Ways to Approach and Steward Short-term Mission Trips

There is much conversation in Christian circles about whether or not short-term mission trips are effective and beneficial. When done well, short-term missions strengthen individual worldviews, global missions in the local church, and sending pipelines to the nations.

Here are some things to consider as you prepare to engage in short-term trips: 

Reasons to go … 

• Align your heart with God’s heart and join what the Holy Spirit is already doing.

• Encourage partners/missionaries on the field by seeing and understanding what God has called them to do in their context, celebrating with them how God is using them, and bringing that inspiration back to your church. 

• Meet missionaries and build relationships with them, fostering ongoing community and partnership.

• Allow God to open your eyes to your personal and cultural shortcomings.

• Experience God through the lens of another culture (this helps us worship him more completely).

• Disciple people. Training before, experience on the field, and debriefing after are all great discipleship opportunities.

• Obey when God tells you to go, and await the joy, blessings, and next steps of obedience that result.

Approaches to take when you go …

• Avoid using the experience as a platform to meet your own needs and impose your own agenda.

• Limit the strain you place on the time, energy, and finances of your partners.

• Embrace a humble, willing, and teachable attitude.

• Work with existing leadership in order to avoid being unhelpful or wasteful.

One Mission Society believes in short-term missions as an effective way to grow missions-focused hearts, serve brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, and spread Gospel truth! Join one of our short-term teams this year. Click here to see OMS’ 2024 short-term opportunities.

Learn more about OMS Church Partners here.

OMS has a goal of recruiting at least 125 new missionaries by our 125^th anniversary in June 2026. You can help get people started today by sharing this complete page of OMS’ opportunities to serve: Opportunities - One Mission Society.

Here are some other OMS Pathways to help mobilize your church! 

Catalyst Mission Workshop 

Short-Term Teams - One Mission Society

HOPE61 - One Mission Society

One Mission Kids 

One Mission Society engages the one to reach the many, multiplying disciples, churches, leaders, and missionaries.

www.OneMissionSociety.org  |  317.888.3333  |  beachurchpartner@onemissionsociety.org