Is There Value in Short-Term Mission Trips?

Five Reasons Short-Term Missions Are "Worth it" — Backed by Some Facts 👍🏿

There has always been a back and forth debate about the value of short-term mission trips by local Churches. And this is understandable given that not everything Churches do we do well.

But at OVG, we feel when short-term mission trips are honestly evaluated, the positives of these evangelisms far outweigh any negatives that might arise due to "human error".

Following are just five of the many POSITIVE reasons we would encourage every church to get involved in short-term missions. (Spoiler Alert - Reason #1 is really enough reason in and of itself!

Reason #1 Career Missionaries Typically get Their Start on a Short-Term Trip🚶🏿‍➡️🚶🏿‍➡️🚶🏿‍➡️

Research from The Center for Great Commission Studies consistently shows that the vast majority of career missionaries first served on a short-term mission trip.

In numerous studies and anecdotal interviews, it has been found that the initial experience of short-term trips often ignite a lifelong calling, opening hearts to God’s work across cultures and inspiring deeper, long-term, involvement in the Great Commission overseas AND here at home.

With the need for career missionaries growing every day, short-term trips are a critical piece of the long-term strategy of reaching "every tribe, tongue, and nation".

2. Missions Multiply Church Growth ❌❌❌

Studies from the Lausanne Movement indicate that in unreached communities where missionaries help establish local churches, the number of believers can grow up to 10 times faster compared to areas without a missions presence.

By strategic partnering with local churches and missionaries among unreached groups, short-term teams can (by the will of God) provide the encouragement, training, and resources that allow local leadership to grow the body of Christ exponentially.

3. Billions Still Have No Gospel Access

According to the Joshua Project, over 3.2 billion people — about 40% of the world’s population — are considered “unreached” with the Gospel - meaning they have little or no access to a Christian witness or church!

Short-term missions are an essential part of going into these unreached areas and gathering information that allows longer-term, informed decisions to be made by our leadership.

Short-term teams help us understand:

• Is God really calling us to a specific country?
• Are the people's hearts in a country ready to accept God's word?
• Which area of a country is God calling us to?
• What are the needs of an area we are considering serving?

Well targeted short-term Mission Trips help us decide IF and When God is calling us, as a congregation and/or as individuals, to longer-term involvement.

4. Short-term Missions Open Doors in Tangible Ways🚪

Short-term mission teams are many times not just about words or an "experience"—they’re about supplying things that can't be supplied locally.

The World Health Organization notes that 60% of mission projects worldwide provide essential services such as clean water, healthcare, and education in addition to sharing the Gospel.

These type of humanitarian ministries involving infrastructure investment, advanced skills, or special expertise and training, are difficult to launch and even more difficult to maintain long-term in many locals of the world.

When mission teams are able to come alongside those in need and provide tangible help and resources that aren't available locally, they impact peoples minds and hearts opening them up to the love of Christ.

Telling people we love them is good! Showing them how much we love them is even better!

5. Missions Strengthen Sending Churches💪🏿

A Lifeway Research survey found that churches actively engaged in short-term missions report higher member retention, increased giving, and greater spiritual vitality compared to churches without mission involvement.

Missions don’t just change those being served—they also transform the senders too! Not everyone can go - but everyone can GROW🪴 through short-term missions.

Just Five of Many!!!

These are just five of the MANY reasons short-term teams should be seen as essential and critical to Churches everywhere!

Here arelinks if you want to read more on this subject:

Short-term Fueling Long-term Missions

How do Short-Term Mission Trips Impact Local Churches

Planting🌱 and Watering💦

Short-term teams are not the solve-all solution to missions, but they should serve as essential pieces in every Church's overall missions strategy.

Consider Paul's words in 1 Cor 3:6-9 (NIV)

⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Maybe your short-term team will be seed planters, or maybe you will do some watering - and that will be all you get to see. But do not let this discourage you. Rest assured, God will take whatever our efforts are, in His name, and make it grow!