Short-term missions
|
|
Short-Term Missions (STM) is a trend in Christian missions that is mobilizing thousands as missionaries for short periods of time ranging from days to a year.
In 1970 there were very few youth groups doing short-term missions in the United States. However, during the 1980s and '90s it has been observed that missiologically progressive local churches began to take a project approach to missions, capitalizing on directing present energy into short-term missions trips, vacations with a purpose, designated projects and offerings, and ministry teams. Whereas more missiologically conservative local churches tended to take a process approach to missions, which draws upon over 200 years of Protestant missions history worldwide.
The project approach has matured in the modern Short-term Missions (STM) movement and become a standard annual feature for thousands of Christian youth groups, church groups, and individuals across the United States.
There are independent Short-term Missions Organizations (STMs) as well as denominations and individual churches that facilitate these trips all over the world.
However, there is a limit to what short-term missionaries can accomplish on a given project. There is also debate as to how effective short-term missions are in actually recruiting candidates for the long term. The confusion often centres on a misunderstanding of the differing purposes of short term vs long-term missions. (In fact this tension is often exemplified by the usage of a term such as 'vs.' ). When both long-term and short-term teams recognise their individual interdependence on one another, there can often be observed an exponential growth of missions, by missional people.
Therefore, many Short-term Missions Organizations or sending agencies are addressing these issues and others through the adoption of Standards of Excellence in Short-term Missions.
See Also
External Links
- Standards of Excellence in Short-term Missions (http://www.stmstandards.org) - official Web Site
- EFC Guide (http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/resources/resource_viewer.asp?Resource_ID=123) - guide to best practices for Short Term Missions
- Adventures In Missions (http://www.adventures.org)
- STEM International (http://www.stemmin.org)
- Youth with a Mission (http://www.ywam.org)
- The Design - Thoughts Dreams and Connections all about missions (http://www.thedesign.ca)
- STMNetwork (http://www.stmnetwork.ca)
References
- "Ten Emerging Trends in Short-Term Missions." (http://www.missionfrontiers.org/2000/01/tentrend.htm) January 2000. Mission Frontiers. By Seth Barnes, Executive Director of Adventures In Missions (http://www.adventures.org)
- "Short Termers and the Future of American Missions." (http://www.missionfrontiers.org/2000/01/brewer.htm) January 2000. Mission Frontiers. By Monroe Brewer, Global Ministries Pastor at Crystal Evangelical Free Church in New Hope, Minnesota.