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Mission trip or summer vacation?
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The approach of summer brings with it appeals to support short-term mission trips, often to third-world countries. These trips frequently involve youths. Before their journey they troop to the front of the church, and we pray for them. Sometime later they return, and dutifully recount lives transformed, their own as well as those they went to help.
It’s something I want my own children to do when they are older, but on the immediate economics alone, youth-oriented mission trips are indefensible. People in need of churches, housing, and the Word could use the dollars and a couple of Christian men with carpentry skills far more than a passel of unskilled kids who are rounding out their spiritual resumes. But is there more here than the immediate economics?
One can argue, for example, that a spiritual resume is precisely what today’s kids need — to be exposed to the grit of poverty and the plight of the unchurched in forgotten reaches of the world. What Christian parent wouldn’t want his children to see first-hand, albeit in a relatively safe way, the world we have been protecting them from, and presumably preparing them to enter? The difficulty is that in calling these journeys mission trips, we divert resources from more effective missions. Given the reality that most families have limited budgets, forking over $25 for Jimmy’s mission trip to Brazil, and $75 for Susie’s mission trip to Kenya, means a more effective program gets $100 less.
But what if Jimmy and Susie are transformed by their experiences, such that they are more likely to give of their time and resources in the future? Then that $100 may reap dividends beyond what appears at first glance. I don’t deny that possibility, and hope, each time a young person from my own church goes to a distant country, that it proves so.
Still, it seems we ought to relabel these endeavors, perhaps calling them “Christian study abroad programs.” This is likely to wound someone’s sensibility about these things, perhaps especially those involved in the dozens of organizations specializing in Christian youth mission trips.
We all want these trips to be meaningful and valuable, but unfortunately, research by Calvin College’s Kurt Ver Beek indicates that short-term mission trips don’t lead to greater subsequent involvement in the lives of those they are intended to help. Nor do short-term missions result in significantly greater giving by mission-trip participants or their host churches. (For links to Ver Beek’s research, and articles discussing it, click here.)
The real test, where youth missions are concerned, is what these young people do when they are grown. I have no doubt that some of them are profoundly changed by a mission trip, making its cost a bargain. I also have no doubt that others get a good tan from their trip, and little more, beyond reinforcing the view of foreigners that Americans are vain and silly. But that’s the lot of any church, isn’t it, that the movers are mingled with the talkers, the saints with the sinners? And if we ever start separating these groups, I for one will be in big trouble.
So I’m wondering, what should our response be to the onslaught of youth missions this summer? What questions ought we to ask? Should we simply be thankful that young people are showing any interest in missions at all? Should we politely suggest that they can have experiences that are just as meaningful in our own inner cities, children’s hospitals, and poverty-racked rural areas? Should we pony up and keep our mouths shut? Am I a bad Christian for asking?
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Don’t blame racism
Great discussion, Tony, and right on. I wonder if there should be a more intentional plan. For example, kids start with a “mission” trip that is local - to a rescue mission or build-it project in a rural community. Those who demonstrate some mission-mindedness may be selected for more costly experiences.
Your questions are good. Missions is probably done more out of tradition than strategy.
Another thought you inspired: most countries have people who can build and we can sometimes help their economy more if we provide for them to hire local laborers than for us to fly over to be their construction workers (and in the case of youth, inexperienced construction workers).
You’re not a bad Christian at all.
I actually didn’t go on a missions trip (even though I was raised in a Christian home) until I was a sophomore in college, when I finally felt ready to participate in missions and not just take a vacation to a foreign country.
I’ve since been to China and Germany on summer missions trips–experiences I wouldn’t have missed for the world. In Germany, one of the missionaries I worked with told me frankly that short-term missions trips were more for the benefit of the short-termer than the local ministry.
Perhaps the question to ask isn’t whether the kids who go on missions trips go on to be full-time missionaries but whether their own walk with the LORD grows and strengthens as a result. Actually working on the missions field and contributing to the cause makes all the preaching and the Sunday school lessons seem more real than much else can to kids who have sat in church all their lives. If they come away as committed Christians (not necessarily committed missionaries), then surely the money and time and prayers were all worth it.
The most basic question to ask is, “Just what will our youth be doing on this trip.”
Coordinating with the local missionaries to determine what they really need is prime and foremost in any “mission” discussion.
Good post Tony.
I think sometimes we Americans have the feeling that if we don’t DO anything, we haven’t accomplished anything. There’s a lot to be said for getting on the mission field to WATCH and LEARN.
