Do I Need to Prepare? Really?
Bill MacLeod, MissionConnexion Director
This summer I am celebrating the occasion of my first short-term mission trip…50 summers ago! I was one of six students chosen to be sent out from what is now Cairn University in Philadelphia, but I had never been out of our country – not to Canada or to Mexico! Yet, the Lord had clearly and supernaturally led me to where I would be involved in evangelistic beach missions organized by the Church of Scotland.
If I went through any kind of preparation for that first summer mission experience…I do not remember it. I just knew that when I arrived in Scotland, I would join the teams they had chosen for me, and I would fit in however I could.
I am so glad that when I served as a missions pastor in a local church in Portland, Oregon years later, that we were a bit more intentional whenever we sent teams of people, of all ages, out on short-term mission trips!
One of the organizations we worked closely with and with whom I helped organize and lead trips with was East West Ministries International. Initially they even established a West Coast office out of our church. Led by two businessmen, what informally started behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s became a missions organization with a zeal for empowering national pastors and local believers to transform their communities by making disciples and multiplying churches. They have also been exhibitors at most of our MissionConnexion Northwest events and mobilized many.
Recently I asked my longtime friend, and East West’s Northwest Area Director, Peter De Graff, what he wants participants he takes on short-term mission trips worldwide to understand. He provided three main principles:
“First, I congratulate them for their obedience to the Holy Spirit’s direction to join the trip. This is the first major step of faith. Many more will follow: recruiting their prayer and financial support team, relating to a different culture and communicating the gospel trusting God for the results. Finally, they must continue this faith journey when they return home. Walk by faith.
Second, they must be flexible. They will land in a foreign place, live in a foreign culture and seek understanding in a foreign language. The schedule will change during the trip. They will have unexpected encounters with the local people. They will be asked to do something they never expected to do. Be flexible.
Last, they must come with the attitude of a learner. They must seek to understand the culture. They should study the history and essence of the culture. Seek answers: What virtues does the host culture have that my culture lacks? Are the norms of the culture just different and not wrong? How do I share the gospel in the context of the host culture? Be curious, ask questions, seek to understand. Be a learner.”
I am very grateful that, by the grace of God, while I did not have any formal preparation on my first venture into missions 50 summers ago, I ended up practicing every one of these biblical and practical principles at some time or another during my experience in Scotland. And the Lord knew what He was doing, because just 4 short years after that life-changing summer experience, I was back in Scotland, this time working with the Luis Palau Association, helping to set up citywide evangelistic crusades where hundreds could hear and respond to the Good News!
Would you like to become better prepared to serve in missions, using your own unique, God-given gifts? Check out the resources in the MissionWorks family and get started today!
