Resources for Missionary Recruits Online by Marty Andry, Doug Lucas, and Chris Bushnell

Chapter 9 Taking that First Step

Hints For Short-termers

It would be difficult to estimate the number of believers from all over the world who give from a few weeks to three years as short-term missionaries. Some believe that the number may equal our entire missionary force throughout the world! [Patrick Johnstone, Operation World, 4th ed. (Kent, England: WEC Publications, 1987), p. 475.] There is not a small amount of criticism concerning short-term missions and no doubt, some of it is valid. However, many see short-term missions as the gateway to career missions for many people.

As such, short-term missions offer a way for hundreds of people to "test the waters" of the mission field. And as a result of short-term missions, hundreds of people have become "World Christians."

This chapter is specifically written with short-termers in mind. This does not mean that short-termers should not read the rest of the book. They definitely should read it from cover to cover. This chapter is designed only to address the special issues of short-term as opposed to full-time.

There are some dangers involved in short-term missions and in this chapter we want to help you avoid some of the pitfalls. Due to the fact that so many are going on short-term missions and so many resources are being spent on the adventures, short-term mission trips should be not only meaningful for the short-termer, but beneficial for the Kingdom of God as well.

This book is not the definitive guide to short-term missions, but we do want to give you some tips. If you're serious about doing a short-term, pick up Stepping Out, a guide to short-term missions [(PO Box 6018, Evanston, IL: SMS Publication, Inc. ).] Chapter 2 discussed at length the validity of short-term missions. If needed, go back to that chapter and refresh your memory.

"It's just a tropical vacation!"

Before deciding to go on a short-term mission trip, think about your motives. Are you going for a vacation? Are you going to get experience on the mission field? Maybe you're going to see how the other half lives. No doubt all of us would have several different motives for going. Some would be personal. There is nothing wrong with wanting to see exotic lands. However, if that is your only motive, maybe you should just take a vacation on your own time. But perhaps your motives are mixed. You want to see a new place and you want to serve the Lord. Maybe your friends are going and you know there is a great need.

Whatever your motives are, it is important to sort them out before making a decision. If you don't you may be disappointed when you get to the field. Stepping Out offers a long list of reasons many go on a short-term mission. It helps you discover your strongest motivation for going. Be sure to talk it over with friends, family, church leaders, and most of all, God. Just be sure that your reasoning is well balanced. Remember, you don't have to be going "for all the right reasons", but you do need reasonable expectations.

Where to go and with whom?

There are hundreds of organizations that offer a variety of short-term ministries. Stepping Out lists nearly a hundred different organizations with short-term projects of one kind or another. Many of these are denominational or interdenominational agencies. Many are "faith-only" in doctrine. There are several organizations within the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ that offer short-term missions projects. They are all different in length of service and type of ministry.

Adventures In Missions (AIM) conducts several short-term experiences during the summer, at Christmas and at other times during the year. They accept people from 13 to 22 years of age and have experiences ranging from two to thirteen weeks. Their projects are usually either construction or evangelism in different places around the globe. Contact them at Adventures in Missions, RR 5, Box 106, Bloomfield, IN 47424. (812)825-7770.

African Christian Mission sponsors an internship program for people interested in missionary service in Africa. They have a well-structured program for interns to work under veteran missionaries during the summertime. Contact them at Africa Christian Mission, 414 Brown St. , Kansas, IL 61933. (217)948-5486.

Amor Ministries, based in Southern California, works in evangelism, Bible distribution, training, medical relief and construction of needed facilities in the inner cities of Southern California and in Mexico. They offer short-term experiences among the urban poor and the unreached all along the Mexican border and in the inner cities of Southern California. Short-termers can serve in evangelism and in service projects, such as building homes or church buildings. Their short-term opportunities last anywhere from one week to several months. Contact them at Amor Ministries, 1664 Precision Park Ln. , San Diego, CA 92173. (619)662-1200.

Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF) offers REACH, a short-term summer internship program each summer. Teams of interns spend the summer in one of CMF's fields working with at least one missionary family. Each team is accompanied by a CMF staff member or a trained coach. Contact them at Christian Missionary Fellowship, PO Box 26306, Indianapolis, IN 46226-0306. (317)542-9256.

Christ in Youth (CIY) sponsors a variety of shorter terms all over the world. They offer experiences from two weeks to one month. Their program is geared toward high school and college students, though they will accept others also. They focus on giving youth a vision of what is happening throughout the world in missions by working with existing missionaries who are doing great works and who are willing to share that vision with young people. CIY short-termers get involved in some evangelism as well as in aiding the missionaries in special service projects. For information write CIY, Box B, Joplin, MO 64802. Tel. 417-781-2273.

