Preparing for Your Short-Term Missions Trip

A short term missions trip requires rigorous preparation. Whether you're going to a neighborhood nearby to witness, or you're going ten time zones away, you need to be prepared. You will be challenged spiritually, mentally, and physically. You will have to conform to differing cultural standards. A short term missions trip will grow and stretch your faith.

Spiritual Preparations

Obviously, if you are going to witness to someone, you must be prepared spiritually. If you're going to do so far from the comforts of home, in another culture, you must be doubly prepared!

You need to be ready spiritually to engage with another culture. How will you react to marijuana being smoked on the streets in Jamaica? What will your response be to rules that separate men and women? Can you handle seeing armed guards... perhaps even following you around to make sure you follow the governments rules? You also need to be prepared for the realities of spiritual warfare. satan* does not take it too kindly when we advance on what he thinks belongs to him. You should be prepared to deal with everything from discouragement and fear to an outright attack. Always remember, you are a child of the King, and Jesus won the victory over satan on the cross!! he* can take no more ground than you give him.

You will also endure demanding days, and live totally outside your comfort zone. On a short term missions trip you need to be fluid, willing to go with the opportunities God places before you. You must be submitted to God and to your group's leader. Don't try to be a lone wolf on a missions trip. If you have an idea you should voice it - but let the leader make the decision.

Evangelism is hard work! Know your part in the grand scheme of things, and what is expected of you. Will you be preaching? Working with children? Feeding people? Building? Even if your role isn't anticipated to be directly witnessing to a group of people, have a short message prepared anyway. Write down a few key Scriptures that you can speak about without notes. Know what the Word says about difficult issues, because people are likely to ask you!