The Impact of Short-Term Missions on Long-Term Missional Development

Lead short-term mission trips (STMs) that catalyze trip participants into mission-oriented disciple-makers when they return home. STMs can be mutually beneficial service opportunities that have positive long-term impact on both trip participants and national hosts. While this is possible, it is not always the outcome of many STMs. STMs often prioritize the short-term experience of trip participants and miss the longer-term discipleship opportunity they offer. STMs can be a context of significant, mutually beneficial work between both trip participants and national hosts. This work can serve as a catalyst for meaningful, long-term growth for both parties, but an appropriate philosophy and trip structure is needed. This book studies and reveals best practices for both.

Brian Bain is department chair and assistant professor of missiology and intercultural ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. Brian previously served with the North East Africa Theological Seminary in South Sudan.