I’m all for productivity and not dragging the missionaries down of course, but perhaps we need to take a step back and realize that they have a lot mroe to teach us than we have to help them … and that in itself can be productive. We may not see fruit in one summer, or even in one year, but fruit grows slowly and it will develop over the course of a lifetime.
Incidentally, one prays a whole lot better for missionaries after having been on the field.
When I was finishing High School some friends went on a mission trip and came back all excited and fired up and I decided that was something I wanted to do, so right after graduation I went on a mission trip to the Czech Republic not realizing that God wouldn’t let me drop missions after that. I’ve been living in South America for the last year and plan on being involved in long term missions for the rest of my life.
So my story (along with my sister’s) is the type of story of a short term trip having effects that outlast it, but I also definitely ask the same questions about other short term trips (especially now that I am on the hosting side instead of the going side). The short term impact is normally small but the gain in meeting brothers from other countries (for both locals and the coming youth) and the perspective and greater general interest in missions can all make it worth it. It is still perfectly reasonable though to look at any specific trip and ask if it is really worth it.
My ideal I think is to take 100 kids to the inner city and 10 to the foreign country.
Then there are the trips that one has to wonder about.
Last summer I received a letter from my cousin’s daughter, whom I have only met once when she was an infant, and she lives many states away. I have not seen nor kept in touch with this particular cousin in years, mostly because of age difference and proximity. We were not particularly close growing up, and we don’t even send cards at Christmas. What little news I hear about my cousin and his family comes second or third hand from other members of the extended family.
I received a letter from this young lady asking for financial aid so she could go on a short term missionary reip with her youth group at church. I didn’t send any money because I thought my money would be better spent in a venue where I had more affiliation.
Was I wrong? I don’t think so.
Our church sends adults on short-term missions trips also, probably even more of them than the teenagers. (Each year an adult team goes in February, and a youth team during spring break). As of this spring, at least 200 people have gone to Guatemala, I think that’s just counting adults though I’m not sure. Since I know Spanish, people think it’s a natural for me to go, but so far I have not been convinced that it is a worthwhile use of resources, as Tony points out.
I talked to people about it after the latest adult team came back, and I went to the presentation they gave on their trip. They talked over and over about how much it meant to the villagers there that rich Americans cared enough about them to spend their time and money to go down to spend a week in a very poor village. The team splits into three groups, one to do construction (this year, at least, they worked alongside villagers in starting the building of a church building, to replace the current structure which is just a roof on poles), one to take care of medical and dental needs (the first time many of these people have seen a dentist), and a third group to play with the children (this keeps the kids out of the tents where the medical and dental teams are trying to work, as well as making them very happy, because their parents work so hard all day they have very little time or energy for playing).
I’ve made up my mind to consider going if I’m invited to join the team, and to pray about it in the meantime.
Kyle’s post reminded me that our church also takes a group of the middle school youth to Chicago for a week each year, where they do some work (at a food pantry I think), and they are taken on a very non-touristy “tour” of the city to get a look at what life is like for people who have very very little. The trip is called a missions trip but its goal is definitely to change the lives of the kids who go, and whatever help they give is a small extra benefit.
I don’t think so either … we’ve tried to give money to missions trips that involve REAL missions work and missionaries, as opposed to those which seem to be glorified vacations (the most recent in my memory is a trip to Europe to study other cultures, with very little religious emphasis).
Like anything else - it can be well done or poorly done.
The point isn’t the efficiency of getting the work done. Indeed, compiling the money and hiring locals to do any particular work would get the work done more economically.
But do we want to promote the idea that one gets one’s service out of the way by just writing a check? It is good to get the kids away (from non-Christian peers, cell phones, iPods, etc.) and spending some time doing something positive and learning somethng about people in need first hand. The kids (missionaries) are the field of work as much or more than the house rehab or other work.
I’m not a youth, but I went on a short-term trip last year, and I had to continually examine my motives. “Am I here to show God’s love in Christ to these people, or am I using them as a tool for my own perceived spiritual growth?”. Nothing we do is un-tainted.
“People in need of churches, housing, and the Word could use the dollars and a couple of Christian men with carpentry skills”
Actually, they probably don’t even need the men. There are ususally local companies that can be hired to do the work, which benefits the local economy as well as the target group.
I once read about a survey that said many of these groups being served were happy to have the kids there, but more for cultural exchange than work.
My pastor’s daughters are college age and just returned from a short-term mission over spring break. Surely we’d rather have our kids spending their time in some measure of Christian service than blowing even more money at some Daytona Beach bacchanalia like their contemporaries.
