RSSIdeal Christian Mission Trips
Posted 01/02/2010 - 07:11 by Reagan
The annual church youth group’s mission trip is fast approaching! Everywhere, both on church grounds and in the community, desperate (and lacadazical) students troll for fundraising dollars at the behest of their parents. Church staff announce opportunities to support the students during announcements at church services, and just in time, students turn in the last of their required fundraising dollars, cementing their attendance on the grand adventure that is Mission Trip.
Perhaps the destination will be a foreign country, or maybe a different state in the U.S.A. Either way, on most mission trips, certain activities are commonplace for the youth, their youth pastor, and the adult leaders: Back yard Bible clubs for neighborhood children, construction repairs on houses and churches, (conducting) worship services at local churches, and evangelism (either with locals with whom relationships were built throughout the trip, or by spontaneous / street evangelism).
Before I begin elaborating on my main points , please allow me to clarify something ahead of time. All of the above listed activities are good things. I could go on about the merits of service projects and evangelism, but I will accomplish that later in this entry.
Now to the main event. Why bring students on a mission trip to evangelize the lost when these same students never evangelize anyone throughout the course of their everyday lives? One can say that mission trips can spark the fire of evangelism in students that lack it, through real world experience and by opening eyes to how much lost people need Jesus. I believe this can happen, but I would pose a question: Do most students who never evangelize really choose to go on a mission trip so that their hearts will be changed and their feet spurred on to evangelistic action? I doubt it, but even if they do choose to attend for that very reason, I would posit that one does not need a mission trip in order to attain a burden for the lost. Look around. Lost people are everywhere. Their number is plenty large enough in America, in our own towns, our own neighborhoods, and in some of our own homes. So the point is, a burden for the lost is not dependent on traveling on a mission trip.
Something else also comes to mind. What is the differentiating factor between a church mission trip (usually / hopefully) and a humanitarian trip conducted by a non-religious charitable organization? After all, both Christian and non-Christian groups conduct service projects such as fighting hunger, assisting with constructing repairs, and meeting the basic needs of local populaces. The difference maker is evangelism. Non-religious groups can feed the hungry and provide medical care, but who will bring the good news of Jesus to those who haven’t heard, or to those who have not yet chosen to become followers of Christ? It should be noted that service projects are worthy endeavors that Christians should certainly undertake. They are especially useful in developing meaningful relationships with persons who otherwise might not be receptive to even talking about ordinary topics, much less spiritual matters. In other words, meeting basic needs create opportunities for Christians to offer answers for spiritual needs.
So, it makes some sense to take only Christians who regularly witness on a mission trip which possesses an evangelistic component. These individuals have logged miles on their evangelistic speedometers and hopefully have the right heart for reaching the lost. Is this strategy practical though? From one perspective, it might be proper and correct, but is it realistic? Why not settle? Unfortunately, I feel that ideal “ways of doing things” are too often discarded because of so-called pragmatism and realism. I say, send those people on mission trips to evangelize who care enough in the first place to do it in their hometown. Is this so unreasonable?
In answer to your question, no...it is not so unreasonable. The youth pastor at my church has the same sort of mindset and requires youth who want to go on the overseas trips to participate first in the outreach and evangelistic events which take place right at home.
I appreciated your blog entry. It was convicting to me because I on the one hand, have a burden for the lost in closed countries and yet I am not burdened for my neighbor next door who shares the same fate as the lost in India or N. Korea. Anyway, this lopsided burden is just one of the MANY areas in which God is dealing with me.
Reagan,
You make a compelling argument; however, there are some things to consider. The first thing to consider is why Student Pastors take their students on mission trips. It has been my experience that students grow the most while on mission trips. Camp and retreats are fun, and relationships can be formed. But the most life change takes place when students have to give of themselves for someone else. (This is why we are doing two mission endeavors next summer and not camp) It is true that many students sign up for a mission trip simply for a fun trip or because they want to go to an exciting or exotic place. But once the students are challenged to work hard, and do things that are outside their comfort zone they begin to look at the world in a different way. Now it is true that their are people in need right in our own backyard and that is one reason our church has started doing mission initiative (church wide) and share projects (student specific) to meet needs of people right where we live. The problem (especially with students) is that we often are so consumed with ourselves we don't see the person beside us in need. When we go on a mission trip we step outside our comfort zone and see things in a different way, and if we are intentional about the way we approach these trips it can help us to see the way things really are back home.
