missionaries. But short-term missions can lead to a more comprehensive vision of the kingdom of God and world missions. And we should utilize every means possible to cultivate a holy fire for mission work.
When you get down to it, the real issue is not whether to do or not to do short-term missions. The real issue is that churches need to first decide to do get the gospel to the rest of the world through missions then pursue the goal thoughtfully. If the best method is full-time missionaries, then do that. If the best method is to send money, then do that. If the best method is short-term trips, then do that. It just may be a combination of all the above. The real priority needs to be not just on doing missions, but doing missions well.
I fear that sometimes missions become nothing more than a P. R. stunt to fill out the church website or bulletin. I fear that missions can be more about making “us” feel good, and not about impacting others. In the Great Commission, Jesus did not say, “go make disciples because it will do so much for you,” he just commanded us to go and do. We should all check our motivations on this subject, repent of anything that needs repenting, and then figure out the best way to move forward and impact the world starting with in our backyards and neighborhood then to all parts of the world.
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