Short Term Trip Long Term Blessings.

Short Term Missions

For the Christian discerning his or her spiritual gifts can take some time. It’s 100 percent true that all Christians are commanded to be missionaries, making disciples. “go and make disciples of all nations” Jesus says in the great commission verses. Going is for every follower of Christ.

Most likely there are several different areas that one can serve in. So going and serving in different areas, if possible, will aid you in your search. This will help you to grow spiritually and in discerning where you best fit in the mission field.

Another way is leaning on others that have been on a mission trip. Seek out a person that has been there and done that and got the T-shirt. More than likely someone that has been on several mission trips will be more than happy to guide you. If you don’t know anyone there, find someone you can relate to and build that relationship so they can better help you and you can better serve the mission, whatever it may be.

Building relationships is part of a mission trip. Maybe not as crucial as a love term one but it’s still important to actually get along with the people you’ll be serving with. Personally, I’ve been on trips where I didn’t see eye to eye with a person, mainly because of my sinful preconceived notions, and that strife made it difficult for everyone on the trip, not just me. Sin never affects just one person… But that was a big growing moment for me. I had to set aside my stupid pride and learn to work with that person who was there serving alongside me for the Glory of God.

There is a chance that actually going on a mission trip may not be your calling. There is still plenty to do. There is a saying “go down the well or hold the rope for those that go”. You may be a rope holder. Whether your church sends missionaries or financially supports them you have a duty to those people to pray for them. Praying for missionaries is holding the rope. Funding missionaries is holding the rope. Supporting families back home is holding the rope. There are many other things people can do to hold the rope for the ones going and they are crucial to every mission.

That is the great thing about short term mission’s trips. You grow when you put God and the mission first. You see how people love other people. You strengthen bonds with other church members. You see what gifts you were given in real time. You find out where you fit in God’s plan for your church and for your missionary efforts. Go because God is with you and go for the Glory of God.

1 Corinthians 12:11-12 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.