Andrew Jones on Tall Skinny Kiwi tackles the issue: Are Short Term Missions a Waste of Money?
I've been inclined to think they are, but Andrew makes ten points mostly in favour of short term missions, obviously feeling that the gains outweigh the losses. I've just given the beginnings of each point. You'll find the rest on his site.
1. Short term missions might be an expensive past-time but if they are a far better alternative to overseas vacations and holidays.
2. A cross cultural experience, even if only for a week, is good training for a career in overseas social enterprise or preparation for long term missions.
3. The fall in number of long term missionaries worries me but I am encouraged by the number of missionaries being sent out by the global south.
4. We should send out young people for longer periods of time.
5. Short term mission should be more relational.
6. Missions today is multi-directional and it is a mistake to talk about missions only in terms of our country sending missionaries to others.
7. Pilgrimages and self-guided mission experiences sometimes offer a better posture of learning and receiving hospitality than traditional short term missions.
8. Churches must stay involved in both sending overseas missionaries or they will lose their vision within one generation.
9. Partnering with an established mission organization is a good way to get some cross-cultural sensitivity training for the team.
10. And lets not forget the massive resource we have with retired missionaries now living back home.
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