A vacation from my problems ... you bet I will.
Dave Ramsey addresses short-term missions trips while still in debt. Of great value is the distinction he makes between two kinds of mission trips. (HT Oilcan)No "Christian Vacations" While You Get Out Of Debt
Billy asks if you can still go on mission trips while you’re on Baby Step 2. Dave says there are two types of mission trips: Christian vacations and true mission trips.
QUESTION: Billy asks if you can still go on mission trips while you’re on Baby Step 2. Dave says there are two types of mission trips: Christian vacations and true mission trips.
ANSWER: Well, Billy, there are two kinds of missions trips. There are missions trips that are Christian vacations. And everybody wants to go on a mission trip, and it’s a little Christian vacation, and we feel like we did something good, so we don’t feel too guilty for going on vacation. But it’s vacation. And it’s vacation with a Bible. I know that because I’ve watched my brothers and sisters in Christ do that for years. And no, you’re not going on that kind of a mission trip when you’re in debt. Get yourself straightened up, kiddo.
The second kind of mission trip is you have a strong enough walk with God that you are 1000% sure He’s telling you that this is something you’re supposed to do. Dude, I’m not getting in the way of that. Go do it. But this doesn’t need to be some little cute thing on the beaches, and we’re going to go down and minister to the crabs. No. Sorry.
posted by GUNNY @ 15:03
2 comments
2 Comments:
Hey Gunny, what about a working mission trip?
Anyway I am just blog surfing. I knew a couple real Gunny's only liked one!
Hang in there, seems like a good blog. Will have to locate Plano Texas.
Great question, Jack, and thanks for surfing through.
Actually, the more I talk with career cross-cultural missionaries about their experiences with short-term mission trips, the more I become convinced that specialized (e.g., medical or dental or some such) mission trips are the most legitimate and the least likely to be a poor use of resources.
I don't want to sound unkind, but the amount of money spent on what seems like the majority of short-term mission trips could be so much more effective if given to those on the field.
In other words, and using rounded figures, let's say you have 10 people who go on a trip whereby it costs $3,000 each. Off the record, at least, I'd bet a dime to a doughnut that the missionaries would find the $30,000 more useful to their short and long-term objectives.
That being said, I know the trips can have a profound impact on the person who goes, with regard to envisioning God's passion for the nations, so I don't want to disregard that benefit.
With regard to a working mission trip, in particular, assuming you are talking along the lines of building something, etc ... In those situations I can see how a team could actually be a rather significant help to missionaries lacking "manpower" to get some big tasks accomplished. They really could do in a week what might take months for a church planter or pastor or missionary to do, assuming he had the skills & time to do it at all.
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