I want to continue with some thoughts I’ve had from the mission trip that I just finished last week. Really, they may not be thoughts so much as they are lessons. In the last post, Part 1, I shared that I learned (again) that God answers prayer, and God desires His name to be known throughout the earth. I want to share two more lessons.

First, the gospel unites believers. As a group of 14 people from my church we were partnered with a group of 15 from a church in Wilmington, NC. When we arrived, we didn’t know each other from Adam. We knew another group would be there with us, but we had no idea where they were from, what they were like, or anything. There was the awkwardness of meeting new people, learning new names, and trying to figure out each other. That was on Saturday evening. By Sunday afternoon, as we were training for the ministries we would begin on Monday, we began to realize that we were there for a common purpose – the gospel. Then, as we actually prayed and served together, a strong bond was built. A common bond in Jesus.

The gospel has the power to unite people. As an example, Paul wrote,

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (Philippians 1:3-7 ESV)

Second, mission trips can be productive. I’ve taken several mission trips to different places around the world. I have to admit that some of those trips were more of a “missions vacation” than a productive trip. That’s a danger we need to be very careful to avoid. Should Churches Abandon Travel-Intensive Short-Term Missions in Favor of Local Projects? is one thought-provoking article that deals with this issue. At the same time, mission trips can be productive – for both those going to serve and those being served. I think our trip last week was proof of a productive trip. (I’ve also heard very good things from another group in our church that was in Costa Rica while we were in Georgia.) I think our trip was productive for those who went, because we partnered with others in the gospel, we spent a lot of time in prayer (a lot!), we were taught God’s Word (a lot!), and we worked to advance the gospel. I think our trip was productive for those whom we went to serve, because physical needs were met, spiritual needs were met, relationships were established, and the gospel was central to all that was done.

Personally, this particular trip had a different feel. I had been in that context several times, and it almost seemed that the shock, or the novelty, had worn off. It was truly about the ministry. (Don’t get me wrong – I had my selfish moments.) I guess what I’m trying to say is that I really think a good foundation for effective long-term ministry was laid last week, and it seems that short-term trips should ultimately serve long-term ministry. The point is that short-term mission trips can be valuable, but they have to be prayed over and planned very strategically, so that long-term ministry can flourish.