Having said that, I agree that these youth missions are mostly an airheaded American indulgence. In college, I spent a month with my aunt and uncle in U.S. foreign service in Haiti. Though I was not with a ministry, I saw first hand the plight of the people, and this made me sensitive to their needs and aware of my own cushy American lifestyle. I’d hope my young kids would someday have a similar experience.
However, years later, my missionary friend in Peru wanted me to come down for a short term mission. I explained that I’d already had my eyes opened in Haiti and that the money would be better spent by an outright donation to his mission.
So my opinion is, unless someone can do some specific good in short term missions by virtue of their skills, maybe one “mission vacation” would be helpful for their own education. Beyond that, it’s a feel-good indulgence. Those resources would be better spent through either a donation or a long-term personal committment to missions.
Pauline, if you do, I’ll contribute!
No you’re not a bad Christian for asking Tony. We all should be asking; aren’t we called to be wise stewards of the money God has blessed us with?
We gave to too many of these “mission/vacation” trips over the years and I guess I will admit that it’s made me cynical. It would take someone really special for me to reconsider my giving to something like this.
I think there must be an entire industry devoted to getting kids over the border to Mexico to build houses. Part of me agrees, we’re undercutting the local economy and teaching the people the gringos will bail them out–except when you stay after everyone is gone and see the local workers go in and correct all the kids’ mistakes.
That being said, it’s good for the kids to see a different culture, even a slightly sanitized one. And in the case of one of my affluent relatives, building a house in Mexico changed her life for the better–she’s in architecture school ten years later focused on learning how to provide affordable housing for the poor.
My donation was well spent that year.
I was interviewed on this very topic a few years ago by the Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0525/p01s01-ussc.html
I think they offer a fairly well-rounded perspective on the topic.
In high school, my parents told me I could take one overseas missions project and that I should choose wisely. I chose two months in Peru after my sophomore year of college. It changed me, but so did my weeks in inner city St. Louis and rural West Virginia.
There’s another aspect that I think that might be worth mentioning. By donating, we are supporting a young person in something they believe in and that is relative to their Christian faith. I try to remember what it was like to be a Christian teenager and I think that having adults in my church support me in an effort that I believed to be a ministry would have been very encouraging, not just for the trip, but for my life. This is what motivates me to donate.
Excellent discussion here. I hope that I might contribute something worthwhile too. I have participated in a number of short-term mission trips around the world and in the United States. However, I did not begin doing mission work until I was 30, and I paid my own way for my trips, saving up before going. Paying thousands of my own dollars made me take the work a lot more seriously and being older allowed me to bring more skills and understanding to folks I was helping. Likewise, I was able to bring my experiences overseas back into the workplace when I returned. I think that I, and the other adults that I have worked with on these various trips, did get much accomplished and were, in turn, encouraged to grow spiritually ourselves. The people in Russia with whom I worked have asked that I and my church group return again this summer, which seems to me to be proof that we helped them in some significant way. My church has also partnered with churches in the Middle East and Eastern Europe to create an on-going relationship. Missionaries keep in contact with those with whom they work after they return home.
That being said, I wish that there was more of a focus on mission work within the United States. The Gulf Coast is still hurting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; the poverty in Appalachia is still demoralizing; and there seems to be an overlooked polygamous population within our borders. I am planning two more short term trips this year; both will be within the United States. I have told my church group that I cannot go to Russia this year when the needs are so great right here.
As a missionary, I am torn on the whole idea of short-term missions trips. I have seen it be positive for both the short-termer (whether adult or teen) and the missionaries, but I have also seen disastrous results. I think it is imperative for the church to put prospective short-term missionaries through an application process which will hopefully weed out those who are just going on vacation. I think that most high school trips should be domestic. There are many places in the U.S. where teens can have their eyes opened to a needy world.
The main thing that anyone going on a short-term trip should remember is that they are a learner. Yes, the Lord may give them opportunities to serve the missionaries or the nationals, but the most important thing they can do in watch, listen and learn. When the missionary tells you to do or not to do something, there is a good reason for it. Short-term missionaries can severely damage a ministry that a missionary has spent years building if they don’t follow guidelines given by the missionary. As they say in Wolof, “Yaxxa moo gen a gaaw defar.” Ruining something is faster than making something.
