Missionary Mindset
It’s hard to underestimate the value of short-term missions (STMs). As full-time missionaries, we see more conversions and miracles during 10- or 14-day “STM-spans” than we do in months of day-to-day ministry. Obviously, these trips are invaluable for building the Kingdom of God. They’re equally valuable - and life-changing - for the people who go on them. But short-term mission trips are not vacations. And a trip is not automatically successful just by stepping off the plane (although just taking that leap of faith is a big part of a successful trip). We believe that successful short terms have what J. Mack and Leeann Stiles label in their book, Mack & Leeann’s Guide to Short-Term Missions, a missionary mindset:
“So what is a missionary mindset? A missionary mindset understands God’s love for all people of every ethnicity and culture. A missionary mindset is a rock-solid belief that Jesus is Savior, Lord and Hope of the world. Furthermore, the missionary mindset understands that to live out God’s heart, every Christian must move across barriers and differences to extend his message of love and salvation to all people, despite the odds or costs. All Christians should have a missionary mindset, even if all Christians won’t be missionaries.
When we develop a missions mindset, big things happen - be it on a short term or at home…When we move out and proclaim Jesus as Lord in whatever place he has called us to be, God, in his economy, can use us even in our weakness to change the world.”
There’s another passage from this book that perfectly captures our feelings about successful short-term teams. Read this before signing up for a short term:
“Too many short-term missions focus on task rather than life in Christ. Too many short-term missions are focused on an agenda and not enough on what God may have for us. We don’t mean to excuse sloppy, mismanaged short terms run by lazy directors. We’re simply calling for a willingness to follow Peter’s example of working on attitude before task.
One year in Guatemala, our work project was to tear down a building another short-term program had built. When we asked the purpose of the building Manuel smiled and said, ‘Last year a group came, and they told us that God wanted them to build a building for us. We didn’t need a building, but they didn’t ask, and we didn’t want them to feel bad, so we let them build that building you are now tearing down.’
Don’t forget to ask…’Why am I here?’ Don’t forget to serve.”
If your heart is in the right place, if you’re willing to step out in faith in an unfamiliar culture, and if you understand that serving is what it’s all about (no matter how unglamorous the task), then you’re ready to lead or join an STM!
