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SHORT-TERM
TRIPS TO THE FIELD
 Short-term
missions give you the opportunity to serve
side by side with missionaries and gain cross-cultural ministry
experience. It will be an experience of a lifetime! Over 80% of
those who apply to serve as career missionaries have been on a short-term
missions trip. Recent reports indicate that American churches spend
more than $1 billion a year on short-term missions!
WHAT
IS A SHORT TERM MISSION?
By "short-term," we are referring to a visit to
the field for less than one year. Those who wish to serve for one
to three years, we call "associate missionaries."
Those interested in serving for multiple terms, we call "career
missionaries."
WHAT CAN
A PERSON DO ON A SHORT-TERM TRIP?
What you do on your missions trip depends upon your intent, your
ability and the nature of the field you are visiting.
- Your Intent:
Some people who visit the field short-term want to merely
visit with a missionary family whom they have been supporting
or for whom they have been praying. Others want exposure to ministries
on the field to evaluate whether God would have them serve with
that team. Still others want to be immersed into the culture to
prepare themselves for career service in that country.
- Your Ability:
Obviously language is a huge consideration. Most short-term missions
by Americans are to countries in which English is spoken; in that
case, you can speak, sing, do skits, etc. If English is not spoken
and you don't know the language, you have basically three options:
ministering through an interpreter, doing hands-on ministry such
as construction, or having a prayer ministry.
 HOW
MUCH MIGHT THIS COST?
The cost will vary from country to country depending on airfares
and cost of living in that nation. You will want to consider raising
funds for airfare, ground travel, food and lodging, and sightseeing.
- Airfares
are more expensive during that country's holiday/summer season.
- Ground
travel expense may be non-existent if you are flying into
the city where you will be staying or will be picked up by the
missionary. If you are coming as a team, you may need to rent
a van for transportation. Gasoline tends to be much more expensive
when you leave America.
- Food and
lodging
may vary depending upon where and how long you will be staying
- whether at a hotel, missionary home, etc.
- Sightseeing
funds help defer the cost most visitors incur in going to see
nearby sites that are famous. This should NOT be the main reason
you take a short-term mission - to have a sanctified vacation!
HOW CAN I
GET INVOLVED?
If you or your church is interested in going on a short-term missions
trip to one of BMW's fields, please complete the appropriate form
and email or mail it to BMW International Office.
- For teams:
use the Preliminary Team Information form
(available in Word
and PDF)
- For individuals:
use the Preliminary Short-Term Information form
(available in Word
and PDF)
Thank you for
your interest and heart for missions. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact Jim
Brown, Director of Mobilization.
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