Humility in Short Term Missions

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

22 Feb 2007 07:25 AM

I struggled to come up with a title for this blog. What I really wanted to call it was too long: What Your Host Ministry Really Wishes You Would Understand Before You Come to Their Church on a Short Term Missions Trip--But They're Too Afraid to Tell You. (See? Entirely too long. . .)

Being in New York City, we are quite a popular destination for the conscientious young person going on a short term missions trip. We have it all: the homeless, drug addicts, teen age pregnancies, the general loopy population (not to mention cool tourist opportunities on your day off!) In short, we are a haven for short terms missions teams.

We have seen and hosted within our home lots of people from lots of teams. Some of these teams are a great help to our ministry and others. . .well, not so much so. It all seems to boil down to humility and what you see as your role in this ministry. If you ask a team why they're here. . .most will say that they're here to support the ministry. But not all support is. . .supportive.

The Team from Anywhere, USA

This team came with the express purpose of supporting our ministry. While they were here they helped convert a small garage into an extra classroom for one of our ministries. They had some of their girls be 'mothers helpers' to the women who had small children so that these women would be free to do park ministry. They walked around the neighborhood with us and prayed for our concerns. They talked with members in our body to find what drives us to live in this neighborhood. (I have mentioned in an earlier blog that most of our members live within this four block radius.)

They saw piles of crack viles, the neighborhood loopy guy, and a few corner girls. They did a mime in the park and afterwards went around with us to witness to our neighbors. They probably got to experience a little of the culture here. They left feeling spiritually charged, having a fresh vision for the inner city and having been a real blessing to our body here.

The Team from Somewhere, USA

This team came excited and charged up to save the inner city with the love of Christ. They handed out hundreds of tracks every day. They witnessed, they prayed, and they sang worship songs on their portable loud speaker. They even got some guy who spoke Spanish moderately well to stand up and give a gospel in message in broken Spanish.

They handed out blankets and while people were receiving blankets they were receiving Christ. . .or so they said. They listened to all the homeless stories with ferver and were amazed at how all the homeless people they met once had jobs and college degrees (and none of them had ever, ever abused drugs or alcohol).

They even bought happy meals for the poor little school children in a private Christian school. It was the least they could do for they felt that these kids deserved so much more than the inner city backgrounds they were being raised in. This is after all, a horrible place to raise children.

They never really got to know the people who live here and minister in this neighborhood. They did have after all their own agenda of daily witnessing. After their long days of evangelizing, they opted to eat dinner out. They got to see famous things in New York City but missed the neighborhood. They left charged and those they left behind were relieved.

There is a profound difference in these two teams and their impact on the ministry here. Come back tomorrow to find out what happens after they leave New York City.

Related Articles:

The Big Picture In Short Term Missions

The Community of Christ Within the Larger Community

Battling a Materialistic Culture

Getting Teens Involved in Church

Love Is Not a Feeling

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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