Three Reasons to Forget Missions And Just Take A Trip

     Americans are obsessed with efficiency and technology. Every job seems to require multi-tasking. A study by Hewlett Packard estimated that 62% of Americans checked their work e-mail from home or vacation. In this always-on and always plugged-in world, it is no wonder that we bring the frenzied need to do several things at once with us when planning Short Term Missions?
     As useful as Short Term Missions can be, most of the complaints made by the recipients of the help have to do with poor planning and too much multi-tasking. So when do you forget going on a mission and just see the world? In the spirit of slowing down and putting first things first, here are three times to just take a trip:

1. When what your really need is a vacation. Any reasonable student of Short Term Missions must admit that some mission ideas that have been proposed sound much more like a vacation than a mission. After all, how much effect could a flock of tourists have who swarm off of a luxury cruse liner to invade a third world village for a few hours? To the people who live there, any witness would appear rather fake, if you ask me. Missions of any duration requires the compassion of a servant's heart not a first world tourist's checkbook.
     That's not to say there isn't value in exposing to Americans to the rest of the world outside of luxury hotels, as long as they spend some time actually mixing with the locals. But honesty demands we call it like it is. Everyone needs rest once in a while. Need a vacation? Take one. Just don't call it a mission. If you're brave enough to take a trip that will also expose you to poverty and need, prepare to be shocked--not just at the depths in which some people live, but also at the brotherhood of true believers. It's both an eternal mystery and an eternal blessing of being part of the body of Christ.

2. When what you really need is a vision. As a pastor, how much do you know about what God is doing in the world? How can anyone find their place in his plan if they don't know what's going on? The secular media certainly won't tell you. One way to get a feel for the need and the accomplishments in any given area is to go for a visit. A church or group of long term workers in an area may not be able to chaperone every curious American. But if you are truly interested in working with them, they will likely make time for you as the pastor or other church leaders to visit. Every pastor needs at least one international vision trip in his lifetime. It will expand your horizons.

3. When what you really need are connections. One of God's greatest gifts to humanity is often forgotten in Short Term Missions planning. That gift is the gift of relationship. If your mission trip focuses on evangelism, new believers need to find relationship within a local church. Even if the focus is construction or relief, it needs to be done in the context of relationships between churches or permanent mission groups. Everything from hard feelings to squandered opportunities result from lack of good relations.
     Some mission agencies that specialize in Short Term Mission teams allow churches to use their contacts for planning and local follow-up. This can help busy pastors or young people looking to go on their own. Still, both American and foreign churches can benefit from a long standing personal relationship. This usually starts with pastors or church leaders getting together.

Of course no matter the reason for the trip, travel insurance is important. It can reduce potential headaches and allow you to focus on the reason for your trip. So take the opportunity to become recharged, renewed and involved.

For help with short term missions and travel insurance go to Good Neighbor Insurance.