I am a CRC Minister of the Word. My calling church is River Terrace CRC, in East Lansing, MI. I work for Resonate Global Mission in East Africa, training pastors.
Good post. Mission trips can be done well. I have critiqued them a lot, and rightly so. But on the other hand, they were formative in my own life, and they can be formative for the communities as well if done well. I hope that the Western churches can plan half as many or less short mission trips, but then those that they do could be done with very good preparation, a good strategy, and done with real partnership of the community.
Great post. My thoughts exactly. When we do start fundraising to go to another country, my hope is to get a few churches that we can grow a deep relationship with.
Great post Than. Some really good thoughts there. A good challenge for all us to think about how God has used and is using challenges in our lives that we would rather not have to deal with.
Posted in: God Loves Everyone: True, False or Maybe Both?
Excellent distinctions, thank you John. I found this helpful.
Posted in: Summer Missions Trips: It's Not All About You
Good post. Mission trips can be done well. I have critiqued them a lot, and rightly so. But on the other hand, they were formative in my own life, and they can be formative for the communities as well if done well. I hope that the Western churches can plan half as many or less short mission trips, but then those that they do could be done with very good preparation, a good strategy, and done with real partnership of the community.
Posted in: Fewer But Deeper Relationships
Great post. My thoughts exactly. When we do start fundraising to go to another country, my hope is to get a few churches that we can grow a deep relationship with.
Posted in: Seeking Displays of God’s Glory in Disabilities
Great post Than. Some really good thoughts there. A good challenge for all us to think about how God has used and is using challenges in our lives that we would rather not have to deal with.