HIM Ministries offers a variety of experiences such as inner city work, overseas tips and work on Indian reservations. They aim for teams of teens from 14 years of age up to senior citizens. Their trips are offered in the summer, at Thanksgiving and during Christmas break. Contact Alan and Shari Morris at HIM Ministries, PO Box 37, Onward, IN 46967. (219)626-2684.

New Life conducts short-term experiences for college students, youth groups and adults. They do disaster relief work, inner city ministry and work among the poor in Mexico. New Life is currently building a children's home and a medical clinic in Piedras Negras, Mexico in coordination with full-time workers there. Contact Rob Minton at PO Box 202, Milligan College, TN 37682. (615)461-8986.

Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT) has a short-term program for people interested in translation related work. Each summer short-termers serve in a field where Bible translators are in process of translating portions of the Scriptures. For information contact Pioneer Bible Translators, PO Box 381030, Duncanville, TX 75138. (214)709-2460.

Team Expansion offers short-term ministries from three months up to a year. The focus of their PATHWAYS Program is on proper training, experience and ministry. Their goal is to recruit full-time missionaries to work among unreached people groups. This program focuses on building relationships with nationals. Team Expansion works in fields where the Evangelical population is less than 5% and where there are no other Christian Church/Church of Christ missionaries. Opportunities are available on nearly every continent. For more information contact Mark Miller at PO Box 4100, Cincinnati, OH 45204-4100. Toll Free 1-800-447-0800 or locally (513)244-8149.

Teen Mission, USA takes as many as a dozen mission work trips for youth and adults each summer. Since 1970 Ken Henderson has been speaking in high schools, colleges, churches, conventions and gatherings of all types, using a unique blend of music, humor and fascinating topics. In 1985, Teen Mission, USA got deeply involved in taking young people and adults on mission work trips to places such as Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Venezuela, England and Ukraine along with stateside trips to children's homes and Indian reservations. Most of these experiences are heavily involved with construction and work projecst by day and Vacation Bible Schools in the afternoon and evening. A few trips focus on evangelism and helping missionaries with church-planting efforts. Most trips last about 2 weeks and are open to both youth and adults. For more information contact Teen Mission, USA, Ken Henderson, Executive Director, PO Box 24336, Lexington, KY 40524, (606)278-3202.

There are dozens of other missionaries and missions who will accept short-termers. Just be sure that our expectations match those of the missionary or organization you are contacting.

One valid concern that many critics of short-term missions often have is that the short-termers are doing jobs that nationals could do as well. For example, a couple of years ago in a country where unemployment was pushing 40%, I met a summer team from a very large short-term mission agency in the USA. The young people were doing nothing more than building a brick wall. One young lady complained to me that she had been in the country for two weeks and had yet to meet a national! Be sure that wyat you will be doing is a necessary service and not just busy work.

When deciding with what organization you will go, think about what kind of experience you want.

Are you interested in or concerned for a particular part of the world?
Do you want to work in an urban setting?
What kind of team do you want to work with, large or small?
What kinds of talents and abilities do you have that you will be able to use in a given opportunity?
How long will you serve?
What is the cost of the entire trip, from preparation to return?
Will there be any training or orientation? Be careful! Sometimes there is little or no training offered.

Get as much information as you can. Do research and ask questions. If possible, talk to someone who has had a previous experience with a particular group. But be carefule here. Just because someone may have had a negative experience with a group, doesn't mean that it was the fault of the organization or mission. It may have been improper expectations on the part of the participant.

Whatever you do, don't go it alone. You need the support and advice of others including church leaders, friends and family.

Once again, Stepping Out will be a good resource to help you sort out some of these issues. It will give you ideas of how to choose the right short-term experience for you and what kinds of questions to ask.

Remember that if you go with an interdenominational mission, you might have to agree on certain theological statements or creeds. In some cases you might be restricted from certain types of ministry because of your beliefs. One girl I talked to was barred from counseling people who had made decisions for Christ because of her view that baptism was part of the salvation process.

Raising support

One major on the part of a prospective short-termer is the money. At this point go back and read Chapter 5 on support-raising. All of the rules in that chapter still apply. But there are some differences.

Unless you will be going for more than a few months, you will not necessarily need monthly support. This means that you can go about it a little differently, especially if you are going for only a few weeks. You can ask for more one time gifts, which for some givers is a plus.

First, of course, go to your home church. The people there will probably want to help you and might underwrite your whole experience. Make a list of people who might support you. List no less than 200. Don't assume anything. List everyone, even people that you are sure will not support you. You may be surprised.

