Thoughts on “Short Term Missions”

December 17, 2007

By Dan Holcomb


There is a big and healthy debate about the impact, quality, and effectiveness of “Shor-Term Missions.” The term as I’m using it in this paper can be defined as the following:

A group of people traveling to an area in the world for a short period (2-4 weeks) for the purpose of sharing their lives and faith with the local people or missionaries of that region.

Many question the entire concept of this rapidly growing subsection of missions. Some of their critiques are below:

* The trips cost too much money. Often this money could be used for other critical local needs.
* They are primarily beneficial for the “sending” churches and teams. Often the impact is minimal on the local people and the change that occurs only shapes and enhances the faith and worldview of the “senders” and “travelers”.
* The relationships are short lived. Most teams travel to a region, have an intense experience, and then leave with little or no follow up contact or relationship with the people.
* Many times they are used as a spiritualized vacation time.
* Often the visiting teams are unprepared culturally, spiritually, emotionally, or linguistically. The groups will barge in, take pictures, offend the local culture, judge the local workers, and become a burden to their local hosts or missionaries.




We at Lahash believe there is hope in this model even if many broken pieces should be fixed. When Short Term Missions are done right, the following occurs:

* Prepared Teams: The teams are prepared before they travel, are connected to a “sending community”, undergo a rich new experience, and have follow up after returning. This means that both the sending community and the local community have a rich experience with minimized miscommunication.
* Financially: Regarding the costs of traveling:
o A Lahash partner recently was asked whether money we had should be used for travel or local projects. He responded quickly, “If your father was sick in the hospital, would it be better to visit him or just send money.” Often times we Westerners look at initiatives merely from the productivity standpoint. If we are a global family, we need to be caring for people not just with presents – but with presence.
o From my experience it is extremely rare that a person would get involved with the global church – or donate several thousand dollars without first traveling to the area. Often times STM trips are a gateway where people realize deep love for projects or people around the world and will continue to support them after returning to their homes.
* Dignity: Another South African pastor recently told a friend of mine – “When you people travel, you give our people dignity.” If these trips are done in the right manner, it can be an intensely honoring experience to have a traveler come from around the world to love an AIDS victim – praying for them and holding their hands while they lie in the hospital. It gives them back their sense that their frail body is in fact created “in the image of God” and has inherent value.
* Deep Involvement: Lahash has about 85% of past travelers volunteering, praying, emailing, writing, advocating, and planning follow up trips. Many times with the right pathways this community tie means a life-time bond with the people of the local region.
* Future lives as Missionaries: The younger generation in the church has a problem with committal. But often a trip to a region will capture a person’s heart and they will understand that their life’s mission is international service. One of our first travelers – Imago Dei member Kim Davey – is now traveling with World Venture to Sudan to live long-term.
* Local Lives are Matured and Worldviews Expanded: Many of the people we travel to visit have very little education or perspective on the world. Many of them are too poor to travel more than 40 miles from their homes. Sharing several weeks with them teaching computer skills, Bible study methods, sports, sharing books, talking through cultural differences, and teaching English all enhance the lives of the local leaders and community members tremendously. Furthermore, when families travel the local people see a new perspective on marriages, on how parents treat children, and what older people can do after retirement. It can be a huge gift of hope to the local people.