Worth the Investment
One of my favorite Bible verses is in Matthew chapter 28. Jesus is standing on the mountain, about to ascend into heaven, and He tells His disciples this:
“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, quit your job, throw caution to the wind, move to another country, and make disciples of all nations.”
If you are the type of person who doesn’t actually read Bible verses written in articles, then you should go back and re-read that. That is NOT what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19! All followers of Christ are called to be on mission here and around the world. Short-term missions allows all disciples of Christ, regardless of their job, to obey this commandment to the fullest. I love short-term missions, and I love being at a church like Ridgecrest that prioritizes full-time and short-term missionaries.
Aside from the obvious reason of seeing people come to Christ, here are five reasons I believe short-term missions are worth the investment and why you should consider going on a mission trip.
1. Obedience to Christ
The great commission is for all disciples everywhere. We need to make disciples here in Springfield AND in all nations. Without short-term missions, believers would be severely limited in their ability to obey Christ’s command.
2. Emboldens Our Witness Back Home
When I come back from any mission trip, I ask myself, "Why do I not share more here?" This past fall, when we came home from Lesotho, my neighbor invited us to his daughter’s birthday party. If I am willing to fly around the world to share the Gospel, why would I not be just as willing to walk over to my neighbor’s house to do the same thing?
3. Brings the Bible to Life in New Ways
I have read the Bible my entire life. But I never understood demonic spiritual power until I spent time in Africa. Short-term missions will stretch and challenge your biblical understanding. You begin to look at the Bible through new eyes and force yourself to ask deeper questions. I will never forget the day in Lesotho when a man asked me what 2 Corinthians 12:2 meant. He said, “Who is that man, and what is the third heaven?” I had no idea!
4. Focused Spiritual Growth
When you go on short-term missions, you leave so much of your normal life behind. When you eliminate distractions and the busyness of life and spend undivided time sharing the Gospel, God will be at work! When you go on short-term trips, it is amazing to see what God does in and through you. The overwhelming task of missions will strengthen your prayer life and faith more than you can imagine.
5. Develops Leaders
I was 18 when I went on my first short-term mission trip to Lesotho, Africa. I had no idea what overseas missions was like. I was wrestling with my personal call to ministry and wondering if God had called me to full-time missions. The only way that I could explore God’s calling was to experience it for myself. Looking back now over the last 13 years, short-term trips have been vital in how God has developed me as a leader. I believe the same will be true for everyone who goes on short-term missions.
I will leave you with this thought from a spiritual influence in my life. Dr. Danny Akin from Southeastern Seminary challenged me with this. “Don’t ask the Lord why you should go; pray and ask the Lord, 'Why should I stay?'" That prayer changed my life. Are you bold enough to pray that prayer? If you are, I can guarantee that it will cost you deeply. But the investment of obedience is worth it for the Kingdom.