Dispelling the myths of ‘microwave ministry’

The uncomfortable realities of short-term missions

June 18, 2013 | Young Voices
Bethany Daman | Special to Young Voices

In North American society, where most people have been blessed with an abundance of resources, many see short-term missions as a way to use what we have to help others. But is this actually what we are doing?

The success of these trips is often measured after a group completes a service project or executes a well-attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) program. The biggest accomplishment usually comes during an altar call where numerous people come forward and make a spiritual commitment to Christ. After completing these tasks, most groups return home with a warm feeling, thinking they have made a lasting impact in the country they visited.

But what is the outcome for those on the receiving end? Too often, these VBS programs spend significant amounts of time and money preparing craft projects, hand-outs and skits, setting unrealistic expectations that the locals may not be able to match.

Once the team leaves, there may be no long-term positive change for several reasons.

Relationships

To build a strong ministry one needs to invest in relationships. In most cases, once a group begins to break through the initial barriers of language and culture, and starts building relationships, it is time for the young missionaries to return home. There is simply not enough time to build true, loving relationships.

Culture

Imagine a group from Asia visiting your hometown. After a two-week stay, they return home, telling everyone of the cultural problems and poor ways of life in your community. Would they have an adequate picture of Canada?

However, when North American groups return home from mission trips, they confidently stand in front of their congregations and share their new cultural experiences. In an era of growing technology, perhaps the global church could find other methods to share ideas and resources across nations.

Finances and economics

In his book Toxic Charity, Robert D. Lupton writes, “U.S. missions teams who rushed to Honduras to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Mitch spent on average $30,000 per home—homes locals could have built for $3,000 each.” If churches had sent fewer workers with the same amount of money, they could have hired local builders in need of jobs to do the work. Imagine the potential jobs funded, programs offered and people fed if a local pastor was given the same amount of money it costs to send a mission group.

What do we do?

Most people who go on short-term mission trips go with the best of intentions. However, I believe there are alternative options that may have greater results. In fact, if one wishes to truly do the work Jesus calls Christians to, it probably requires a much larger sacrifice than fundraising a few thousand dollars and taking a couple weeks off school or work. Whether working abroad or partnering with an organization close to home, successful ministry requires a long-term commitment, rather than the “microwave ministry” of short-term trips.

Speaking from experience, Christians often get sucked into the idea that “missions” is something that can only be done in foreign countries. I used to feel that if I was not serving Jesus in a foreign country, like others from my church and community were, I was not doing enough. But this is not a positive way of thinking. We must recognize there are needs for ministry all around us. Although the quick-fix trip often sounds more appealing, how much more of an impact would we be able to make if we built lasting relationships closer to home?

There is no black-and-white answer that will address the questions of missions as a whole. However, before teams embark on a short-term trip, I think they should truly examine the costs, benefits and intentions:

  • Is this trip for me, or will it benefit the people I am going to serve?
  • Would this money be best spent somewhere else?
  • What will the long-term effects be?
  • Is there a ministry similar to this closer to home?
  • And finally, am I prepared to sacrifice and invest in potential long-term relationships?

Short-term mission trips may be the easy answer, but long-term ministry is what truly builds community. It is most often through long-term relationships that others can really begin to understand who Christ is and what a relationship with him is all about.

Bethany Daman is a media and communications student at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. She attends Niverville (Man.) Community Fellowship.

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