The Long-Term Benefits of a Short-Term Mission

By Shelly Schwalm

I never thought I’d get hooked. Since my first trip nearly 10 years ago to Mexico, I have been blessed by mission trips to Nicaragua, Ghana, Alaska, and elsewhere. Each trip has left me wanting to go again. I’ve found that the more I go, the more I am shown that it’s not all about what we can offer. Mission trips also shape us to be gracious recipients. I think it is a common misconception that the purpose of mission trips is solely to bring resources, offer physical labor, and come with spiritual encouragement for people in need. This is a big part of it! We are excited to reach out because Christ’s resurrection causes us to respond that way! Still, in our enthusiasm, we must remember that we’re not the only ones with something to give. As we go and serve, we start to see that there just might be a thing or two we can learn from our Christian brothers and sisters around the world.

As I prepared for my trip to Ghana, West Africa, my excitement grew to share the love of Christ with the people there. I was surprised to find, though, that most of the people already had a vibrant faith in Jesus. The Ghanaian people worshiped with joy in the midst of poverty and testified boldly to the goodness of our God. Their bright smiles told of their contentment in spite of having little and their gratitude for what they had. In Ghana, I learned a lesson about rejoicing in the Lord and giving thanks, regardless of circumstances.

In Nicaragua, I met a young woman named Francis at the orphanage where we served. She was a normal teenaged girl who dreamed of college and giggled about boys. Even though Francis grew up in a supportive orphanage, she prayed to be blessed with a family. Trusting in God’s promise to work all things for her good, she prayed for years. After many dashed hopes, Francis’ prayers were answered a few months ago! One of the orphanage mothers adopted her and her siblings. I learned a lesson from my Nicaraguan sister about trusting God in all things and walking together with others in faith and life.

A few years ago, I led my first senior high mission trip to California. Serving others for a week helped our students to see that they were an important part of the Body of Christ. Once home, they immediately began brainstorming ideas to serve and witness in the community. When we partner with Christians around the world, it gives us new eyes for service opportunities in our own communities. We return from mission trips thinking about how we can live lives of daily response to the Gospel in our schools, jobs, and communities. This trip to California taught us a lesson about living out our Christian faith in serving our neighbor—not just far away, but close to home.

No matter the location, we tend to think of mission trips solely as opportunities to offer our charity to those in need, but clearly there is a far greater benefit. We often go with giving as the goal and find ourselves receiving. We arrive with what we can teach and leave in awe of how much we have learned. We are changed as we see how the Gospel of Christ has changed the lives of others. The experience of other cultures shows us that we are not the only ones who have the image of God in Christ. We are reminded as we meet them, that these are also people for whom Jesus died. That is why we love. That is why we serve. That is why we care to learn. Christ loved us first, served us first, and embraced us first so that we might go and do likewise as His Church. We love because the resurrection of Christ offers us life to the full and that’s a gift we can’t help but share with the world. Partnering with others in God’s mission means we get to be a blessing and are blessed in the process.

There are many exciting adventures and lessons waiting for you through the mission experience! Ask your pastor or youth leader about how you can serve your neighbor both locally and abroad. You are already a light for Christ because you were called to faith in Jesus! Prayerfully consider how you can continue to shine your light through mission trips. And no matter where you serve, may you share the love of Christ and watch Him teach and change you in the process.

Shelly Schwalm serves as a Campus Ministry Associate at Concordia University, St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from Concordia-St. Paul’s Director of Christian Education program in the spring 2010. Shelly grew up in Kansas but now calls St. Paul home.