Here are a few reminders from Chapter 5:

Letters are the least effective means to request support. Although letters do have their place, they are not a good method in and of themselves.
Personal visits are best. Always call first. Don't show up unexpectedly. Look sharp! Keep it short.
Phone calls are second to personal visits. Be sure to always follow up a phone call with more information, written if possible.
Thank people. Show appreciation even if they decide not to support you and even more so if they do. Always thank in writing!

Supporters are great people. Have fun meeting them and sharing your life and ministry with them. Be sure to ask to share your experiences with them when you return.

Making the most if your experience

Be a learner

First of all, be a learner. Be a learner both from your leaders and the host missionaries and possibly more importantly, from the nationals. Don't think that you are going to teach them something important without realizing that they may be able to teach you important lessons about life. Proverbs says that wisdom cries out in the streets. You can learn something from every situation. Don't be afraid to ask questions. When you put yourself in a learning position with the nationals, you automatically set up a potential trust-filled relationship with that person.

And since we're on the subject of learning, while you're on the field, try to learn some of the language from the nationals. Sure, you may not learn much if your term is short. But you will make some wonderful friends and by trying to learn the language, you will win respect and acceptance. As you've probably heard, Parisians are infamous for snubbing Americans, especially when it comes to their French. But I have a feeling I know why. A few years ago when I was in Paris with some friends I conducted my own little experiment. I spoke enough French to get by and my friends didn't. Every once in awhile I would let my friends walk up to people to ask a question. Their first question would be, "Do you speak English?" Inevitably the French would say that they didn't if they said anything at all. On the other hand, when I asked them a question, I would try in French first. When they saw that I did not speak their language, they would usually be very helpful. It breaks down barriers to use the language of the nationals instead of having a "the whole world should speak English attitude."

Learn to observe. We generally are not very observant. Try to see things you've never seen before and ask yourself what you are seeing. Make a game of trying to figure out what's going on. Sometimes you will guess and be wrong. When that happens, try again.

Culture shock is real

Upon arrival, there will always a lot of things that you don't understand. This place is confusing! You tried to use a few phrases of the language and a whole room full of nationals laughed at you! Not only that but they went around telling everyone what you said and it must have been hysterical. You find yourself becoming tense and wishing you had stayed at home where people love you. You are experiencing culture shock. But don't despair. You can overcome it.

You will inevitably feel frustration, tension, embarrassment and confusion. But what you do about it only you can decide. You can decide to take the negative road. Judge the people, criticize them, rationalize your own behavior and withdraw from the culture. But by doing so, you alienate yourself and destroy trust.

On the other hand you can decide to make the best of it. And remember that you have decided to be a learner. You decide you will observe what is happening. Listen to what is going on. Ask questions. You will gain understanding and build rapport with the nationals.

Keeping yourself in perspective

It would be easy for missionaries to become self-righteous. After all, they have given up living in their own country among their family and friends to live in a place where they may not exactly be welcomed with open arms. Short-termers are no different. Many times they feel that they are making a great sacrifice for the kingdom; hence they may feel special.

It is wise to remember that you are not taking God with you to the country that you have chosen. He is taking you. In fact, he has gone on before you and prepared the way. Let Him take you. He has a lot to teach you about the culture that you could never have imagined. Let Him mold you. He's the one who will bring about change. You just need to be willing to let Him.

"That's cool!"

Living overseas is full of unexpected events, especially on a short-term mission. One of the most helpful things for your own well-being is to learn to be flexible. A friend of mine learned to say, "That's cool!" every time something didn't go as planned on the field. Even though there were many times that in fact, things weren't all that "cool," just hearing him say it helped us all relax.

Talk about it

You will experience a wide spectrum of new ideas, sights, and people. You will have some bad experiences, some frightening experiences, and some lovely memorable experiences. Talk about them. Hopefully your leaders will have built in some "debriefing" time for each person to share what's happening. But if they don't, talk about the things you are seeing with those around you, you will learn about yourself, others, and your new culture.

Get to know the nationals

We have already discussed how important it is to learn about the new culture and have suggested some ways you could do that. The tendency for most of us, when thrust into a radically different setting, is to cling to those things with which we are comfortable. Too many times for short-termers that means spending every waking hour with your American friends. What a shame! There is so much out there for you to learn about.

As we said, learning the language is a pivotal point in making new friends and winning trust and respect. But there are other ways. One important way is to eat the national food with the nationals. In many places the nationals have never seen a North American eat some of their national food. You might become a legend! But more than that, there is something about eating with people that builds a special bond. Is it any wonder that we see Jesus eating with sinners and tax-collectors!

