If you are ready to give up your small ambitions to explore God's will for your life, a short-term mission trip may open a world of opportunities. But it's important that you go with a ministry that has a record of creating positive experiences. Perhaps that will be your local church, or it may be another entity.
Most short-term mission experiences provide a specific type of ministry, such as medical or other humanitarian work, children's ministry, construction or evangelism. Make sure you understand what type of ministry you will be doing and that it matches your interests and giftedness.
Your answers to the following questions will enable you to make a good choice and to communicate your expectations to the mission organizers.
1| Why do you want to go on a short-term mission trip?
Perhaps you just want to do something to help the poor or underprivileged. Or you may want to share the message of hope with those who do not know Christ. You may even feel God is leading you to be a career missionary but would like to use a short-term experience to see if this is really something you feel God is calling you to do. Exploring your expectations will help you choose the most appropriate short-term experience.
2| What type of evangelistic experience do you want?
If you decide to be a member of a cross-cultural evangelistic mission, understand the limitations of your efforts. Short-termers working cross-culturally without foreign language abilities probably will not personally experience many people becoming Christians. But their impact may still play an important role in a process that brings those individuals to accept Christ's lordship over their lives.
Level
1 |
Project Components
Same country, Same language, Possible different ethnic group, Large group |
Stress
Low |
Experience
First-timers, jr. high & high school age |
2 |
Different country, Same language, Different ethnic group, Housed together in familiar setting |
Low to medium |
Mature first-timers or those with little experience overseas |
3 |
Different country, Different language, Different ethnic group, Small group housed together in community |
Medium |
Previous STM experience recommended |
4 |
Different country, Different language, Different ethnic group, Individual or small group housed separately with national families |
High |
Previous STM experience recommended |
A good short-term missions experience doesn't happen by accident. If you will prayerfully do your homework, you'll be well on your way to experiencing new insights -- insights not only about the God you serve, but about the person He is creating you to be.
Whatever short-term effort you choose, please add MRN (missions@mrnet.org) to your mailing list so we can walk alongside you in prayer.
Helpful Resources on Short-Term Missions
