Copyright Josh Cooper 2008.
This is the second of five posts focusing on the legitimacy and beneficialness of short-term mission trips. This post focuses on STM's from an individual participant's perspective. To read the introduction to this series, click here.
Section Two – Individual Level
As we conducted the interviews for this paper, it became clear that the individuals that we interviewed felt that the most impactful aspect of a STMT, from an individual non-recipient perspective, was the spiritual formation that resulted from the experience. Therefore, as we begin this section of the paper, which explores how STMT are legitimate and beneficial from an individual non-recipient perspective, we would like to start by exploring how they can contribute to individual spiritual formation.
First, from the two interviews that we conducted, it seems that STMT can help an individual develop a greater humility and dependence on God and others. This was especially apparent in the first interview that we conducted. The gentleman interviewed told us that he originally did not think STMT were worthwhile endeavors. But, he decided to go on one when invited by a friend to partake in a STMT to Guatemala. His original intentions were, as he put it, self-centered. He thought that he would “go on the trip and show these Guatemalans a thing or two.” Also, he thought that going on a mission trip would look good to the congregation of his church.
While on this STMT he found that he was struck by how little the people that he was serving had materially. Yet they appreciated what they had and they truly appreciated the Gospel and the hope that it brought. This moved him to evaluate all that he had, whether material, spiritual, or relational. He came to realize that he had felt like he deserved all that he had-material things, his salvation, everything. Also, he came to realize that he did not deserve these things, but that they were gifts from God. Since that first STMT, his priorities have been much different. He feels that he now lives a life of much greater gratitude toward God. He feels that he now recognizes that he depends on God and those whom God brings into his life, for his physical and spiritual sustenance.
This same gentleman also mentioned that when someone finds themselves our of their usual they learn to depend more on God’s provision. He mentioned that in Guatemala, where he has spent most of time as part of mission teams, resources such as concrete, lumber, and other building supplies are not as readily available as they are in the United States. Thus, they have at times found themselves short-handed. However, he said that supplies almost always have a way of showing up. He feels that this is a result of the provision of God. In this way he feels that STMT help you to learn to be dependent on God.
The other gentleman that we interviewed also placed an emphasis on the importance of a humble, serving attitude while on STMT. He mentioned that sometimes people have a certain goal that they feel must be accomplished-a certain number of houses built, a certain number of people witnessed to, etc. However, he feels that one must be willing to “be available for what the Lord wants you to do,” no matter how grand or menial that task might be. We suspect this gentleman is naturally willing to do whatever is necessary, but he seemed to feel that STMT really drive this point home.
Another aspect of STMT that is legitimate and beneficial is the relationships that can develop out of this type of mission experience. The gentlemen that we interviewed both commented on how close the members of their STMT had grown, even though they were only together in the mission setting for a matter of days. In fact, one of the gentlemen said that he found it much easier to open up to his fellow mission workers than he did amongst fellow Christians at home, even though he had not known many of his fellow mission workers before embarking on the trip. Both gentlemen attributed this sense of connection with the other members of their STMT to the feeling of solidarity over the work that they were doing.
On STMTs, there is often a chance for the team members to develop relationships with people from the receiving culture. This is especially true when a group of workers can form a team with those from the receiving culture. Randy Friesen tells of a group of four Canadian university students who partnered with a group of four university students from Nairobi to witness to Massai families in Nairobi. As a result of the shared efforts of these students, the people of the village they worked in requested that another Christian come to live with them. Eventually, the village started a church and it now includes 300 members (Friesen, 2005). Undoubtedly the team members on this trip were able to develop some very significant cross-cultural relationships.
The gentlemen that we interviewed also saw the relationships that they formed with people of the receiving culture as significant. One of the gentlemen commented on how powerful it was to worship with the people who lived in the area that they were serving in. He felt enriched by the opportunity to worship in a different language and style than what he was accustomed to. He also commented on the genuineness of the worship. He felt that he learned something from the indigenous people and their joyful and genuine worship services.
This was a result that was highlighted in both of the interviews-learning from their relationships with the people they were serving. One of the gentlemen was moved by how little the people of Guatemala (where he was serving) have materially, yet they were seemingly happy. Now, this comment may betray how our culture influences us and convinces us that happiness comes through material wealth. However, a lesson was still learned and this gentleman now has a greater appreciation of how to live happily with or without material wealth.
