Why Africa? Can’t your serve here where you live without traveling to the other side of the world? Is it not more benefit to send the money to long term missionaries or directly support the natives? Do short term mission trips do more harm than good? Is a short term missions trip not just a vacation paid by other people? What lasting impact do short term trips have on the people there? If there is no “tangible” service what did you do? What about evangelism? Does “success“ only equal conversion? Are short term mission trips not self serving? Is the trip about becoming culturally aware, learning how to serve, becoming more aware of God’s kingdom at large or about the people you are serving?
These are loaded questions. The answers to these and many other questions regarding the motives, benefits and “success” are difficult ones to answer. The answers are not black and white. There is no check list that results in a “successful” missions trip. These are valid questions that deserve honest evaluation and answers. I don’t know the answers to all of the questions. However, I do know that I have either wrestled with these questions on my own or have been challenged by others.
I cannot answer these questions for others only for myself. We have been commanded to “Go into the nations”. Go does not mean “Go to the ends of the Earth” however, “Go” does not mean “Do not Go to the ends of the Earth”. “Go” means the slums of India and Kenya, the jungle of Uganda, the streets of Ethiopia, the tribes of New Guinea, the underground church in China, the streets of Dublin, the inner city of Atlanta, Memphis and New York, the shut-ins and widows in America, investing in the lives of your co-workers, the lives of the youth in South Carolina and the homes of your neighbors. Go means Go. We all have different places we have been told to go. Mine happens to be Ethiopia for 4 weeks June 8- Aug 4.
I serve a Mighty God. A God who is not confined to ways, places and times. A God who works despite sinful motives. A God who is relational and personal. A God is not defined by “success”. A God who calls. A God who provides. A God who saves. A God who is above all doubts. A God who is pure. A God who is God.
These are loaded questions. The answers to these and many other questions regarding the motives, benefits and “success” are difficult ones to answer. The answers are not black and white. There is no check list that results in a “successful” missions trip. These are valid questions that deserve honest evaluation and answers. I don’t know the answers to all of the questions. However, I do know that I have either wrestled with these questions on my own or have been challenged by others.
I cannot answer these questions for others only for myself. We have been commanded to “Go into the nations”. Go does not mean “Go to the ends of the Earth” however, “Go” does not mean “Do not Go to the ends of the Earth”. “Go” means the slums of India and Kenya, the jungle of Uganda, the streets of Ethiopia, the tribes of New Guinea, the underground church in China, the streets of Dublin, the inner city of Atlanta, Memphis and New York, the shut-ins and widows in America, investing in the lives of your co-workers, the lives of the youth in South Carolina and the homes of your neighbors. Go means Go. We all have different places we have been told to go. Mine happens to be Ethiopia for 4 weeks June 8- Aug 4.
I serve a Mighty God. A God who is not confined to ways, places and times. A God who works despite sinful motives. A God who is relational and personal. A God is not defined by “success”. A God who calls. A God who provides. A God who saves. A God who is above all doubts. A God who is pure. A God who is God.
Donations can also be made on-line at www.africanleadership.org (click on make a donation, enter “Mocha Club Mission Trip - Elizabeth Ford”).
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