What does the community need (there), and not what we need, or want to do as missionaries?

Glad you commented. I have been to Zacatapec which I believe is close to your heart.

I too was transformed by a trip to Mexico when I was a Soph. in college. And the key as you point out is relationships. I went down with Spectrum Ministries which is based out of San Diego. We didn’t build anything…but one amazing thing he had us do (my brother and I) was wash the bare feet of all the boys living in the Tijuana dump…we did that before they bathed them…but I also know that the leader had us do it for more than that reason….but to also teach us a lesson about service and humility.

That trip led to other trips…I led three to Zacatapec, a Habitat for Humanity trip to Northern Ireland, India, etc, etc. And relationships were definitely the best thing about the trip.

One thing that I’ve learned is that Americans go down, wanting to accomplish something. They need that “capitalist instint” fulfilled. But one thing I have been learning and that Enock (our missions pastor) was teaching us, was about the importance of 1) relationships; 2) that we were being transformed as much by being there, than often the community we went to.

WE can never downplay the fact how people’s live our changed by a Christian “tourist” trip. And I think we all agree. Let’s not plant churches where we don’t need them. Let’s not build a house, or paint a wall that doesn’t need it. But let’s be strategic, but let’s also focus on relationships.

When we were down in Brazil a year ago in March I remember helping these guys paint the side of this house. But I never got the sense that that that’s what really needed to be done…but rather, the community felt like they needed to give us something tangible to do. So instead, I asked the community leader if the guys I was working with could just play soccer with the boys in the village…cause that’s what everyone really wanted to do. And that was great. Everyone loved it and some great relationships were really built, and sustained.

I think because people focused on relationships, that’s the reason that 4 of the 20 college students on that trip, went back a year later to live there for 4-6 months. They truly were transformed, and wanted to go work with the community. That has really strengthened our relationships between the churches and people. And we are able to stand together, even though we are thousands of miles apart.

I’ve also learned that part of going is about receiving and not giving. We are often not in the right place spiritually, or our hearts aren’t right to receive…we often just give. There is something very important about having a heart, available to receive the hospitality of others.

rhett

Many “nebulous” trips that I’ve gone on to the same commnity in Mexico had nothing but relationships as the goal.

Let’s not build churches where they are not needed and let’s not go with no purpose. But how can we balance the spiritual benefits of just standingin worship wih some folks 3000 miles from where you live with the capitalist instinct to get a return on our investment. My investment has mostly been my time and my airfare money and the return has been the body of Christ as I experience it and my Mexican friends experience it that has stretched way over a border that used to be the boundary of the body of Christ for both of us.

Great thoughts! I love what you have to say.

I think we all agree that Short-Term Missions are great…but they have to have an objective, rather than just sending people on tourist trips, etc.

Also, we have all been impacted by our experiences on short term mission trips, which have been impetus’ for transformation in our lives. So they make an impact, but we have to ask ourselves the right questions before we go.

Also, as you mention…what if we used that money that costs to fly all around the world, and used it in the communities around us…there are huge needs? If everyone took care of those around them, then we probably wouldn’t need short term missions…per se.

I think going abroad really opens our eyes in amazing ways, so we can’t discount that. But maybe that’s different than raising money for a mission trip. Maybe that’s just a tourist, or service trip and not a short term mission trip.

I will blog more on this stuff in a day or two.

rhett

I totally get what he’s saying, and the Bahama figure highlights what’s wrong with the mentality/heart of some that may serve in short term mission trips.

However, I guess I would shy away from discouraging them as a focus for Churches, because I feel that God certainly uses them to work in people’s lives, redeem their motives, faith, perspective, etc.

Even if it’s just a reference point in someone’s life, hopefully the vast contrast in standard of living, freedom, liberty, diet (obesity), and wealth leaves an indelible impact on the vacationary.

Tough question for me really. If we weren’t spending all of those resources on STM’s, where else and how else could they be used in the Kingdom? Presumably a number of other uses would be more effective.

For example, what if the past STM budget/expenditures and pledges at Bel Air Pres had ALL been dedicated to ending homelessness in Los Angeles? Would that not be a stronger more tangible statement of the committment to “make LA the greatest city for Christ”?

However, what about how God decides to sovereignly act in the lives of those on STM’s? Since in fact, all of the world’s resources are God’s, and we’re just stewards, could he not decide to take us across the globe, for us to minister to someone in our own group?

How is the great commission fulfilled? We’re all appointed, right? So obviously not all of us can be long-term missionaries…but what if in the great commission, God intends for us to Evangelize in our OWN downtown vs. that of Calcutta? But if we don’t have a global connectedness to the universal Church body, won’t we lose our perspective as wealthy, US believers? Risk becoming Fundamentalist retreaters? Well, I guess that has already happened to an extent here in the Bible belt…

I don’t know Rhett. REALLY interesting question, though…

Thanks so much for posting!

Jared

ps, I went to Bihar, India. It rocked my world. It was so poor, it made parts of Iraq or the old East Germany look like Santa Barbara. THe people worshiped with such zeal and passion, it rocked and shaped my faith and worship forever. It was amazing in all respects. I linked to my post-trip blog in my trackback…