One thing the American church needs to be cautious about is developing a project mentality for missions. Projects have their place, but effective missions requires long-term, day-in, day-out living and ministering to the people. There is an increasing trend toward giving to projects (both workers and money) instead of giving to support a missionary or ministry that is there for the long haul. Some churches won’t give toward a project unless their church members can come and work on it. I struggle with the stewardship issues of that when I know that it costs $2000/person to come to The Gambia (just the air fare)and I can hire people for $3-5 a day to do the jobs that typical building team members can do.
I will say this though, these days, most career missionaries come from the pool of people who have taken short-term missions trips.
Ajisuun
I agree with your remarks. As a pastor’s daughter I have witnessed many full time missionaries, they stayed in our home while on furlough. It was during those precious times that I learned so much. I had the opportunity of listening, learning and asking questions. The time I spent was a valuable experience as I grew up. One of my mothers best friends who was in Africa for most of her life became one of my best friends, what a treasure she was, how much I loved her, how she served those in need.
A better idea if one wants to do a mission trip is to take a two or three week stint right in their own area, in this way they will learn valuable information which will help them if they truly want to ’serve’ those less fortunate abroad. It might not have the glamour attached to it, however if the college student really wants to help, then that won’t be a problem.
I believe strongly that anyone who wants to go on a ‘mission trip’ should earn at least half the money themselves. 2,000 dollars as you mentioned plus more could be better spent on the field. As you said you can hire people to do the work at very little cost.
I’m always concerned when people can’t wait to go south of the border into Mexico to help them build, fix, etc., when the Mexican’s come over the border to the US to find jobs. Why the exchange? The money could be better spent by hiring the local’s to do the work, thereby giving them money they need to buy food, etc. right WHERE THEY LIVE.
Spending your own money on a missions trip sure helps keep the focus on missions and spiritual growth. On both my trips, I spent a significant portion of my own savings, and I think that helped “keep it real”–no way was I going to blow my own money!
Spending your own money does help you determine how high a priority the trip is. Almost anyone would go on a trip paid for by someone else, but would you go on that trip if you were paying?
Let me encourage the adults. Short-term missions trips aren’t just for teenagers or college students. Adults with skills in medicine, construction, electricity, plumbing, accounting, education etc. can all be used on the mission field. Also “short-term” doesn’t have to mean only 2 weeks. I came to the Gambia the first time as a short-term teacher for the missionary kids. My “short-term” was 2 years.
I would love to see local efforts, whatever shape they may take. One such effort might hosting be a church where ex-prisoners feel welcome. I mean, don’t youth need to understand their impact, and how can they do that if they fly in and fly out? What impact is there, really? Exposure, yes, but real contribution to problems? I suppose building projects are valid and we should want to help those who need help, but I am not sure that a lot of these efforts really do much more than boost the ego of those who go.
When I was in seminary, I once asked Abner, a student from Mexico, what he thought about short-term mission trips. He replied that he didn’t think they were much good. His experience was that for most folks, it’s a short vacation where they show up, pick up a brick, take a picture, and then go back home. “We can pick up bricks ourselves,” he said. He said that skilled labor was good, but the real need for for theological training for the pastors in his country so that they, in turn, can better teach their own flocks.
great conversation….I have 4 such appeals in my mailbox right now. My personal conclusion is not to pre-judge the potential, but to invest more than just writing a check. A phone call, a lunch discussion…anything to talk through what the would-be missionary intends for thier trip and how they are preparing themselves is not only a worthwhile investment BEFORE sending support - but a responsibility borne of good stewardship.
It’s more work than just sending money…but maybe that’s part of the point - to get US involved, too.
Rom 10:15a - “And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”
Tony,
Speaking of trips, I saw a guy on a Denver flight last week that looked like you!
I agree with those who said that the value of short-term missions for those on the receiving end is often quite limited. However, one can do some research and find out what is useful in a given country and context. Here in the Czech Republic we have found that the most effective ways that short-termers can serve are at English camps and sports camps [soccer and basketball].
As several people mentioned above, no matter what the context, the best missionaries are those who come with the attitude of a learner.
As was also mentioned, many long-termers were once short-termers. After my short-term experience in what was then Czechoslovakia while I was still a university student, I was already praying for God to bring me back to Central Europe. He brought me back, and I’ve been here ever since. But even if a short-termer doesn’t return to the mission field, the exposure will provide unique perspective and will be invaluable as he/she ministers back home.
Kyle: What year were you in the CR?
