McMissions?

By Bill Commons

Short-term missions has its detractors among the evangelical-fundamental missions constituency. Some have derided it as "drive-through missions." Others see it as an "amateurization" of missions that dumbs down the Great Commission ministry of local churches to fit laypeople who have little or no training in cross-cultural ministry and have insufficient time to learn the language and culture for effective communication.

So is short-term missions really worth all the time, effort and expense? Is it a capitulation to western patterns of instant gratification, superficiality and the "fast-food" mentality-"McMissions?"

On college campuses, missions is often marketed (or introduced) as a summer project or vacation adventure. But is missions only a trip? "Oh, yeah, been there, done that. I took a missions trip once. Now let me get on with my life."

Some mission agencies have mainstreamed the short-term concept to the degree that a majority of their workers "sign on" for one to two weeks or up to two years, with only a minority committed to four years or more. Is the tail wagging the dog?

ABWE has been doing MAPs (Missionary Apprenticeship Programs) called by various names for over 30 years, along with short-terms of six months to two years and sometimes much longer. We are convinced that these programs are valuable and well worth the investment of time and resources that make them possible. Following are the top ten reasons we are committed to integrate short-term ministries into a global strategy:

10. Student performance teams often draw new people to hear the Gospel.

9. Skilled laypeople can assist missionaries in special projects or technical tasks.

8. Work teams from churches provide skilled workers for construction/renovation.

7. "Vision Trips" introduce professionals to overseas opportunities in their occupations that assist church-planters or establish platforms for outreach in resistant cultures.

6. Visiting students discover that missions can be a viable option for their future.

5. Idealistic concepts and mental blocks to missions disappear as visitors fit into missionary life and work, discovering that it is "doable" for them.

4. Most ABWE career missionaries started with summer or short-term apprenticeships.

3. Local churches love sending short-term individuals/teams because they return with a renewed vision and passion for ministry, revitalizing the church.

2. Short-terms are effective in mobilizing many for career commitment.

1. Short-terms are Biblical. The Pauline missionary teams rarely stayed very long in one place.

So "try it, maybe you'll like it!" Take a missions trip with ABWE. There will probably be a McDonalds nearby in case you get a Big Mac attack. McMissions, here we come!

Check out ABWE's current short-term missions opportunities at www.abwe.org.