By Rich Jenkins
“Why do mission trips?” a member of my congregation asked, “They’re just glorified vacations.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I was dumbfounded. I confess I was momentarily angry, grieved that someone just didn’t get it. Undoubtedly, many of our churches have a few unconvinced people like this. And in some cases, this mind-set may have a discouraging effect.
I answered that question and others during a missions emphasis message and experienced nothing but positive feedback.
“Why should we do mission trips? We already give to the Cooperative Program, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Missions, and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® for International Missions.”
Because the recipients of those Cooperative Program and missions offering gifts—our NAMB and IMB missionaries—urgently request that we come alongside them. I trust their judgment and support their calls for mission teams to come do short-term projects. It generates excitement, captures the community’s attention, and makes a noticeable impact when a group is willing to give of themselves to serve people they’ve never met. If a missionary or church needs help hosting a large scale, short-term event they believe will enhance their long-term work, then I’m all for it. Many times the ministries of our missionaries require outside assistance. It’s more than they can do alone. Partnering together we can accomplish more for the glory of God.
“Isn’t it a waste of money?”
It often costs a lot to travel to a distant city or another country to serve. But surely the salvation of a soul, the spiritual growth and expanded vision for the participants, and the encouragement and assistance provided to missionaries is well worth the cost. It says something very meaningful to the recipients of the missions activity when they realize that all these people paid out of their own pockets to come and serve simply out of love. It’s the Lord’s work and as such is by no means a waste of money.
“Why do we have to go somewhere else to do missions? Don’t we have needs right here in our own area?”
Yes, we absolutely should do missions at home. A church can certainly do both. We are given the biblical pattern of evangelism in Acts 1:8 where Jesus said, “… you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus’ call to take the gospel doesn’t exclude the local community (Jerusalem) in order to serve somewhere else in the state (Judea), North America (Samaria) or overseas (the ends of the earth). His call is inclusive of all and exclusive of none. This is not an either/or, but a both/and proposition. Short-term mission trips are certainly an expression of that call.
“Isn’t it a glorified vacation?”
Mission trips are hard work. There’s so much to do and so little time to do it. Not a vacation! I’ve been on several World Changers trips and associational trips that involved light construction. I’ve never seen youth so ready to go to bed! This is because they work hard throughout the day and worship intensely at night.
Yes, most mission trips usually provide a portion of one or two days to get away from the work and go sightseeing. Such outings are a welcome and much-needed break in the midst of a busy week but hardly constitute a vacation. They also provide a more in-depth look at the culture you are serving.
So…Glorified? Yes, because God is glorified as people see the love of Christ in action. Vacation? No, because on vacation we like to be served and enjoy comforts. On mission trips we serve others and often forgo our own comforts.
Given the benefits for the participants and those they serve, short-term mission trips are undeniably an effective part of the overall strategy of an on mission church. OM
Rich Jenkins is pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri.
What’s your mission choice?
The North American Mission Board has many opportunities for you or your church to serve in short-term missions. The Bridge (www.thebridge.namb.net) is an online volunteer/project management system where missionaries and churches post missions opportunities and volunteers find places to serve. Here are more ways to serve:
Operation Noah Rebuild is a partnership between New Orleans’ area associations and churches, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board. Skilled and unskilled workers are needed to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Visit www.OperationNoah.net for more information.
Wondering how you can leave a legacy of missions to your children and grandchildren? How about a mission trip for the whole family. Families on Mission is a pre-packaged, week-long family mission opportunity that allows everyone to be on mission together. Visit www.namb.net/fom or email fom@namb.net for more information.
Every year Baptist Builders respond to hundreds of requests for church construction assistance. Visit www.namb.net/bbuilders or email volunteers@namb.net
If you like the open road, Campers on Mission is your highway to spiritual fulfillment. Campers on Mission is a national fellowship of Christian campers who combine their love of the outdoors with ministry in North America. Ministry opportunities are posted at www.TheBridge.namb.net. Visit www.namb.net/CampersonMission to find out how you can join these active volunteers.
The North American Mission Board is the third largest disaster relief agency in North America. State Baptist Conventions have trained more than 85,000 volunteers to respond to national and international disasters. To find out how you can join this volunteer force, contact your state Baptist convention disaster relief office. Also visit www.namb.net/dr.
Bring some comfortable clothes, grab a hammer, and get ready to work hard and have fun. World Changers offers pre-planned, pre-packaged, week-long mission projects for junior high and high school students, where you and your team help fix up homes and serve low-income communities in many ways. As you serve, you’ll have opportunities to share the love of Christ and tell others how He’s transformed your life and wants to transform theirs! Visit www.World-Changers.net.
PowerPlant is a pre-packaged student mission experience that involves and educates students in church planting and evangelism. At a project, students are placed on ministry teams to work alongside a church planter. Visit www.Power-Plant.net to find out how you can participate in this amazing ministry.
Student Mission Groups: Throughout the United States and Canada, hundreds of Southern Baptist ministries need your help. You can find project needs in North America by visiting www.TheBridge.namb.net. Need help planning the trip? You’ll find free resources to assist you in planning the perfect trip at www.StudentMissionTrips.net.
World Changers – World Changers seeks to provide a dynamic, week-long missions experience for Christian youth and adults with opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others. Download