Here are a few links to provide information to assist you in preparing for going on a short- or long-term mission.
Be sure to visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) web site for the suggested shots and other important information. Click on the following links to go directly to the site for the country you intend to travel to:
Why Short-Term Teams?
Every year, you’ll find churches sending short-term missions teams around the globe. But, why? The interest in and support for these teams continues to grow because churches have found these teams a great way to give people a first-hand missions experience (most often in a cross-cultural setting) while fulfilling their mission of making disciples and developing fully devoted followers of Christ.
The Bible tells us to GO! In Matthew 18:18-20, Jesus tells us, as the original Greek renders it, “as you go, make disciples...” When we allow our ministry to go to the ends of the earth, crossing cultures is a given if not crossing oceans! This is the one area of ministry where we can go where Jesus (in His earthly body) did not. Yet, Jesus still commands us, “you WILL tell people about me everywhere to the ends of the earth.” Short-term teams are one way to obey this commandment.
Short-Term teams have long-term impact. We know that short-term missions experiences have considerable impact on: the team member, the senders, and the hosts (nationals and missionaries). As a result of short-term teams members have: made disciples, become career missionaries, increased their prayer and financial commitment to missions, and developed significant cross-cultural relationships.
Mustard Seed accepts church sponsored short-term teams whose primary focus is evangelism. While these teams may use a platform of medicine, youth sports activities, vacation Bible schools and/or education to connect with the people the over-riding purpose must me to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Teams should be made up of members with various talents, professional skills and abilities. No team should entirely be of one skill-set such as medical professionals or teachers. The goal is to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ in our actions. While a doctor may be treating patients at a remote village clinic, other on the team could be sharing Bible stories through an interpreter using a story cloth. Balance on teams has proven to be quite valuable.
If your church is interested in sending a team to one of the Mustard Seed missions areas of the world, please contact us for additional information.