Benefits of Short Term Mission Trips: How They Change Lives
As a mission organization that is over 20 years old, we definitely believe in the benefits of short term missions as a catalyst for long-term change. Without a doubt, short term mission trips change lives.
But they also change your life.
But they also change your life.Short term mission trips can change the lives of strangers you meet in other countries with whom you might have an opportunity share the Gospel.
They can change the lives of local Christians that you serve through acts of service.
But short term mission trips can also change your life — through the discipleship process you undergo as you serve someone else, learning to listen to God along the way.
For some reason, we don’t pay nearly enough attention to this as we should.
Short term mission trips are an excellent way for people of all ages to gain a global perspective and be initiated into God’s kingdom as active participants. At AIM, our focus on the spiritual formation of mission participants isn’t an accident. We often hear from people about how they never anticipated the personal growth they experienced on a trip. I’ve personally seen first-hand how short term mission trips can cause people to grow spiritually and emotionally (even physically, if you’re doing a lot manual labor!) in unprecedented ways.
I always knew that the purpose of missions was to make disciples, but I never understand that those disciples being made included the people who went — people like me.
That is, until I started actually going on short term mission trips.
This isn’t narcissism. The fact that the participants on your mission trip will be changed can lead to better outward ministry. One person from a recent mission trip to Nashville, TN said it like this:
The best part about this week is that it opened my heart and mind to
conversations I would have never had even considered before this week. I
believe with my heart that I am walking away knowing how it truly feels
like to love like God loves for the first time.
In order to produce good ministry fruit in our lives, we
need to be plugged into an active relationship with Jesus (John 15:15). Sometimes, the best way to do that is to unplug from everything
else — whatever is vying for our attention — and focus only on God. Short term mission trips can help accomplish that.
need to be plugged into an active relationship with Jesus (John 15:15). Sometimes, the best way to do that is to unplug from everything
else — whatever is vying for our attention — and focus only on God. Short term mission trips can help accomplish that.
Every year, thousands of people go on trips with us to places like Africa or India or even their own back yard. If you’ve never been before or are looking for a way to “reboot” your faith life, you should
consider going on a short term mission trip — not just for the sake of others, but for your own sake, as
well.
consider going on a short term mission trip — not just for the sake of others, but for your own sake, as
well.
If I haven’t made myself clear yet, let me say it plainly: Short term mission trips change lives. (Don’t take my word for it; hear from the participants themselves.) There are a lot of benefits to going, but one that we often miss is how a trip will change you, and how that can be just the beginning of a new life that will, in turn, change others.
How have you seen short term mission trips change lives? Leave a comment in the comments section to share your story.
For more on this topic, read this article by our founder: 6 Ways Short Term Mission Trips Change Lives
Looking for a way to grow in your faith and serve others? We have short term mission trips for all ages. To find out more, click: Choose your adventure.
Participant Login
Donor Login