Words of Wisdom from the Babylon Bee – My take on the matter …
There are many church members who resonate with the question of why the pastor gathers a flock of the super spiritual and heads off to a foreign land to walk the streets praying for the lost. It takes one day for travel, three days for “ministry,” one day for sightseeing, and then another day for returning home. What if we took the funds to do all that and sent it to a local pastor trying to build a congregation from among the destitute?
There are at least six reasons that short-term mission trips are worthwhile, broken down into three categories.
Personal Growth
When both my daughters were in high school, they went on a mission trip to China, and it changed their lives. My youngest continued pursuing international missions through college. The impact on their Christian faith and exposure to what it means to be poor, really poor, and persecuted for one’s faith cannot be overstated. Further, these trips fostered life skills, such as patience, flexibility, and teamwork navigating new cultures and environments, and basically what it feels like to “step out on faith.”
Short-term missions are the foundation for long-term mission careers. The largest Biblical Christian mission-sending denomination, Southern Baptist, has 3,600 field mission personnel, most of whom were spawned on a church-led short-term mission trip.
Community Impact
Sending money to pastors of foreign ministries is important. But to actually encourage them face-to-face is much more impactful. Many are functioning in places antagonistic to a Biblical Christian worldview. These pastors are not only building a church, they are boldly stepping out against the cultural norms and expecting their fledgling flock to do the same. Bringing a small team of encouragers can make the difference between success and failure, often more than can be accomplished by funding support. It also builds long-term relationships between cultures that allow for both oversight and continued mission support.
Evangelism
The Lord calls Christians to the Great Commission …
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20
This charge explains the purpose behind all forms of missions. It is true that one can pray in their bedroom and that God can save the lost in places like Nigeria. But to walk the poverty-ridden streets of Lagos, praying for and engaging with those who are hungry for the gospel, is putting feet to our calling. The impact of seeing people coming to Christ and being a part of that experience in a completely different culture leaves an impact on both the tired Christian and the brand-new believer.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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