Wise Short-Term Missions
Principles and Practices to Benefit Vulnerable Children & Families
You want to engage with the work God is doing in the world.
More than two million Christians travel internationally to participate in short-term missions every year. Many are seeking to serve orphans and vulnerable children, desiring to fulfill the call in Scripture to "care for orphans and widows in their distress."
These short-term mission trips bring with them the potential for both good and harm, especially when serving children who lack the protection and connectedness of a family. Wise engagement can provide confidence that your actions and invested resources are ensuring safety and promoting the lasting wellbeing of children, families and communities.
Short-term mission trips carry the potential for much good and much harm.
Wise engagement is critical, especially when we hope to benefit children.
The potential good offered by short-term missions relies upon our willingness to continually refine and improve our strategy. When carried out with due caution and wisdom, short-term missions can benefit children for the long term — especially by building up the families and communities capable of caring for them over time.
To do this well, trip organizers and participants must have a clear sense of how to plan, prepare for, and carry out their service in ways that ensure safety and promote the lasting well-being of children, families, and communities.
Short-term missions done with excellence ensure that every experience…
Leaves a lasting positive impact on the lives of all who participate.
Brings enduring good to the children, families, and communities served.
Honors the God who describes Himself as a Father to the fatherless.
That's what Wise Short-Term Missions is about.
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Who should read this book?
Leaders, staff, and volunteers of nonprofit organizations who are SENDING or HOSTING short-term mission trips.
Participants in short-term mission trips.
Church staff and lay leaders who are organizing short-term mission trips.
Donors and board members of organizations that are SENDING or HOSTING short-term mission trips.
What will you learn?
The potential for good in short-term mission trips.
The risk of harm in short-term mission trips.
Principles for good practice.
Ideas for alternative short-term missions engagement.
Case studies of better practice.
What's included in the book?
Clear Guidance
Clear Guidance
You’ll find evidence-based guidance, moving beyond theory and opinions to show you what really works.
Visual Explanations
Visual Explanations
Infographics that present and explain complex concepts will simplify and accelerate your learning.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Clear action steps will help you implement learning to improve your practice.
Free Resources
Free Resources
A curated list of relevant resources will allow you to dive deeper into your areas of interest.
Would you prefer to learn about this topic through a course?
We have two!