Short term mission trips??

[tericl2]

I was wondering if maybe some of you could help me. I have been thinking about going on a short term mission trip. Do any of you know of any good ministries that provide such opportunities? I would prefer a ministry that believes in and flows in the gifts of the Spirit. Although any solid, Biblical ministry would suit me.

Oh, and it would be even better if they have opportunities to go to places like Sudan or maybe some communist countries. Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[ZiSunka]

Are there any communist countries left?

Contact the missions committee of your church, and they can direct you to some short-term agencies that they have had good experiences with. They can also help you find a group that is compatible with your requirements.

It's risky to just go out on your own, or with an agency you don't know, and I've heard some horror stories about people thinking they were going on a mission trip only to find out that instead of working on a mission, they were just having an expensive vacation. Very disappointing, since they really wanted to spend their time working for God, not going to the beach.

 

[mel]

I would definitly check into your own church first to see what their thoughts and prayers are for missions... if none, then think outside of the box like Pray4Isrel did. There are many great places that God can use someone that is willing to go and be of service. I myself have gone to China, and believe me it was an experience! I'm talking about having to live in secret. Its a hard thing to do coming from America were you are free to do whatever - literally. Though I believe that there is no wrong answer in where God wants you to be. Seek him and his answer for you life in this area... I'm telling you this in the utmost importance. You should go and hear the calling from God. Don't go just because you have always wanted to. Pray about it... He will show you the right doors.

Be blessed

mel

 

[Amy]

Oh my yes there are communist countries left! I just got back from one this past month - Russia! As much as the media says that they are free - don't be fooled - they still are oppressed by communism.

A small correction from someone who'd lived in the place for quite a long time - they are oppressed all right, but not by communism. The Communist Party does not control everything like it did before, it's just one of the many political forces. I don't think you can call Russia a communist country anymore.

Amy

 

[Kiwi]

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) has some good short term opportunties, like summer or christmas outreachs, try www.ywam.org for base links.

 

[ZiSunka]

You have to be careful with YWAM, though. I had a close friend who went to central america with YWAM, and they were really into new age stuff like, spirit visualization, praying to your guardian angel and making your mind blank so you can hear the "voice of God". They were taught how to teach the natives these so-called Christian practices.

 

[tericl2]

Thanks guys. Sorry I haven't replied sooner but I have been out of pocket and this is the first time I have been online in about a week. i appreciate the sites though. I did a search on this subject and got way too many hits. And most of the ministries I saw were unfamiliar to me. Thanks again.

God Bless

 

[Blackwing]

Try OMF (just look for their website in google)

Also if you like try to go to the buddist countries, they are more formidable than communism sometimes

BTW i went to a short term mission in thailand a few years back and they really need Jesus.

Look also for your local denomination's mission activities

 

[Angelo]

I was just on a mission to Guatemala! Man was it amazing! My very first one and I loved it. My church, Church on the Rise, has a youth movement called Storm (student tired of religious mediocrity), and they do a mission every year. Next we are going to do 2 actually. Anyway, the youth bankroll the entire thing with no help from the church. It's big fun. If anyone here lives in the Cleveland area, you should deffinetely look it up.

 

[LilyLamb]

www.teenmissions.org

I went to Alaska when I was 17 ... later after a divorce I found the literature and went again as a leader with my three children on two trips - one where I stayed in Florida at their training camp - then a few summers later to a deaf school in Jamaica (again w/ my three children).

My oldest DD went to Alaska, and Hungary (orphanage) on other teams.

My second DD went to El Salvador (orphanage), Ireland and Brazil on teams.

My oldest DS went to Hungary (orphan camp) and this summer to Vanuatu (in the South Pacific).

Our experiences with Teen Missions were positive and made lasting impressions on my children. My second DD is now attending their (free) Bible, Mission, Work school training to be a full time missionary.

There are several things I like about TMI ... the money you raise to go on a TMI trip is the same amount of money raised to go on most short term trips (not knocking one week trips, but... I feel that you are getting more of God's money's worth going on a full summer (9-10 week) trip and seeing a job project completely accomplished (most teams have backup projects because they usually finish the one they are sent to do).

Of course, if you can't go the full summer, they do have some short term trips. (Like a two week sewing trip to Africa where they sew for orphans and teach them to sew so they can use their skills for survival). Included in the money raised for each trip is $100 towards the project expense (so a team of 30 brings $3,000 with them for supplies which helps the missionaries they are working with tremendously).

Also ... Teen Missions is nondenominational ... your team will consist of a wide variety of Christian religions (doctrinal differences are not allowed to be discussed) ... it's a great opportunity to get to know people from different denominations and to work side by side for a common goal.

