Christianity Today

There is an article in Christianity Today online, at www.ctlibrary.com/34558, and it talks about short-term mission trips, particularly ones that are around one to two weeks long. A man named Kurt Ver Beek talks about how he views these trips, and how he thinks they affect both the people going on the trips, but also the one being witnessed to and affected by it. Here is a little clip from what her wrote:

"Just how big is short-term missions (STM)? As a grass-roots, decentralized movement, its scope is difficult to determine. And yet your own estimate of between 1 million and 4 million North American short-term missionaries every year may well be a conservative estimate. The sociologist Christian Smith, based on national random survey data, reports that 29 percent of all 13- to 17-year-olds in the U.S. have "gone on a religious missions team or religious service project," with 10 percent having gone on such trips three or more times."

He talks more about what happens when the week is over? And I agree, that this is something that needs to be addressed, and it is very possible to get back to our daily lives and forget everything that impacted us. But I truly believe that it can affect people in real ways, and can change their lives forever. It did for me; my life was never the same after I went to Nett Lake. I know it is similar for many other people as well. It's just something that differs with each individual. It can happen that as soon as we get home, everything is back to normal, and we may never go to that place again. Or we may be changed, and think about that place, and go back every year for 10 years. Who knows? But if people give up before they even start, then we never will.

Summer's here!

Summer is coming up fast, and everyone is talking about everything that is going on. Summer is a big time in churches, especially in youth groups, because I know that summer is the time when mission trips and fundraisers and other trips happen. It's a crazy time, but a good one. Right now I just kind of want to post on how the people going on mission trips need to be. All the money can come in, everything can be set as far as that is concerned, but if we go into it without the right heart, without the right attitude, then nothing we do there wil matter much. There needs to be a complete understanding that these trips are for the glory of God, they are to be used to further his kingdom. And obviously that is done through a lot of ways, but it's important to realize that there is an opportunity to witness to someone in every instance of our lives, we just need to sit back and actually recognize it. It's also a time to have fun and be crazy, and show everyone that Christians can have fun to. But ultimately, at the root of everything, there has to be Christ.

Bethlehem and Woodland Hills

I was looking at the Woodland Hills website, www.whchurch.com, and was looking at all the different mission trips and opportunities they have. They have a lot going on at that church, with ministry opportunities in pretty much any area you can think of. They support over 10 long-term misionaries too, which to me is huge. None of their short-term missions are close by, one was in Africa, one was giong to the Appalachian Mountains, another was going to Mexico. These groups will need support, and I hope that other people see the value in what they are doing. Bethlehem Baptist, Jphn Piper's church, according to the website at www.hopeingod.com, supports over 40 missionaries! I did not see a lot about short term missions opportunities, but maybe I just wasn't looking in the right place. There are so many large churches like these that can do so much for missionaries. It's incredible what they are capable of. My grandparents were missionaries for 40 years in the Philippines, and many of my dad's friends are missionaries, so I have been around them all my life. I know what they do for other people, and the dedication that they have for the work that they do. I hope that one day I will find something that I have as much passion and joy about.

What needs to be done?

To do a short term mission trip, what needs to be done? Last year I went to a training day that the Baptist General Conference and there was a seminar on this topic. It was interesting to hear about what other church groups do when they go on trips, and to hear about all the different things that groups do while at their mission trips. What is going to be done needs to be decided. Is there going to be a vacation Bible school for the children, or are houses going to be built? When we go to Nett Lake, we bring boxed and boxes of craft supplies, boxes of food and different activities for the children to do. We bring hula hoops, skit supplies, costumes and prized for the children as well. We also bring Bibles, and supplies to teach the children the lessons we have planned for them. And sports equipment is also brought. You never know what will be needed on a trip like this. It's funny because something unexpected always happens, and the groups who go on these trips need to be prepared for anything. More than anything though, time and commitment is needed as well as patience. It sounds really cliche, but love is also needed. Without that, nothing that anyone says will matter much. On trips, we need to live like Christians, and show our commmitment to Christ. Native Americans watch more than anything else, and if they don't see you acting in a way they view other church people, nothing you say will have any effect. It is so important to view what is done on these trips as important. It matters to the people who are being witnessed to, so it should matter to us as well. And we need to be thankful that we even have the opportunity to share about Jesus.

Organization vs organization

I was reading the Star Tribune this morning and they were talking about all these non-profit organizations. They mentioned Big Brothers Big Sisters, UNICEF, Angel Tree and a local organization in Minneapolis. These organizations have gained a lot of attention over the years, and I really respect what they do for the community. They really benefit children, and families all over the United States as well as all over the world. I really respect the people and other organizations who give to them as well, but it shouldn't stop there. Missions organizations do similar things for the community, but they also spread the word of God, which to me is just as, if not more important. There are many groups like this such as Feed My Starving Children or World Vision. Organizations like these get a fair amount of attention as well, but we can't forget about all the other ones out there doing similar amazing things too. There are many Native American organizations, one of the biggest called IMAC, which focuses on ministering to Native tribes around the Midwest, especially in Minnesota. Why have most people never heard about it? We tend to follow the norm, but we need to change that. If people had never cared about the people of Nett Lake, then every person I know there would have never heard about Christ, and many kids would have never accepted Jesus. Is that happening more places? We need to be aware of that because I don't think I can live with that.

Spring Lake Park

Over the past couple of weeks I have been researching different missions opportunities for the youth group that I work with to do. They are going to Mexico this summer and it costs about $1,500 for each student to go. A lot of people in the church are opposed to the student sgoing because of how much money it costs. But the kids are doing fundraisers and are trying very hard to reach their goals of how much money they are earning. It just seems like the people in the church are spending more time worrying about all the money they are spending, especially the parents, which I can understand. But at the same time, I also see the wonderful things they are going to do while there, and it just seems stupid to not realize the worth that comes along with it. It seems like unless it's easy and convenient, people, (especially parents) it seems aren't really that interested. We need to speak out and show them all that can be done through missions trips!

Reasons why

I got invited to go on a short trip to the Northwest Angle in July today, which I am really excited about. It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. Ken Danielson has been speaking at churches for months now, and he is finally starting to get recognized for the work he wants to do. Truett Lawson and Rob Boyd, both of whom work at the Minnesota Baptist Conference are behind him, especially Rob, trying to help him in any way they can. This ministry will cost a considerable amount, and will require the support of many churches. My home church is possibly going to send a team up every summer, for as long as we can do so. The biggest opposition that we have heard against this has been two things: the money it is going to cost, and the ease of getting to the reservation. This mission trip will be different from Nett Lake in that it is farther away by a few hours, and will take longer to get there. There are many islands that make up the reservation, and we will have to take a boat to reach them. I was really dissapointed to hear the reactions of some people. It's not the ease of the low cost of missions trips that should be the reason for supporting. If that is the reason, then what are we doing? We need to care about the ministry and the people involved. Whether or not it takes another 4 hours to get there doesn't matter. What matters is that these people at the Northwest Angle have been asking for a pastor and people to do vacation Bible schools at their reservation for 10 years, and now they're getting it.