Both gentlemen also felt that their STMT experiences helped them become more adept at working for the Kingdom here in their home context. One of the interviewees shared that he would have been reluctant to share his testimony with another American before he had gone on a STMT. While on STMT he has had opportunities to share his testimony without worrying about if the people would think him foolish. Presumably, he feels that the people of the cultures in which he served are less cynical than Americans, and thus he felt more comfortable. As a result he now feels more comfortable with sharing his testimony in whatever context he finds himself in. Therefore, working at identifying gifts for service seems to be a legitimate and beneficial aspect of STMT.
Lastly, we think it is important to note that cross-cultural STMT tend to help people view the world in a more global manner. In a scholarly study, Randy Friesen found that “cross-cultural short-term mission assignments have a significant lasting and positive impact on participants’ valuation of the global church when compared with the impact of domestic assignments” (Ibid.). In addition to STMT, team members having a better valuation of the global church, they also have the opportunity to learn about conditions in the majority world and begin to understand underlying causes of poverty (Dohn, 2006). Both men that were interviewed seemed to have a deep appreciation for Christians in other parts of the world. We feel that it is important for laypeople to have experiences that not only unite them with non-Western Christians, but cause them to view Christians from other cultures with respect. This is a big step in moving Western Christianity out of thinking that it is the most “Christian” culture in the world; and instead thinking of itself as one of many possible Christian cultures.
Pitfalls to Short-Term Mission Trips
Sometimes things that make STMT legitimate and beneficial can become pitfalls if they are pushed too far. For example, one of the gentlemen we interviewed commented that the people in the two-thirds world that he served in were all so happy, even though they had little in the way of material wealth. Maybe they were all very happy and maybe they were putting on a good face for the mission team in order to be courteous. Sometimes, when communication is difficult, a group of people will simply mirror another’s behavior in lieu of real communication and with the goal of being polite (Livermore, 2006). This kind of misunderstanding can lead to a significant number of people returning home and unintentionally misrepresenting the situation in another part of the world. This may affect how the mission team’s church supports upcoming missions or other projects in that part of the world. In any case, overgeneralizations and misunderstandings that come back with people from STMT are antithetical to the better global understanding that was named as one of the legitimate and beneficial aspects of STMT.
Another pitfall, from the individual perspective, is that an individual’s work, either singly or as part of a team, can be hindered and undermined by the fact that missions team members often fail to realize that Scripture and the Gospel story are often interpreted differently in different cultures (Ibid.). Thus, if a team is going as part of a teaching team, there can be much confusion over what is being taught. And, even work teams might run into some problems with differences in theology. Most likely this pitfall is most detrimental to those in a recipient position, but it can also lead to much frustration and confusion on the part of a missions team or a single short-term missionary.
Finally, one of the aspects of STMT that is most appealing to individuals can be one of their biggest fallacies of STMT and thus one of their biggest pitfalls. Many people value STMT for the spiritual formation that they provide or seem to provide. However, studies show that not long after the trip is over many people experience a waning of the spiritual high provided by STMT (Friesen, 2005). This of course is not always true as evidenced by the two men that interviewed. Each seems to have retained much of the growth experienced on their respective mission trips. However, it is important to note that individuals react differently to similar experiences. Some people truly internalize their significant mission experiences, while others enjoy them for awhile then allow these experiences to fade into nothing more than nice memories.
Summary
As with many aspects of the Christian life, STMT, as seen from an individual perspective, can or cannot serve as instruments of furthering the reign of God depending on the attitude of the individual or individuals going on the trip. Even though it seems that STMT can certainly be legitimately beneficial to individuals who go on them, are they missional? Do they function well as instruments in the in-breaking of the reign of God?
If the reign of God is seen as being able to continually break more fully into the lives of those who already count themselves as members of the Kingdom of God, then yes, STM trips can be effective instruments. Therefore deciding whether or not the reign of God can break more fully into the life of a missions team member depends on his or her attitude and receptiveness to what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in his or her life. If one embarks on such a trip with a desire to simply find a spiritual high, the results do not seem to be positive and long-lasting. But, if one goes on a STMT with the desire to serve the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to shape him or her as God sees fit, then it seems that the results are positive and enduring. Finally, we have noticed that if someone goes on a trip with rigid and incorrect preconceived notions about the people he or she will serve do not fair well, however, those who go with an open mind guided by love and respect grow as a result of the trip.
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