Most teams are "work" teams - and believe me you will work - but you will also be doing evangelism - where you will be going into different churches (a different one each Sunday) and sharing your testimony through drama, puppets and singing.

Before going to the "field" for your work project you go through two weeks of intensive "BOOT CAMP" training where you learn to pull together as a team running the Obstacle course each morning and learn how to use tools (i.e. hammer, shovel, steel-tying, brick laying, mixing morter, laying sidewalks, etc) and how to evangelize.

TMI is very strict - you have to wear 8" construction boots, modest clothing (meaning no shorts or sleeveless shirts), no pairing off, no playing cards, no electrical gadgets (you won't need them in the jungle), sleeping in a tent/sleeping bag, washing clothes by hand etc

But as you can see we have gone back again and again - my DS is already planning to go again next summer. He would rather spend the summer helping other missionaries around the world than staying home playing Nintendo, riding his skateboard and hanging around the pool.

For that I am most grateful

 

[lil_god_lova]

I don't know about ones for you but i went on one called kings kids being only 16 and taht was awesome to do. It's a dance outreach but i spent 2 months of year 2000 on one and it was awesome!!!1

 

[rapturefish]

Operation Mobilisation is another good one to look into. They have short-term outreaches like "Love Europe" or "Love Australia", etc. and people come from all over. It was started by a man called George Verwer and his books are particularly great to learn from.

The exciting thing is they also have two "floating bookshops", ships called the "LOGOS II" & "Doulos", which is the oldest vessel of its kind currently in use. You can travel on the boat and reach many countries around the world. And you get to meet and live with christians from around the world on those ships.

blessings,

 

[DaughterOfGod]

Visit GlobalExpeditions.com . I would definitely reccommend them. They are part of Teen Mania Ministries. I went to a two-week trip to Mexico with them and it was just so awesome. The training and the worship sessions that they give you before you go to your country is amazing, not to mention the overseas ministry experience itself is lifechanging. Global Ex have trips all over the world. I suggest you check them out.

 

[shout2thelord]

ive been on a lot of websites but i really want to do sumthin this summer but most have limited short term stuff and i would like to do it as part of a team.
I was thinking of going with ywam though because we had a guest speaker from them at our church wen we had a missions weekend and i picked up a leaflet.

 

[slsbbgem]

our youth group went on ashort term mission trip this summer and that totally changed my life! it was an wonderful experience for my youth group and we loved it soo much. we are saving our money to go again next summer.  YAY!!!

 

[Hoonbaba]

Personally, I think Navigators, and Pioneers are very good. OMF as well

God bless!

-Jason

 

[coastie]

3rd September 2002 at 01:26 PM Angelo said this in Post #10

I was just on a mission to Guatemala! Man was it amazing! My very first one and I loved it. My church, Church on the Rise, has a youth movement called Storm (student tired of religious mediocrity), and they do a mission every year. Next we are going to do 2 actually. Anyway, the youth bankroll the entire thing with no help from the church. It's big fun. If anyone here lives in the Cleveland area, you should deffinetely look it up.

And the Guatemalans are some of the most hospitable people I have ever met.

If you get a chance to go there, I reccommend it!

 

[ZiSunka]

Some short-term missions are little more than fundraising events. Missions groups know that Americans don't support missions but love vacations, so they charge large sums of money (thousands, sometimes) for what they call missions trips, but the people never get to do anything meaningful on the mission field. One group I know of went on a tour of the country, and never had any contact with native people. Another one did a few skits in the town square, then went to the beach for the rest of the week.

Ask what you will be doing on the trip, and if it seems like there is a no specific purpose for the trip or if there is a lot of "down time" at the beach or some resort, it's probably a fundraiser and not a real missions trip. Remember there's not a lot you can do, missions-wise, in a week. If you want to make a real impact, sign up for at least three years.

 

[coastie]

A great group to do missions with is Friendships.

They have two ships and they travel all over the world and have home bases in Galveston, TX and a remote base in Roatan, Honduras.

I spent some time with them in Honduras building a school and farming.

I enjoy missions that involve construction and aide to missionary programs.

I hope to someday get involved in a mission where I can actually do some ministry, but my experience has been that those are usually a little bit longer term than those that churches send their youth groups or the two week type groups out on.

 

[kiwi believer]

Hi - I agree with Mel - any mission trip, no matter how short must be in the will of God - going off on your own track could result in disaster for both yourself and others ie. you are not under His Covering - I am -planning a trip to Borneo this year - to teach Dayak orphans to paint (my regular job) in order to earn some income. In New Zealand we have a great set-up for these mission trips - they support you in many ways particularly prayer. I am sure most Churches would p0oint you in the right direction. The Assembly of God Churches throughout the world are very mission orientated - like mine!!