Twenty-eight of us were sitting in an open-air lobby tired from a long day but full from a great meal, listening to the night sounds drifting up from the valley below, smelling the fresh air and flowers, and pondering the weighty question just asked. Matt Capehart, our missionary host in Chichicastenango, Guatemala (http://missionsfrontier.org/) had just asked, "Why are you here? For the amount of money you raised to come -- $52,000 between all of you -- I could have hired 50 Guatemalans who need the work to build a whole village, instead of the three homes you will build. So, why are you here?"
The pat answers to that question tend to be along the lines of transformation of the people who go and support for the missionaries visited. But does the data back that up? Are people's lives actually transformed long-term after going on a short-term trip? And are trips a value-add to the missionary, or a dreaded but necessary interruption? For the amount of money we spend on trips, we better figure out those answers.
We don't have all the answers yet, but for the 20+ trips we send from our church every year, we're trying to maximize their effectiveness:
- 95% of our trips are led by lay people, so assessing and training them is crucial, along with giving them great tools and resources to lead well. We will follow their passion.
- We develop long-term partnerships with ministries, so continuity, momentum and accountability is built in. Reciprocal relationships are a value for us.
- Adequate time to train the team before the trip is necessary. We mandate as many as six team meetings prior to the trip for bonding, conflict resolution, cultural awareness, spiritual preparation, details and commissioning.
- We are not doing as well at post-trip debriefing and follow-up. Ideally teams would meet several times after the trip to begin working out the long-term implications of the trip on their lives, and to hold each other accountable until the life-change sticks.
- We need to be ruthlessly honest about the American footprint we leave behind, and be open to feedback and critique until we leave no trace except the aroma of Christ.
What questions or comments about short-term missions trips (and short-term missions) come to mind as you reflect on Keith's article? Post your thoughts below.
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6 comments:
Great post Keith! Your observations mirror my own from leading/facilitating short-term teams for a number of years. I'm encouraged by your commitment to training. Those wanting to cut the corners with sanctified vacations may speak with louder voices but the long term gain for the kingdom belongs to those willing to be transformed and used by the Lord even as they prepare.
I would love it if all lay people in a congregation went on a short-term mission. It opens peoples' eyes to a world other than their own. Plus it stimulates a desire in them to serve if not overseas, locally in places where they can make positive changes.
Keith, I think you have a great answer. Besides, I have heard my missions friend in India tell me that the short term missions trips there are vitally important for getting the story back to the states, where people with money can get excited about the mission in India, and send support.
I also agree with the other responder who said that such trips stimulate Christian service in a broader manner.
"...my missions friend in India tell me that the short term missions trips there are vitally important for getting the story back to the states, where people with money can get excited about the mission in India, and send support."
THAT is part of the serious concern: creating foreign dependency instead of assisting in local self-support. Yes, in India (having been there) and many places they are very anxious to find an American Sugar Daddy . Often that means no or less local accountability or connectedness. Our abundant resources seem a quick remedy, but they may be a bigger hindrance to growing a locally strong church.
In order to answer the question more fully it would take several longitudinal studies that look at long term impacts to both nationals and expatriates. A control group would be needed to see what happens if instead of sending people for $xx,xxx the money was sent and funneled with appropriate accountability. I've heard (first hand) my share of missionaries complain about not having deep relationships with nationals. Then it turns out that instead of investing $20k in hiring national workers and rubbing shoulders with them, they are in the process of recruiting a short term group to come do construction (or other) work for them. Of course, there are examples on all sides that can be mentioned to demonstrate one point or another. Without a longer term, controlled study, we're sort of in the dark on this....by longer term, i'm talking 5-10 years or more. Anyone know of something like that? Ideally, we'd have a couple of such studies available written/created both by expats and nationals. Their perspective is often quite different than expected.
Anony.: re studies - great question! There is a good bit of work being done in this area. Dr. Robert Priest at TIU is doing work in this area.
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