Toward Better Short-Term Missions

It is easy to be critical. I was once listening to a teacher from a European country lecture at a U.S. seminary on the evils of short-term missions. It was a highly critical lecture (with which I largely agreed), but there was no direction for what was appropriate in short-term missions. I don't think he realized that he was actually participating in what I would classify as a short-term missions trip---a full-time intensive visit to another culture for a focused time of vocational ministry.

In the first article I laid out the history of short-term missions and some of the opportunities it has provided. The second article pointed to some of the problems that surround the enterprise. Now I want to offer a way forward.

Change the Name

This may be a personal preference, but I think it would be helpful to rename "short-term missions" and instead call it "short-term ministry." I believe the title of missionary should be reserved for those committed to being in another culture for longer than a year. So we all live on mission in the context where God has placed us, and when we leave that context for a short period of time for a focused time of ministry, we are participating in short-term ministry. When we serve in another culture we then should call it "Short-Term Cross-Cultural Ministry."   Continue at Darren Carlson