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“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:16-20).
In the Great Commission, Jesus commands us all to “‘go and make disciples (Mathew 28:19).’” His instructions are clear and are for all believers to follow. In His grace, God has provided different avenues for the Church to be a part of this Great Commission. One of these options is joining a short-term mission team.
The Lord may call some to full-time ministry careers, some to minister to their lost neighbors of all backgrounds, and others to live among the unreached. So why choose a short-term mission team?
“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20).
As Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12, the body of Christ is made up of different parts. Each of us has been given gifts the Lord intended for us to use in building up the body and making His name known among the nations.
Mission teams are made up of believers who bring all different gifts to the table, gifts that the people who live in the spiritually darkest places need. Whether you are a student, a stay-at-home parent, or you have a full-time job, your gifts are still needed to help fulfill the Great Commission both at home and abroad.
Short-term mission teams offer everyone the opportunity to steward their gifts well for the glory of the Kingdom. They are God’s invitation to see what he is doing in other parts of the world.
Mission teams are also opportunities to stir your heart toward God’s people. They help you see your gifts and how they can be used for the Kingdom and equip you to share your story and God’s story to people across the world as well as to people in your own neighborhood.
You will meet people and grow in relationships with your fellow teammates who share a passion to fulfill the Great Commission. Your view of the world will shift to see things a little bit more as God sees them. Your heart for people who are different from you will grow to be more like God’s heart.
You will get the opportunity to impact others, but you will also leave a mission trip impacted yourself.
God uses short-term mission teams to grow His Kingdom among the nations. It is a privilege for believers to play a small part in this grand task. So the question isn’t, why should you go on on a short-term mission team; the question is, why aren’t you going?
Explore short-term teams with East-West and discover how God can use you around the world.
This article first appeared on the East-West blog and is republished by permission.
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