Millions of people in the US go on Mission Trips. In fact,
it is estimated that over 1.5 million people from the United States participate in short-term mission trips every year. That is a lot of people! And those 1.5 million people spend close to $2 billion from these trips. The question is, do they have the impact sought?
The answer to this question is very hard because there are a lot of factors that influence each trip. Of course, every single group that goes on a mission trip wants to achieve their desired outcomes, but it is not often reached. Developing Our Work would like to suggest FIVE ways to get long-term impact from a short-term trip.
- Focus on holistic community development in a community rather than relief.
- View your trip as a small piece to a big puzzle.
- Seek to partner with the locals.
- Train your team before you go.
- Engage after you get home.
These FIVE simple ways will make a huge difference if you put them into practice as you go on a mission trip. Learn more about what holistic community development means, realize that your trip is a means to a great end, seek a partner, equip your people before they go and upon their return, and give continuity about the trip. By doing that, your trip will be more strategic.