By Amanda Cunningham

Have you heard the story about the orphans that were allowed to cover their building in mud once a year, every year, right before the annual short-term team arrived so that the volunteers had something to paint?  Not the best endorsement for the necessity of short-term missions. 

The truth is that the conversation around short-term missions is nuanced, and the argument can effectively be made on both sides as to the usefulness of short-term trips and programs in modern missions. My position on short-term missions comes from personal experience; I would not be where I am now without God having used short-term mission experiences to direct and shape my life. Therefore, if God did that in my life, I could reasonably expect that he might do that in the life of someone else, and this person would benefit from some sort of organized program to facilitate their experience. 

Based on the premise that there is still a place for short-term missions, I believe that there are various key elements that can make short-term trips and teams successful in modern missions. The first one is the most important: ATTITUDE. I’m not just referring to the attitude of the participants and being flexible enough to adjust to a new culture, but to the attitude of everyone involved. The right attitude at all stages of the process is so important. Yes, the participants need to approach their experience from a place of humility and learning; almost everything is going to be different, and they are going to have to adapt quickly and humbly. 

However, the sending organization must have the right attitude as well; the determination to effectively prepare and walk alongside their participants at all stages of the process knowing that their input is necessary for success. Essentially, they need to take their job seriously and do it well. Pre-field orientation, logistical planning, language preparation, medical and psychological evaluations, ongoing mentoring and post-field debriefs are all important in building a positive experience. At no point can the sending organization take their foot of the gas and assume someone else is taking care of their volunteers. 

Finally, the receiving ministry also needs to have the right attitude. Participants are going to thrive in an environment that welcomes them and anticipates their arrival with enthusiasm. A project that understands the value of short-term volunteers is going to put as much work into the lives of their visitors as they put into their day-to-day ministry responsibilities. Ministries that embrace short-term volunteers and teams know that it’s all for God’s glory and He has a plan in bringing them to that specific place in the world. 

I want to approach my new role as LAM Canada’s Short-Term Coordinator with the right attitude, developing a solid, effective pre-field program combined with on-field mentoring and post-field debriefing. I am looking forward to working alongside national ministry projects that are excited to receive volunteers and pour into their lives to help them discover God’s plan for them. So, if you think you could be someone, or know someone, with the right attitude to walk through this journey of short-terms missions, I would love to hear from you.