The internet is full of articles criticizing the value of short-term mission trips. I'm often asked by our visitors about my perspective as a full-time missionary on these trips. So I thought I'd take a few minutes to share my thoughts.
I admit that some of the criticism is valid. (I especially question the value of campaigns whose purpose is to provide unskilled labor for some work project, when they could hire local unskilled labor for a small fraction of the costs of their trip and provide badly needed employment.) However, I think that the criticisms can also be overblown.
We have the opportunity to host numerous campaigners throughout the year, and I love it. Some groups are more organized than others. Some are easier to work with than others. Some are better prepared than others. Some are more effective at achieving their stated goals than others. There are obviously strengths and weakness, mistakes and triumphs, that exist in campaign work. (Perhaps another day, I'll share some thoughts about making campaign work more effective.) However, I think that all of them have importance and value. Even poorly run or ill-fated campaigns have value.
In fact, I would like to suggest 8 reasons why short-term mission trips are valuable regardless of the immediate outcome of their stated mission.
2. Some Campaigners Gain a Broadened Perspective of the Worldwide Brotherhood - For many Americans, the world outside the nation's borders is a scary place that they would rather ignore. If you spend a little time outside the country, then you quickly learn that it's not so scary after all. People dress differently and speak differently, but underneath those superficial differences people are still people. Customs vary, but the drives that make us tick are really the same.
When you see your brethren from across the globe face to face, then they become more real in your eyes. They are not stats and figures. They are priceless souls with real needs, real strengths, and real weaknesses. They are saved by the same blood of Christ that saves you. They are just as important as you. This perspective can help break down the "us" and "them" mentality, and the brotherhood is all the better as a result.
3. Some Campaigners Become More Evangelistic Back Home - Sharing your faith is easier on a mission trip. It's what is expected of you. There is no social stigma against it. Some campaigners really try to share their faith for the first time on a mission trip. They realize that it wasn't really as hard or scary as they always thought it was. Emboldened by their mission experience, SOME campaigners go back home with a greater evangelistic zeal, and their local congregations are blessed as a result. I know specifically of people whose lives have been changed by this phenomenon.
4. Some Campaigners Become Supporters and Advocates of Mission Work - Remember point #2? Having seen the field first-hand it is more difficult to ignore the importance of mission work. They've seen the good that is being done, and the needs that remain. Maybe they're not ready to commit to moving to the mission field themselves, but they want to be involved. So they enable mission work through prayers and financial support. They remind their church leaders that their congregations should be mission-minded. Every missionary needs a solid support team back home or they cannot do their work effectively. Some of the best "senders" are people who have been campaigners.
5. Some Campaigners Become Full-Time Missionaries or Ministers - When I was in 8th grade my life plan was to be a wealthy businessman, or maybe a doctor, or possibly a lawyer. In any case I was going to make a comfortable living. The following summer I went on a campaign to Suriname. Honestly, I wasn't very useful on the campaign. I was too young and inexperienced to be of much real help aside from handing out flyers. However, a seed was planted in me. This was the beginning of my desire to become a preacher. Whatever my plane ticket cost that week, I think it was worthwhile in view of the years of ministry that eventually grew from that seed.
Obviously not every campaigner will become a full-time minister or missionary. However, almost every missionary that I know was influenced in that decision by having participated in a mission campaign earlier in their life.
6. Excitement is Stirred Up Among the Local Population - This can give a shot of energy to their regular evangelistic efforts. Our local evangelists pour in countless hours of work in pre-campaign and campaign follow-up efforts. While they work steadily through the year, things get shifted into a higher gear surrounding the campaigns. There is a buzz created in the neighborhood, and the local congregation experiences an increased profile and sense of "legitimacy" because of the international presence.
6. Excitement is Stirred Up Among the Local Population - This can give a shot of energy to their regular evangelistic efforts. Our local evangelists pour in countless hours of work in pre-campaign and campaign follow-up efforts. While they work steadily through the year, things get shifted into a higher gear surrounding the campaigns. There is a buzz created in the neighborhood, and the local congregation experiences an increased profile and sense of "legitimacy" because of the international presence.
7. Locals Feel Connected to the Worldwide Body of Christ - Brethren from across the globe share fellowship as they work side by side for the cause of Christ. People that would have never met or even known of each other's existence become friends because of campaigns. I am often asked by locals for news from their friends in America. It is a beautiful thing to witness the relationships that form between repeat campaigners and the locals that work with them.
8. Missionaries Feel Remembered - Even though we are rarely actually alone because there is always someone needing our attention, mission work can sometimes feel very lonely. The missionary is isolated from his home country and culture. Sometimes it can feel as though he is sending reports into some sort of void, unsure if anyone is actually reading them or cares about his efforts. However, when people visit on campaigns they often reaffirm the value and importance of the mission effort. Even though we get lots of visitors, I have friends at other mission points who would love for someone to come, but can't get anyone to. They feel neglected and abandoned by their supporters.
Are campaigns disruptive to our routines? Yep. Do they cause extra work for us? You bet. Do they sometimes accidentally create problems that we have to deal with when they leave? Yeah. Are they worth the trouble? Absolutely. I say bring them on. Karibuni sana! (That's Swahili for "Y'all are very welcome!")
Campaign Wrap-up
Over the past 3 weeks, we've had the pleasure of working with about 25 campaigners from 3 different, overlapping groups. Kensington Woods, North Tuscaloosa, and Hoover all brought groups to work in the area. It was great to see some old friends among the campaigners as well as get acquainted with some new faces. The efforts resulted in at least 16 baptisms in Njiro alone with others taking place near Namanga and in other neighborhoods. There was a great deal of door-to-door evangelism as well as a VBS for the children. VBS continues this week at Ilkiurei and later at Kisongo. The Njiro effort was capped off by an overflow crowd at Sunday morning worship service at Njiro. I counted 89 in attendance, which far overflowed our little tent built for a crowd in the 20-30 range.
We are also happy to welcome our newest teammates, Todd and Susan Storks, who arrived last week. We hope that they will have years of productive service to the Lord here in Tanzania.
As always, thank you for being teammates in the work here. Your prayers and support mean more than we can say.
Till all have heard,
Daniel Gaines
