Short Term Mission Trip "Expertise"

What does it take to have a successful short term mission trip?  How can little ol' you make an impact in this world for Jesus Christ?  What do all of those famous missionaries do that has proven so powerful for the cause of the gospel?

Well, after many short term mission trips to the other side of the world, this next deep insight may absolutely rock your world.  The truth is, when I am in the Philippines, sharing the gospel, praying for the sick, comforting the dying...

I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing!

A Short Term Mission Trip Surprise

That's right.  I do not know anything about anything.  I am not good at personal evangelism or preaching or anything else.  All I do on my short term missions trips is love people.  And when I don't feel love, I perform acts of love until I feel it.  I have found that the most effective way to obtain the feeling of love is to perform the acts of love; the feeling tends to come after I have done something.

So many people are afraid to go on a short term mission trip because they are afraid that they are unqualified, or that they will come upon a situation where they do not know what to do.  That sounds exactly like the type of person that God can use to display His glory and His power.  If you are perfectly qualified and can do it all yourself, where is there going to be room for God to show his power?

Someone once said, "The real tragedy of life is not that it ends so quickly, but that is takes so long for many of us to truly begin it."  Simply trust and obey God's call on a short term mission trips; He will not let you down.  You can depend on Him!

Short Term Mission Trip "Expertise"

The truth is that every missionary I speak to all tell me the same thing:  They don't know what they're doing either.  It is almost as if the more you "know", the less you depend on God and the less effective you will be on your short term mission trip.  Humility is the key, and anyone who thinks he is something is only deceiving himself.

Ultimately, your walk with the Lord all comes down to faith.  It is like standing on the edge of cliff and simply falling into his arms, trusting Him to catch you and carry you through.

Imagine you are on a dock and want to learn to swim, but are afraid to jump into the water to learn.  You get close enough to peer over the side, but just can't seem to jump in.  Well, short term mission trips are like God coming up behind you and giving you a little push.  But He will not let you drown!

It is not about what you can do for God on your mission trip; it is about what God can do through you.  He wants to show you something special, his power through you.  You don't have to know anything.  Just be humble and look for opportunities to serve others in love.  That is the vital, fundamental point on a short term mission trip adventure.