Short-Term Missions In Small Churches

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Plan successful short-term missions to impact individuals and your church culture. Reach beyond your local community and into the world.

Did you know that 540 Christians in America took part in mission trips in 1965? In 2011, over 1.5 million American Christians took part in a missions trip.

According to research at Baylor University

Read as guest author, Jason Pfingsten, gives “The Wins” for your small church to take part in a short-term missions trip.

When Jesus gathered the disciples on a mountain outside of Galilee after His resurrection, He shared what is commonly known as the Great Commission –– His last words recorded in the gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 28:18-20 “… All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The First Call To Missions

Imagine being one of the eleven disciples. Trudging outside Galilee all the way to a mountain. Tired. Disillusioned. Scared. But willing to climb a mountain in the distant hope that the rumors of Jesus being alive were true. Was Jesus alive and risen from the dead as some had claimed? Was this meeting a trap –– a set-up? Would it ultimately disappoint, like the day Jesus died with the chaos that ensued? 

After huffing and puffing, walking and wondering, there they were, the other disciples, gathered together. It was really good to see them, a relief really. Having been through so much together, there was a bond between them that would never be broken. But at the same time, looking around at the haggard and doubting bunch, there wasn’t much to inspire confidence. 

Was Jesus really going to appear? 

Where was He? 

Why were they there? 

And just as suddenly as the questions had been asked, there He was. 

Matthew 28:18 Jesus Said …

Matthew 28:18 begins by saying, “then Jesus came to them.” There He was, in the flesh. It was Him. It was Him! So they worshiped Him. They fell on their knees and worshiped Him. Unbelievable, and yet entirely real.

Wouldn’t we have had the same reaction? A bit scared, wanting proof, and then feeling incredible relief. Then pure worship! They were more than ready to hear what Jesus had to say now that He was there in the flesh. It was really Him. Imagine the tears, the elation, the relief, and ultimately, the reality. For it really was Him, raised from the dead. From unbelievable to believable. Incredible. Only Jesus.

Now, what happens?

So what did He tell them? What were the lasting words Jesus would share to inspire them? Was there going to be a long talk on a mountaintop like the Sermon on the Mount? 

No. Not now. Actually, it was one word. One word. One word would start it all –– a movement for Jesus that’s going stronger now than ever, thousands of years later, across the entire globe.

Go

Jesus didn’t advise them to go down from the mountain to huddle together and hide. He didn’t tell them to create a small community and just live in fellowship with one another while worshiping God.

He commanded them to go. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command. Go!

He had chosen the disciples to spread God’s Word. He had taught them. Jesus had cried with them and traveled far and wide with them. He had performed miracles with them. Now, it was time to put training and faith into action. It was time to spread the word of his resurrection.

Go therefore and make disciples.

Matthew 28:19a

They had been chosen for such a time as this. It was time!

He wasn’t asking. He knew what was best for them and for His kingdom. Go. 

He wasn’t commanding them to go alone. For he concluded the command to go with the words and reassurance that, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” He would be with them in Spirit as they traveled, ministered, and shared His love. His Spirit would protect, guide, and lead them. For they went not on their own, but through Jesus’ power and strength.

2000 Years Later The Gospel Has Reached 7 Continents 

Ultimately, more than 2,000 years later, what has happened as a result of the disciples’ obedience — going into the world? 

Jesus’ name has been proclaimed as far as the east is from the west. People across the earth, on all seven continents, in all countries, and in almost all cultures, believe in Jesus. Across the globe, people live to worship God, have been forgiven of their sins, and cleansed from all unrighteousness. People across the whole earth follow Jesus. Unbelievable. Yet, believable.

Going into the world wasn’t without personal sacrifice on the disciples’ part. Going into the world and making disciples was very, very hard during Jesus’ time and is still hard today. Many of the disciples sacrificed their human comfort, even their lives, by answering God’s call to go. But because of their faithfulness, God’s plan to spread the word of His Son and His Son’s sacrifice for all, for the forgiveness of sins, was a historic, sweeping success. His name has been proclaimed to the utter ends of the earth.

Missions And Your Church

Jesus’ command to go is as relevant for us today as it was for the disciples on the mountain outside Galilee in the days after his resurrection.

Yes, His command to go still applies. It applies to us personally. His command applies to your church. It applies now. Today.

God commands us to go and promises to be with us as we step out in faith. God in His infinite wisdom knows that not only will his name be proclaimed as we go, but that those who step out in faith will themselves be forever changed. The disciples were forever changed, and so will we be forever changed when we go.

Short-Term Missions Can Change Individual Lives

When people of a small church are forever changed, so is the church. 

How might people be changed? How might one’s faith grow through a mission trip experience?

• Through realizing that God can even use one person to make a difference
• By sharing one’s story and faith journey during the mission trip
• By setting oneself aside for the betterment of strangers
• Because of the fellowship and shared experience of ministering alongside others
• Through times of intentional worship throughout the mission trip
• As a result of experiencing a new culture and expanding one’s comfort zone
• Through daily focused time of prayer and Bible study

One’s faith ultimately grows because when a person is obedient to God’s word, in action, one’s faith can’t help but grow in numerous ways.

Short-Term Missions Can Change Your Church

And what can happen in that small church when a group of people returns from a mission trip with their faith increased, having answered the command to go? 

• The church can be transformed.
• Attendance and commitment to the church may increase.
• True love for one another can grow exponentially.
• People who weren’t very connected to the church may become devoted members.
• Outreach can become a priority.
• The number of volunteers can multiply.
• The church may grow in numbers and in spiritual health.

3 Steps To Start Planning A Mission Trip

If you’ve never planned a mission trip before, here’s a great place to start the dreaming:

1. Go before the Lord first. Spend time in prayer over where to go and who could attend. Share the idea of going on a trip with a few other key people and ask them to pray about the potential trip as well.
2. Work through goals for the trip. Who would go? What ages? What time of year is best? What type of mission trip and location would be preferred? What is a realistic budget per person to consider for this trip?
3. Then designate a point person, or two people, who will organize the trip. Gather 2-3 trip options based on your goals for the mission trip with details about potential trips, and present them to a small leadership team or your pastor to help narrow down the options.

Read More

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