"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:37-40

Mission work is not easy, but it is life-changing. It often requires sacrifice and a faith that calls us to move forward into the unknown and the unfamiliar. It is not an act of benevolence, not something that we do “for” someone or “to” someone. It is a response to the call of God on our lives to engage our world and to show the love and mercy of Jesus Christ to the least, the last and the lost.

Would you like to learn more? Call the church office at 724-327-5049.  No firm commitment will be asked for or required when you call. We simply want to provide details and answer questions so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.

We have probably all, at one time or another, questioned the value of short-term mission opportunities.  Are they a waste of resources and a distraction from our church’s core mission?  Is it just “poverty tourism?” Having had the privilege of participating in and leading short term trips I have come to appreciate the absolute value and necessity for this as an important outreach ministry of our congregation.  It is a vital component of our church’s’ discipleship strategy.  Here are seven reason why I think short-term missions are so important:

Creating awareness of the universal human experience

Mission trip participants are reminded that people are people. Whether they are across the street or around the world, people have the same needs. They want to know and be known. And they need Jesus. Participants come home from mission trips more mindful of the need to care for the people in their own community.

Understanding the challenges of serving in other cultures

There are unique challenges to serving in every community and culture. It’s one thing to talk about those challenges. It’s entirely different to get up close and see those challenges first hand. Being informed at this level gives trip participants the ability to be more informed advocates when they return home.

Assuming the roles of learner, servant, and helper

Often mission trip participants have a job where they are the expert or teacher or leader. Mission trips are a gift to these people because they provide the opportunity to be in the role of learner or servant or helper. Jesus said that we’re called be to the “servant of all,” and these trips give people the opportunity to actually do that.

Becoming more generous

The next best step following a short term mission trip is becoming a donor and advocate. The biggest way we can provide long-term “help” is to go home and figure out how to restructure our lives to be more generous. Seeing the needs first hand generates a depth of knowledge and empathy that no amount of spreadsheets, emotional videos, or glossy photos can generate. People get informed and motivated. And they become smarter and more generous with their financial resources.

Gaining clarity on our economic status

This is related to people becoming more generous, but it’s more personal. A well-executed short term mission trip makes people aware of the fact that they are among the rich minority in the world. Some people end up experiencing this as guilt, which can be a good start. But ultimately the hope is to move people beyond feeling bad to the place where they feel thankful that they have the opportunity to steward the resources God has given them.

Depending on God, maybe for the first time

Our culture is structured to be predictable, safe, and comfortable. It often removes the chance for people to be dependent on God because there is little opportunity for stuff to go wrong. Short term mission trips move people out of their comfort zones and force them to face the fact that they aren’t in control … maybe for the first time in their lives. This can give people greater clarity on their place in the world and helps to reset their relationship with Jesus.

Getting people out of their seats

A core part of engaging the people in our church is to get them out of their seats and engaged in the mission. These trips are a chance for people to serve, to give back, and to be part of what God is doing. This draws us closer and helps us to get more connected with our church.