I am Kurt Ver Beek, the author of the research referred to by Mr Woodlief. I believe that the only way we can justify spending $40,000 to build a $2000 house (about $30,000 of that will go to American Airlines and another $5000 to nice hotels and restaurants where the group will stay)–is if there is lasting long-term change in the participants on both sides. And I think we know how to make that happen–we need accountability and encouragement to make goals and keep them after the trip is over. So that is what I would encourage all of the groups/leaders/churches to set up–they need to think through how will they make sure that the participants on both ends set goals (pray more, give more, volunteer more….) and end up accomplishing them?
So I think we know how to make experiences like this result in lasting changes (just like if we set a goal to exercise, we are much more likely to be successful if we have friends running with us each morning) –but it seems like we thought it would happen in STMs without the effort. I think we need to have STM participants set goals (like buying less CDs and giving the money to the organization they visited….) before and during the trip and then set up accountability and encouragement to make sure they follow thru on those goals.
I agree as to the benefits of missions trips to a certain extent and this is an excellent question.
There are factors that affect the answer…
What is the purpose of missions trip? If it is of an evangelistic nature, then local pastors are certainly more accepted and effective for economic and cultural reasons and teens have very little, long-term effect in this area.
If the purpose is of a charitable nature, then it would be in the best interest of the charitable organization to use locals when possible, in order to stretch the budget and boost local economy. Where there are no locals available (such as medical or technical) then send any who are qualified.
Overall, it is very difficult to say as to whether or not they are “worth it” or a “waste of money”. That is relative… it depends on who is being asked. Who actually benefits from the trip? The teen or their parents? The poor people they leave behind as they head to their XBox and Wii?
I have to agree with Kurt. I cannot help but feel that the impoverished indigenous peoples would choose to have the money donated directly to the organization that would spend it on improving their life.
I am biased and experienced in this area(depending on your opinion!), as the Secretary and Treasurer of a small, 14 month old, non-profit organization that uses 100% indigenous pastors to preach the gospel in the tribal areas of the Philippines. We build and operate schools for the poor children (where there are no schools at all) and charge nothing for tuition. We buy land and build a school for about $2000! That is about one plane ticket and 1 week hotel for a teen missionary…
I humbly offer this opinion as someone who has seen first-hand how many more people can be fed, clothed, educated, medically treated, and most importantly, brought to the knowledge and salvation of Christ with only a few dollars. How many more can this help for a few thousand?
… blessed are those who believe and have not seen.
Correction… “I have to agree with Kurt” and then I meant to say, that more is needed to make sure that the STM will be effective. Such as goals to become involved in charitable work etc… otherwise the money is best-spend directly on the organization itself.
sorry for the ommission.
While I agree that short term mission trips are not necessarily cost effective in the strictest sense, I think it depends ultimately on the individual church group. During a brief stint in Mexico, I (and my compatriots) slept on the ground outside the local pastor’s house rather than spending money on hotel accomodations. Mind you, this wasn’t a border trip or a tourist spot (like Cancun or Tijuana) but rather deep inside the interior.
It was a learning experience, to say the least.
On the other hand, I think most youth go into it with the wrong attitude and walk away patting themselves on the back for a job halfway done. Oftentimes, attitude is everything, and if you go into it thinking it’s going to be a vacation, then you’re not going to be a productive member of the group, and whatever money spent on getting you there was wasted.
I agree with several of the posters who said that there should be a stricter selection process when it comes to youth and short term missions outside of the country.
Growing up in inner city St. Louis, I didn’t have to look far to find poverty. More often than not, we don’t even have to leave our state to find people in need, let alone our country.
Of course, I have also seen a great deal of benefit from short term missions, both spiritual and material.
Perhaps the point is that God can use anything to achieve His purposes. We should be asking ourselves what the best and most productive way to spend our resources is, but a short term mission is often better than no mission at all. That’s not a blanket statement, but the parable of the talents comes to mind.
Near and dear to my heart, some extra thoughts -
For the amount of money it costs to send a young person on a short term “missions” trip - I would like to see a longer commitment than 2 weeks or even 3 months - I think six months to a year would make that travel money work a lot harder.
It has always appeared self-indulgent to me when there are so many needs at home that the youth have *most likely* not involved themselves in,
and personally, I would like to see someone with skills, medical, construction, engineering, teaching or other take the opportunity to go.
Come to the table with something to offer . . .
We have young friends who care for orphaned and aids ridden children, but do so long term - so much need, so few arms to hold these others.
Love to see accepted “Christian” practices examined. The old time missionaries lived among those they hoped to help - they didn’t pop in and pop out.