Now I think there are different approaches to mission trips. Some trips have more requirements that other trips. There are some trips that only mature and dedicated Christians should go on, and their are other trips that are for anyone even the new Christian who does not have a full comprehension of what missions is all about. There trips can be a great learning and growing experience for those who participate.
Finally, even when we try our best we rarely if ever get our ideal. At those moments we have to trust in the sovereignty of God and rely on God's promise in Romans 8:28, that God works all things together for good for those that love Him for those that are the called according to His purpose.
Joe,
Thanks for posting a reply, and you bring up some relevant points. First, I would like to complement you for choosing two mission trips instead of one mission trip and one camp. Also, the mission initiatives and share projects have been somewhat absent in past years, but not anymore. I've seen an intentional renewed focus on serving the community through the emphasis placed on going out into our community to meet needs. Pastor Wade explains the rationale for the approach of going out into the community in a recent blog of his (which I recommend, btw). I genuinely send a shout out to the staff (yourself included, of course) for the launching of mission initiatives and share projects, which I know are not just new programs, but are really manifestations of core values such as meeting people's needs and proclaiming the Gospel.
Conveniently, mission initiatives and share projects lead in nicely to something I mentioned. People who are sharing the love of Christ and sharing His Gospel on a regular basis back home are good people to bring on a mission trip. Through local service projects and witnessing, a burden for the lost and a desire to demonstrate the love of Christ through acts of service can be cultivated to the point where sharing Christ on a mission trip is a natural extension - a natural by product, if you will - of someone's lifestyle and heart.
You raise a valid point regarding different trips requiring different skill sets, if you will. It is also true that getting out of one's natural element can temporarily remove distractions and shine new light on what it means to serve God. This has certainly happened many times and will again. Still though, even if the aim of a trip is mostly service project oriented, I think meeting needs is ultimately an avenue for opening doors and breaking down barriers to the point where the lost will become receptive to hearing the Gospel. Why meet needs if we don't follow up with Jesus? This question is obviously rhetorical, and I think we both certainly agree on this point, and I'm not saying that you think otherwise. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that, ultimately, whether through direct conversation or through meeting real human needs, it's all about sharing the love and Gospel of Jesus with those who don't know Him. So, it makes some sense to take people who demonstrate this love for the lost already, and who are attending the trip for that very purpose. Those who serve ought to be able to give an answer for why they are serving. 1 Peter 3:15 says "But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess." If we are on mission, let us be ready to give those answers.
To close, I think we agree more than seems to be reflected in my post and in your reply, and you bring up some valid points that should certainly be considered. I think we both have the right goals in mind for reaching the lost and seeing students (as well as everyone else at church) adopt a deliberate mindset and lifestyle that helps meet needs and shares the love of Jesus, whether at home or abroad. Again, thanks for posting!
I must say that I largly agree with youraveragejoe. If one had to choose between taking skilled evangilists and unmotivated students on a trip with the end goal of reaching as many lost as possible, logic dictates we choose the former. However, for many different reasons, people approach evangilism with fear, defeat, confusion, etc. because of a lack of understanding, training, or just plain timidity (for starters). The experience of being in a social situation in which the sharing of the gospel is expected and praised can loosen people up and allow them to see the joyous rewards that come as a result.
Now, if the group is going to be doing group/program based activities, those less competent in presenting the gospel will be better equipped than if they were expected to do one on one 'street-style' sharing. Additionally, if the thrust of the trip is the completion of some work project, the spiritual state of the individuals won't affect their ability to hammer a nail (or something like that...).