Short-Term Missions

 
Click on a title for more information about the resource or peruse the resources below.

>> Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage our Multicultural World
>> Deep Justice Journeys:  50 Activities to Move From Mission Trips to Missional Living
>> Round Trip
>> Serving With Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-Term Missions with Cultural Intelligence
>> Short-term Missions Workbook: From Mission Tourists to Global Citizens
>> What Can I Do?  Making a Global Difference Right Where You Are



Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World

* by David A. Livermore
* Baker Academic ©2009
* Paperback, 287 pages
 


Where you can find it:


Why we recommend it:
Cultural Intelligence is based on the premise that adapting oneself to another culture is a way of imitating Christ, who became human for our benefit.  It is pitched to youth pastors and others who want to understand cross-cultural dynamics themselves, as well as help others to do so.  People traveling overseas, along with those living in an increasingly multi-cultural North America need to take into account the multiple dimensions of cultural intelligence.

The book does an admirable job of taking challenging information and perspectives and presenting them in ways that are easy to understand and embrace.  It includes numerous stories that illustrate the issues presented and is low on the jargon index.  It is a great resource for short term missions team leaders or mission committee members who are hoping to help a group or congregation to be sensitive to cross-cultural issues while engaging in important ministry whether in North America or abroad.

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Deep Justice Journeys:  50 Activities to Move from Mission Trips to Missional Living

* by Kara E. Powell and Brad M. Griffin
* Zondervan ©2009
* Paperback, 192 pages
* Leader's Guide (Participant Guide also available)


Where you can find it:

Why we recommend it:
The lessons in this resource will help youth leaders prepare students for what to expect during their mission trip or service project. The book includes 50 learning activities you can choose from to customize your group’s lessons: ideas to help get parents and the church engaged, discussion exercises on poverty, cross-cultural relationships, teamwork, and spiritual gifts, creative activities for debriefing, and ideas for how your youth group can ensure ongoing growth and service once you return home to the “real world”.

Equal weight is placed on orientation and debriefing with the authors advocating for a one week service project to be book-ended by 3 months of orientation and 3 months of debriefing.  This is the best practical resource I’ve seen that has helpful and usable info on how to lead debriefing.  

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Round Trip

* by Fourth Line Films in conjunction with Christianity Today
* 2009
* Five-session curriculum on short-term missions geared toward adults
   (with suggestions for an additional five sessions)
* Includes a 91-minute DVD, Leader's Guide, and Participant's Guide
 

Where you can find it:


Why we recommend it:
The curriculum includes engaging video footage balanced between a documentary showing the experiences of two teams (one from North Carolina and one from Kenya) and interviews of missions experts.  Emphasis is placed not only on how a team should go, but also on how to process the experience, and what to do with it when returning home.

An excellent resource for teams not interested in a lot of orientation, as it concentrates on the deeper issues of cross-cultural missions, exposure to poverty, expectations from the team, hosts and community, and how dress and gifts can harm or bless interaction with locals.  It not only covers the practical prep stuff, but goes beyond that to equip teams emotionally and spiritually as they get ready to go ... and when they return.

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Serving With Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-Term Missions with Cultural Intelligence

* by David A. Livermore
* Baker Books ©2006, 192 pages
* Unpacks the assumptions related to short-term missions, and equips the reader so that the experience blesses the participant and respects the receiver.
 
Where you can find it:


Why we recommend it:
"A cautionary tale for opening our eyes to the reality of short-term missions, Western assumptions and how mistakes and naïveté of participants can hamper effectiveness and relationship building. Describes how to create Cultural IQ, and impacts information that every “goer” needs to know."

This book is a MUST READ for anyone going on short-term missions (especially leaders), and any church involved in international partnerships. It addresses the trend of short-term missions becoming more of a travel adventure than a missions ministry, and how these trips can be redeemed through a commitment of sensitivity and learning.

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Short-term Missions Workbook: From Mission Tourists to Global Citizens

* by Tim Dearborn
* InterVarsity Press ©2003
* Eight week course, 126 pages
* A workbook for anyone (team or individual) going on a short-term missions experience


Where you can find it:


Why we recommend it:
"Going on a short-term missions trip can be a life- and faith-transforming experience. However, an unprepared team can wreak havoc on each other and the people they intend to serve. To get the most out of such a missions trip, you need to go prepared. This workbook provides a great foundation: gaining a biblical perspective on the world, cross-cultural understanding, building good team dynamics, and preparing for reentry."

This is one of the best short-term orientation tools out there for teams. Great coverage of content. The book is adaptable to team members working through some of the sections as a group or individually.

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What Can I Do?  Making a Global Difference Right Where You Are

* by David Livermore 
* Zondervan ©2011
* Paperback, 202 pages



Where you can find it:

Why we recommend it:
What Can I Do?  forces the reader to look at the crushing ugliness of sin and pain in the world. But it also teaches that each of us as Christians has a calling to bring healing, hope, and reconciliation by being the hands and feet of Jesus. And we can do it right where we are with what God has given us and who He has made us to be. It offers practical stories, ideas, suggestions, questions, worksheets, and next steps to help readers navigate how they “make a difference right where they are."

Whereas many missions books give pie-in-the-sky ideals, Livermore gives doable suggestions firmly planted on the ground (but pointed towards heaven!). The book is as much of a practical “how to get started” guide, with many global and local stories from ordinary (and yet inspiring!) people, as it is a changer of worldview; seeing our everyday tasks and relationships as holy. For anyone coming back from a short term missions trip and feeling disappointed in with “regular” life, for anyone frustrated or burdened by an issue in the news or injustice, for anyone feeling like they should be more than they are, this book is a God-send!

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