When we moved to Slovenia, our home church did more than send missionaries…they “adopted” Slovenia! Our church had supported many missionaries for decades, but this was a broader, fresh emphasis. Over the years it has been expressed in many ways, especially through numerous short-terms teams who worked with us to help church plants across Slovenia.…
This story begins with the vision of Otoniel Martinez. Otoniel grew up in a Christian family. His father was a pastor in a time when it was a detriment to believe in Christ. Otoniel was at the top of his class, and at an early age he was given the opportunity to go to the top…
What do cutting wood and church planting have in common? Apparently, more than I even dreamed. We work with the Mapuche people in Southern Chile. Many of them live in the rural areas off muddy roads that wind through the mountainous countryside. They are a people group that has been marginalized by society. Their land…
Retiring from IBM after 30 years and moving to India was certainly nothing we had even dreamed of 5 years ago, but here we are and after 20 months we can honestly say we believe this is the most rewarding thing we could do with our lives. No, we do not have a seminary degree.…
Is it worth it to do a short-term mission trip? Absolutely! As pastors, we’re always challenging our people to take “that next step of faith,” but most of the steps available to people in the local congregation are not that challenging. We tell people to come to Bible study, to join a small group, to…
How short-term trips helped me discover my calling! I had just returned from my third short-term trip to Honduras with my local church. I had fallen in love with the country, the people, the language, the culture, and everything that missions was. Since my first trip there when I was fourteen, I felt God nudging…
At Riverbend Community Church in Lexington, SC, a missions-minded church of 450 attendees, we have felt the need for local churches and mission organizations to cooperate more in fulfilling the Great Commission. Many times it seems that once a missionary is sent, the only contact is an occasional newsletter or visit while on home assignment,…
My first short-term mission was in the summer of 2000 with my church’s youth group to serve in the inner city of Pittsburgh. I was just 14 at the time, but it was a memorable experience. The following summer my church decided to send another youth group mission trip, but this time we boarded planes and…
United World Mission can help infuse critical elements into your short-term trip to make it a success. You may be wondering how a mission agency can help your church improve your outcomes? Below are three critical elements you need to consider… The Long Game: Everyone knows that a short-term trip can have some immediate impact…
Discouraged. Disheartened. Disqualified. That is how I felt in 2009. I was suffering the aftermath of a divorce and was, to tell the truth, hiding from the Lord. I felt so much shame, and I believed that my divorce had disqualified me in the eyes of the Lord. I had stopped going to church because…