THE END GOAL

It may seem odd to begin with the end, but it’s important to understand the purpose up front for considering involvement in a short-term missions outreach.  Involvement isn’t simply visiting a foreign country to see what it’s like;  it’s not only the fact you are helping a missionary with a special Bible club or building project;  it’s not even the possibility that you might have the opportunity to lead someone to Christ.  Involvement on a structured missions outreach should provide the means to help participants answer this question:  “Where do I fit into God’s plan to evangelize the world?”

The answer does not automatically mean becoming a missionary, but it should mean developing a heightened understanding of both the physical and spiritual needs which exist, and possible ways in which participants can be part of meeting these needs.  It should encourage and motivate continued involvement in attempting to help meet these needs through prayer and giving for missions as well as an increased commitment to one’s local church. 

From a heart filled with compassion Jesus pointed out that the field of the world is ready to be harvested, but the workers were few.  2,000 years later this is still true, but now there are even more who have not heard the message of the gospel.  Whether it’s the location where you currently live or on the other side of the world, thousands of laborers must be sent from our churches to help spread the good news.

The harvest metaphor used by Jesus illustrates a simple fact about what it takes to first be a witness of the gospel.  To be a good worker harvesting a crop does not require extensive training or special skills in order to do a good job.  It simply requires having a desire to work.  While training is necessary to be an effective cross cultural missionary, each believer can be an effective witness.

Most Christians at least have a passing interest in seeing the Great Commission carried out.  Some may be more actively involved than others, but few fail to see the importance of it all together.  More often, failure occurs in not knowing exactly what each Christian, as an individual and as part of the body of Christ, can be doing right now.

Perhaps your career is already somewhat established, and you are confident this is the career God has for you, yet you want to be more directly and personally involved in fulfilling the Great Commission.  Or, maybe you don’t know exactly what you want to do but feel God may be directing you into an active missions role, although you don’t know how or where, but you want to be doing something in the mean time.  Or, you could be someone who feels you have time on your hands which you could use to be doing something worthwhile that will count for eternity:  If you relate to any of these examples, or countless others, you may be interested in what is commonly referred to as short-term missions. 

Exposing Christians firsthand to the seemingly overwhelming spiritual and physical needs of the world is one of the best means of motivating active involvement.  Personal involvement (an involvement which begins at home) is the key.  Only by becoming personally involved will Christians be properly stirred to accept the challenge of the Great Commission.