Six Benefits of Short-Term Student Missions Trips
“Short-term missions” is a powerful tool to use in developing students within your ministry. I recently asked career missionary Matthew Melville to share some of his thoughts on the benefits of short-term missions. Here are the six he mentioned:
- Short-term mission trips help students realize the need for the Gospel globally (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15).
- Short-term mission trips take students out of their “comfort zones” and place them in an environment that encourages physical, mental & spiritual change (Heb. 11:6; Phil. 2:3,4; 1 Cor. 10:31-33)!
- Short-term mission trips give students a greater sense of “trusting God” by removing them from their “normal” context (language, culture, etc) of life (Prov. 3:5-6; Phil. 4:6; Eph 3:20).
- The short-term missions experience requires students to rethink their life’s purpose and ask questions such as: “What am I doing that will last for eternity?” The natural result is sensitivity to the Lord’s leading and a commitment to impact their home, school, church, etc. (Eph. 4:1-3).
- Short-term mission trips allow students to see that missionaries are normal people who are just being used of God! They are also exposed to the great need for more missionaries to spread the Gospel (Matthew 9:37-38).
- Short-term mission trips help students realize the importance of the body of Christ through the prayer and financial support from others (2 Thess. 3:1).
Matt Layton, a recent graduate of the Word of Life Bible Institute who presently serves as an intern, took a three-week trip to Hungary last spring. Matt shared, “Being able to travel to Hungary was an amazing experience! Ministering in a foreign country changed my perspective on missions and being a missionary. The trip made me aware of what a great need there is in the country of Hungary. As a result of the trip, I can say that my heart is burdened for the country of Hungary and the team serving there.”
Have you ever taken your students on a short-term mission trip? If the answer is “yes,” what are the greatest benefits, from your point of view?
Did you know that Word of Life offers short-term missions opportunities for both students and professionals? Have a look at: http://www.im.wol.org.
There are Word of Life mission trips happening year-round. Check out: http://twitter.com/wolmissions to see what we’re up to!
