Why Short Term Missions?

Often times I have heard, "Why do Short Term Missions?...You could have just sent the money to the country to have the natives do the work. More harm is done when gringos come." OR phrases like, "Short term missions only benefits the people coming. They experience a God high, get warm fuzzy feelings, and then return to their country."

If we are honest with ourselves, at one time or another we have all thought these things to some extent.

Here at Youth World, we believe that in fruitful short-term missions there is a reciprocal relationship and that all parties involved bear fruit (John 15). If God changes the course of one person's life because they participated in short term missions, is it worth it?

Yes, Absolutely!

There is a process that short term missionaries usually go through after completion of the ministry. The hope is that the end result is fruit!

Here is an excerpt from Dana, a full time staff member, in her blog:

"The Five F's is a process that many people go through upon returning home after a short term mission. Here they are:

"Fun": it's fun to speak English, flush toilet paper, drink Starbucks, see friends and family.

"Flee": Expectations of home don't meet reality. You expect people to care more and listen longer as you share about the mission. The people at home don't really get it, so the only people you want to be around are your team members.

"Fight": Your passion gets a little misplaced. You are filled with passion and motivation to change the world after everything you have seen and learned. You know God is calling you to a higher purpose, but you just find yourself fighting against your home culture. So you do things like: sleep on the floor instead of your bed because that's what you did in India, or take cold showers to identify with the people in Jamaica...but none of it actually makes a difference.

"Fit": You eventually have to reengage into life at home. You need friends, even if they don't understand. You have to go back to work or school, and slowly your life looks like it did before you ever got on a plane. Unfortunately, many people stop the process here.

"Fruit": The ultimate goal and expectation is that you would bear fruit as a result of the short term mission. Fruit looks different for everyone. Sometimes it means you start a scholarship program for kids at Argelia Alta, or read your Bible because you actually want to, or appreciate your family more, or change your major... Fruit is between you and God, so no fruit is better than another. This is one of the ways we can determine the success of a mission: if the team members bear fruit."

Can you relate to these things? We have been pointing all of these ideas back to John 15 where Jesus says, "Apart from Me You Can Do Nothing." It's only because of Jesus that we are able to live, breathe, and have our way...yes, and even participate in short term missions.

Be Blessed!