3 of 3

Finally, I think it's high time we begin discussing the effects of STM on the other participants—the communities the trips are meant to serve, help, and evangelize. Out of the 40-some studies that we found published before 2004, only one interviewed "receivers" of STM. Before beginning this research, I hypothesized that STM were often disempowering to the communities that received them. I thought the communities would feel like they were not as smart, capable, or hard working as the North Americans, and they would end up discouraged.

However, in our interviews with over 80 families in Honduras—40 of whom had their house built by a STM group and 40 whose house had been built by a Christian organization—we could see no lasting negative effects on the families whose houses were built by a group; but no lasting positive effects either. All of the families were overjoyed with their houses, they thanked God for this incredible blessing, and many of them in both groups felt like the process of losing and then receiving a house had brought them closer to God. But the families whose homes were built by groups were no worse or better off than the others (see my study for more details). Once again, I think this reinforces my growing hunch that STMs by themselves do not produce lasting change in North Americans, Hondurans, or Kenyans. I think they need to be part of a larger framework—especially after the experience—that can translate a one-week high into lasting changes for all involved.

Once again I have hit my space limit with lots more to say but I will pass the baton back—what do you think, Robert, about the effects of most current STM trips on the "receivers" and how can we make them better?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Kurt

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

See our earlier coverage of Ver Beek's work, "Study Questions Whether Short-Term Missions Make a Difference."

Ver Beek's study, along with a PowerPoint synopsis and bibliography, are available at his Calvin College site.

Ver Beek presented his paper at the 2005 missiology conference at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Earlier parts in this series include:

Who Gets 'Socially Rich' from Short-Term Missions? | How communities feel about themselves after receiving a group may be more important than the number of latrines dug or homes built. (July 8, 2005)

Mission Trips or Exotic Youth Outings? | Not everything in your church's missions budget may be about missions. (July 7, 2005)

Do Short-term Missions Change Anyone? | Or do one week's good intentions fall flat without a concerted effort to follow through? (July 6, 2005)

Are Short-Term Missions Good Stewardship? | More than 2 million teens go on such trips ever year, and giving may exceed that given to long-term missionaries. But is short-term ministry built to last? (July 5, 2005)

Study Questions Whether Short-Term Missions Make a Difference | Missionaries don't keep giving after they return; hosts prefer money to guests, Calvin sociologist finds. (June 20, 2005)

STEM Int'l has more information on short-term missions, including missions opportunities. The ministry will launch Mission Maker Magazine in late September.

Peterson's "Maximum Impact Short Term Missions," "Is Short-Term Mission Really Worth the Time and Money?" and "Can Short-Term Mission Really Create Long-Term Missionaries" can be purchased at the STEM International site.

Earlier Christianity Today coverage of short-term missions includes:

Agencies Announce Short-Term Missions Standards | Similar codes have been established in Great Britain and Canada. (Sep. 30, 2003)

McMissions | Short-termers have their place, but not at the expense of career missionaries. A Christianity Today editorial by Miriam Adeney (Nov. 11, 1996)

See also Marshall Allen's October 2001 article for FaithWorks magazine, "Mission tourism?"

This American Life, a public radio show, spent a week with the youth group from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Chicago as they took a missions trip to West Virginia.

first page |  3 of 3

share this page

July (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49