Rethinking Missions Trips: “It Became Too Costly To Justify the Expense of Flying Kids O
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, July 07, 2008
- Viewed 240
- (36) comments so far
PS—What do you think?
Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post about churches that are re-thinking missions trips. This is the first I have heard of things like this: a church in Mexico being painted six times in one summer by six different church groups, or a church in Ecuador that was built and never used because the community said it wasn't needed... Does this really happen? And, if so, why?
Then there was this quote in the article by one senior pastor: "It became too hard to justify the expense of flying the kids overseas. "If you're going to paint a church, you can do that in Florida as easily as you can in Mexico." True dat. And I have nothing against domestic missions trips. But I thought that the purpose of an international trip was the whole experience of a different culture; helping people who are less fortunate, and sharing your faith. Sure, you can do that in Florida, but it seems like you'll miss an important things you'd experience on an international trip.
All that said... when my two oldest boys travel to Honduras later this month, I'm hoping they won't be 'repainting' a church!
Comments
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Rick Whitter on Thu, July 10, 2008
Does it have to be either/or? Can we reach out only to the people in our neighborhood or only to those around the globe? Why can’t we attempt to both both? Surely there is enough love of Christ as expressed through His church to minister to more than one people group.
Melody on Thu, July 10, 2008
Rick, I don’t think that the question is whether we should reach out around the globe, but how best to do so.
Only one of my three children went on a “mission trip.” It was to NYC in the spring of 2002. My daughter is now 24 years old. This article and thread sparked some interesting dinner table conversations and we, i.e. my daughter and I, both are of the opinion that the trip was worthwhile from her standpoint as an adventure/experience. But relative to advancing the kingdom ... not so much.
Gus Kruse on Sun, July 13, 2008
WOW! I am shocked and amazed! I just came home from a month in Zambia Africa with 71 students from across the US, Canada and Purto Rico. We worked with a ministry called Every Orphans Hope in Lusaka Zambia. It is articles like this and church leaders that can only focus on themselves that makes me very angry at our culture. I have been leading short term trips for 12 years. Both internationally and domestic. These trips have birthed the young leaders that will lead us as we get older.
If we as leaders and adults don’t train them on cultures and providing for those less off than us. Then we have robbed them the opportunity to grow. I am leaving again in 5 day to take another group to Jamaica. I know that the work we do will help and train teens. These teens will learn how to have quite times with God, pray and lead others to Christ. These are the same things that thier Pastors and Youth Pastors should be doing at home. We have them for a week, month or two months and convey the same message and send them home to serve their Pastors and thier church.
Come on guys what part of the Great Commision do you not understand? I want the return of Christ. However everyone has to hear the Gospel first for this to happen.
Jan on Mon, July 21, 2008
I don’t think the question is if we believe in the Great Comission and if missions are valid. I think the question is if short term missions really do fulfill the Great Commission.
And I don’t think anyone here (maybe I’m wrong, but at least I’m not saying it) that short term missions train volunteers and get them excited about missions.
For me the question is, do they really help the mission endeavor? Or do they sometimes even cause harm (seen that personally!)
Are we spending money that could be better spent on the actual reaching of the lost?
Are we spending money on vacations and calling it missions? (Seen that one too sadly!)
And as an Anglo who has been in Asian ministry, I saw plenty of church members with paternalistic attitudes and was shocked at how many Christians in the American church view missions and other cultures… people patting us on the shoulders, with a bit of “spiritual” superiority telling us how wonderfully sacrificial we were. It did sicken me. And I’ve seen teams come with this attitude, while they ate out and played as much as possible and then left feeling like they’d accomplished something really great.
Sad but true!
I think we need to realize that there is room for improvement in short term missions planning for very good reasons.
I don’ t think we should throw away all short term missions projects. Some truly have blessed us. But I do think we need to plan well and think it through and ask the missionaries what is best for them. And then abide by their wishes.
And if at all possible, the very best way to approach another culture with the gospel, is to find believers that are already there in that culture. The very best missions trips I’ve seen, were inconjunction with people of that specific culture who had a passion for reaching their own people, but had limited resources.
I saw one such trip lead 800 people to Christ in a two week period. And they left behind Bible Studies that are still thriving today after 5 years. One study that began from this trip has 250 people attending and for awhile there they were sharing 1 Bible they kept under glass when they weren’t using it.
Now THAT’s what I call a missions trip!
Ecuador Travel on Tue, May 05, 2009
According to the President of Gospel for Asia TK Yohannon, the ‘modern revolution’ in missions and international development is that the day of American control over missions is passing…Other countries’ nationals are often doing a better job of advancing the Gospel in ways that are winsome, cost effective, and compelling. The largest churches in the world are outside the US, and those churches are reaching their own peoples and others’ as well. I have read somewhere that South Korean missionaries, for example, are doing alot of the heavy lifting of Christian missions in the most politically tough places. And miracles of community transformation often take place in developing countries without American involvement since we may not often show the faith patterns to pray to the point of breakthrough.
Regards,
Galapagos Islands
Ecuador Travel on Fri, May 08, 2009
I didn’t understand this subject, I would like to read it again to understand it
Galapagos Travel
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