To Go or To Give? - That's The Question

Many of us when we become interested in a need or a country decide we would like to go and help, which is an admirable intention. The question is, would it be better to go or to give from where we are? So what's in it for them, and what's in it for you?

Let's look at it from the aspiring missionary's point of view first.  If you go, you get to use your skills to help. If you stay, you get to send your money. From a skills justification point of view, we'd be fairly certain that the skill you have could probably be hired at or near the mission site. There would be some exceptions for sure, but some remote advice may help get things across the line. Then we need to question if "bang for buck" it's a good proposition to go if no one else can do the proposed task. Fairly clinical I know, but it's good to do some serious navel gazing some times :)

From the recipients' point of view, a bucket of money they can govern themselves may or may not be a good idea. If the mission is established with sufficient governance to ensure finds are used well then that's great; if not, there is risk of the funds being wasted or even misappropriated. A mitigation for this risk is again someone near the mission who can intervene and assist if necessary in an administrative manner.

So where does this leave us? Does it take the wind out of your sails? Does it look like only long term mission and not short term is viable? Let's think again. How do people get a taste for long term mission and confirm their calling? They get a taste by going on short term mission of course!

The bottom line here? I personally don't believe in short term mission trips as a "nice experience". I don't believe is "mission holidays". Going to a south sea island is a nice experience for sure. If you are going on holidays anyway, I guess it's good to help a bit. Going on a "mission trip" and treating it as a holiday too? That's more difficult.

To me, the best way to do mission is to really concentrate on mission. Go to serve. Go to confirm the impression in your heart that YHWH is calling you to a longer term, more effective commitment. It is my sincere opinion that time is short for this world. We can ignore the times; run and hide; or go and help. If you have not been on a mission trip, please pray about going. If you haved been, please pray about going for longer!