So, as you all know I
just returned from my short term missions trip to Costa Rica. In the last
couple of days, I've read a few articles that are putting down the kinds of
trips that I just had the opportunity to experience. The articles contain a lot
of negative viewpoints, viewpoints that I can’t see validity in. I have seen a lot of
positive things going on, important things that God would want us to keep
forefront in our minds.
Here's one of the articles:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/06/18/why-you-should-consider-cancelling-your-short-term-mission-trips/
Most of the articles talk
about the teams “forcing themselves” in, bringing too many things with them,
making the native people dependent on them, and doing just little work. They
then claim that the teams spend the rest of their time “vacationing”. I've heard
of people saying we would be better off to send them "things" and/or
money that we raised, instead of actually going to various countries and spending
time with the people in need.
I am sure that
there are people that use missions as a way of exploring the world in the name
of Jesus. And there are, in fact, groups formed with the specific calling of
raising funds to send to different areas of the world in need. And the latter is not a bad thing. But I also know this:
God equips each of us differently and calls each of us to specific tasks. The only
shame or sin in that calling is to ignore it, pack up a box or mail or
envelope.
We are to be the hands
and feet of Jesus. This requires relationship. The ONE and ONLY eternal gift that
can be shared with hurting and starving people is salvation of their mortal
souls through the Gospel. That t-shirt or pair of shoes or food is all going to
wear out, become too small, parish or simply run out. But salvation and the
gospel never wear out, is always enough and never spoils or runs out. Therefore, I must say, I don’t believe it is more
beneficial, to anybody in any country, to send them "things" in place
of taking & sharing the gospel.
“GO into ALL the world
and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
I am sure some people use the trips as vacations, but that is between them and God and not for me to judge. To
lump all value of short term missions and all short term missionaries into one
big pile because of the failure of some to do God’s will is neither right nor
accurate. It is certainly not true for my team, nor is it true for any of the teams
AIM has launched. We lived in the same conditions as the people we were ministering
to, we ate the same food that the nationals ate and we were
expected to eat whatever was put in front of us. I have never sweated more than
I did when I was in Costa Rica doing God’s will for me. It was no vacation, and
of course we didn’t expect it to be. That's not what we signed up for. We
wanted to live with the people, we wanted to serve the people and experience their culture. There were a
few hard days that I honestly did not want to be there. But I pushed through
because I knew this was what God wanted for me and HE had called me to do this.
I am aware of the argument that ‘short term missions teams make the native people dependent on them’. This definitely was not my experience. Sharing the gospel and demonstrating how the power of God is what they need to become dependent upon was mine and my team’s experience. In fact, we were only permitted to give gifts that our team leader said were ok to give. Even then, the gifts were presented to the pastor who decided the best way it could be used and beneficial to the people. For example, we gave the church markers that they can use for children ministry and outreach. In this way, the misconception of the "rich American" is here to GIVE me THINGS is avoided.
As I said before, there probably are organizations that are maybe not doing what God intended for their trips, but assuming that all missions teams force their way into the culture making the nationals dependent upon only them or that all missions teams are just taking a vacation is just a lie that Satan plants to keep us at home.
I am aware of the argument that ‘short term missions teams make the native people dependent on them’. This definitely was not my experience. Sharing the gospel and demonstrating how the power of God is what they need to become dependent upon was mine and my team’s experience. In fact, we were only permitted to give gifts that our team leader said were ok to give. Even then, the gifts were presented to the pastor who decided the best way it could be used and beneficial to the people. For example, we gave the church markers that they can use for children ministry and outreach. In this way, the misconception of the "rich American" is here to GIVE me THINGS is avoided.
As I said before, there probably are organizations that are maybe not doing what God intended for their trips, but assuming that all missions teams force their way into the culture making the nationals dependent upon only them or that all missions teams are just taking a vacation is just a lie that Satan plants to keep us at home.
Our contact was a pastor
from a little village near Santa Cruz, CR. He and the church wanted us to come
and they had things for us to do. Come to find out, they had actually been
praying for us to come. They were amazed because they prayed specifically that people from
the North, East, and West would come. When we arrived and we got to know them a
little, they found out that each person on my team was from a different state
and different area of the US. They realized God heard their prayers and
answered.
Honestly, I believe and know from experience that short term missions is a great thing. When done correctly, it is not only beneficial to the native people, but also beneficial to the people going on the trip. The very important thing is that we continue to seek God on the subject. In seeking Him, we allow Him to use short term missions the way He wants to. Even if He just sends us to plant and water seeds, the native church can then continue to water and cause growth.
When we seek Gods will, allow Him to lead us, and then follow His calling, GREAT,AMAZING, and LIFE CHANGING things happen!
With much love,
The Cook
Honestly, I believe and know from experience that short term missions is a great thing. When done correctly, it is not only beneficial to the native people, but also beneficial to the people going on the trip. The very important thing is that we continue to seek God on the subject. In seeking Him, we allow Him to use short term missions the way He wants to. Even if He just sends us to plant and water seeds, the native church can then continue to water and cause growth.
When we seek Gods will, allow Him to lead us, and then follow His calling, GREAT,AMAZING, and LIFE CHANGING things happen!
With much love,
The Cook
