I recently read an article in a magazine called "In Touch". It was about short-term missions and the way we Americans or Westerners see it. Some very irrefutable points were brought up about the lasting impact we leave on a short 1-2 week trip. Don't get me wrong, I am all for missions of any kind; whether it's in our own backyard or across the ocean. But I understand what the writer is trying to say in this article. He brings up a thought-provoking question: If a trip is mainly catered around changing the participants' lives, is it really "missions"? David Livermore, the writer, goes on to say that missionaries have always experienced life change as a result of their work, but investing tons of money that is mostly aimed at the transformation of the missionaries is a shift in thinking and purpose from the movement throughout church history.
I have to agree. I understand that a trip can change a person's life. I understand that people sometimes glean more from participating than those that they serve. I also understand that God uses these avenues to work in us. This isn't wrong. However, when our aspiration and resolve for serving in missions is only to come back changed and to see what we gain from it, I can't help but wonder what the 'served' feel? The trip cannot just be about our own growth. It has to be about serving and giving to others; it has to be about others.
Livermore also states that our aim should be in discerning what it is that God's already doing there and how we get to join Him. The article lists a few "starting points" when we look at short-term missions:
Ask what's needed. Then ask again and again--don't make the mistake of doing what the locals don't need or want.
Don't do there, what you're not willing to do here--loving on the people there is easy, but don't forget to bring it back to your own community and neighborhood. America prides herself in being "the melting pot" so there are plenty of opportunities to show love to all nations here in the states.
Make debriefing a priority--I understand this one all too well. Too many times I come home from a trip and the thoughts don't process as well once reality hits and I have to go back to my everyday life. Creating a plan for incorporating what we've learned is key in reaching others.
Don't overestimate, or underestimate, the impact of your efforts--we're kind cocky in our thinking that we're "bringing God" to a certain place (as if He's not already there) or that we're giving them so much when maybe their culture just has a different way of life. We also tend to think that building relationships bear no lasting significance.
The last thing this article mentioned and probably the most important and eye-opening aspect the article had to offer were 10 Things Think About. The writer got some perspectives from national pastors and churches and these were the most common statements that came up.
10. You act as if the American church is the true trendsetter for how we should all "do" church.
9. You're so concerned about the evil spirits ruling our land when so much evil breeds in your own backyard--as if our country is "darker" than yours because it's unfamiliar to you.
8. You live so far above our average standard of living and behave in our country as if you're still at home--you say you're not American but biblical in your values, and yet are completely insensitive to our culture.
7. You conclude that you're communitcating effectively because we're paying attention when we're actually just intrigued to watch your foreign behavior.
6. You're obsessed with picture taking and making videos during our evangelistic programs, when this can really be quite embarrassing for us.
5. You underestimate the effectiveness of our local church leaders.
4. You talk about us to your churches back home in such deameaning ways without realizing it.
3. You too quickly get into the action without thinking through the long-term implications on our churches.
2. You view our country as backwards for not catering to or valuing all the cultural things you like and consider "normal" and good--whether food, transportation, dress, music, or technology.
1. We are not naive and backward--we are your brothers and sisters in Christ.
When I read these, I became embarrassed for not thinking twice about some of these things that I am guilty of having done. Short as the article was, it definitly opened my eyes to the world as I have a strong desire for missions. These are things I will be thinking about as I pursue this longing of my heart.
**Eyes Wide Open: Serving with cultural intelligence by David Livermore, In Touch Ministries Magazine, Aug. 2010
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