If you're lucky, you may be invited to join nationals for a special event. Take advantage of the opportunity. Whether it be a game of soccer or a birthday party, you will learn so much more and make some great friends.

And just a final note, don't go places in large groups of your American friends. It will draw attention to you that you don't need. If you must go to the same location, go in smaller groups of three and four and try to be discreet.

Keep a journal

You will be changed by what you will see and do. It would be a shame for those feelings to slowly fade away as they become dimmer in your memory. Write down what you do, see and feel. You need not spend a great amount of time on your journal, but you should do it daily. When pursued effectively, the process can actually become fun! Read more about journaling in Chapter 7.

Coming back home

No doubt you will be excited to be coming back home. You will want to make a beeline for your favorite fast food restaurant. Then you will want to share everything that you have seen and done with your loved ones. Get prepared for a let down called "reentry shock".

You have been changed drastically, especially if you have been out of your homeland for more than a few months. Unfortunately, your family and friends cannot relate to your experiences unless they have been in your shoes before. You may get the impression that they don't care. Every time you try to tell something that happened to you, it seems that they want to tell you what happened to them while you were away.

It is important to understand what is happening here. It's hard to take but it's true, life at home went on without you. Your family and friends have had new experiences too! Granted, they may not have been as radical has yours but they are important to them. Try to talk to them. Ask them what happened while you were away and even if they don't ask you about your experiences, be determined that you are going to understand what they have done while you were away. Hopefully you will find someone who understands what you have done enough for you to just sit down and tell them all about it. If you get really frustrated, grab a close friend and say, "I'm going to tell you about my experience overseas, and you're going to listen!" For many people reentry shock is harder than is culture shock.

What does it all mean?

For many people that first short-term experience is a turning point in their lives. They have been changed forever in one way or another. That doesn't mean that all short-termers make decisions to return to the field (though many indeed do). In fact, some of those who have gone back have had terrible experiences. Why would someone who has had a bad experience want to return to the field? Chances are they were able to sort it all out.

Many mission organizations offer a debriefing time for you to vent your feelings and frustrations and to help you decide what it all meant for you and your future. Don't rely on yourself to do this. You need the help of others to give you insights into what has happened and what your next step should be. It may well be that you are considering missions as a career due to your short-term experience. If so, talk with others about it, preferably someone who has made the same type of experience. Also talk to leaders in your church, family, and friends. Perhaps you will decide that a career in missions is not for you. That's fine as long as you realize that you can be a catalyst in helping others to see the big picture. You have become a world Christian and you need to share that vision.

Short-terms in the big picture

Short-terms definitely have a place in the world of missions and it may be that we have yet to discover how to make them as effective as they can be. More than anything, now they are a stepping stone to career missions and to a better perspective of God's concern for the whole world. Still, short-terms are certainly not the end of the story. True change (in the lives of the nationals you've come to love) takes place over a long period of years through much trust in God, hard work, and God adding daily to the kingdom. Pray for full-timers to follow up on what you've done. You might be surprised just how quickly He answers your prayer.

Whether or not that answer includes your return is secondary; if you go into the short-term with an open mind, and open heart, and a strong willingness to learn, you will be blessed—and so will the people to whom you gave yourself!

How to Ruin a Short-term Experience

[Reprinted with permission from World Christian, Aug. , 1983.]

Go it alone; refuse to work as a team with any organization or colleagues.
Remember that your purpose is spiritual; refuse to cooperate with any task that seems menial or unimportant; go with the expectation that you're going to win the entire country to Christ.
Abandon daily prayer and Bible study time.
Be rigid in your organization; refuse to roll with the flow. Avoid delays at all costs.
Help the missionaries by pointing out the mistakes; they can be stubborn, so win the nationals over to your side if necessary.
Get involved in a romantic relationship; it's a good way to expose the nationals to progressive dating patterns in the USA.
Never try to pick up the local language: it's too embarrassing!
Be sure to point out everyone's faults right away. Especially focus criticism on the leadership.
Take care not to get dirty or eat the local food; you may miss a few friendship opportunities with the "natives" but you will avoid any chance of getting sick.
Watch out for team members who couldn't raise their entire budget. They may try to "mooch" off of you. NEVER SHARE!
When you get home castigate your congregation and friends for their lack of commitment. You deserve their respect now that you're an expert.
Remember that as an overseas veteran, you have an "honorable discharge" deferment from attempts to draft you into more missions work. RESIST the urge to go long term! . A person like you is probably most valuable at home speaking to groups on Christian commitment.

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