A missions trip tends to be an amazing experience. People step out of their comfort zones, see God work in miraculous ways, and meet some truly wonderful people! However, Satan tends to get in the way, and he is good at what he does. He is good at taking the challenges and legitimate hurdles that come with any large-scale trip and making them appear insurmountable. The end result is that there are many good people who end up missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Here are a few of those common challenges, and a few good responses for the naysayers.
1. They’re busy
Of course, this is the one everybody uses because there is rarely a time when it doesn’t apply. There are always a number of things vying for our attention - many of which are worthwhile. Everything from visiting a second cousin to doing yard work to learning Spanish can add to the steady stream of demands on our limited time. However, there is one simple truth that is hard, though necessary, to accept: we always make time for the things that are important to us. If we can’t “find time” for something, it’s usually because it’s not important enough to make a priority.
2. They don’t have the finances at the moment
Anytime you make an overseas trip, it’s going to be expensive. That’s the fact of the matter. Most of the time, though, people underestimate the cost of not having to think about where they are going to eat next, or whether their room is being taken care of, or being able to see some of the most significant elements of a ministry. Also, this raises the question of what is the worth of actually having an experience. Nothing we can tell you can come close to the wallop of smells and the power of seeing the smiles of real people, and feeling the Costa Rica sun on your skin. And when you see the need... there are no words for it. Again, it’s one thing to talk about it; it’s another to see children with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks… and still see the joy of the Lord shining from their eyes.
(Also, most people underestimate the amount they spend on lattes at Starbucks, or how much they spend on fast food every year. Those are simple cuts that could go long ways in allowing people to experience the amazing benefits of a missions trip.)
3. They would rather go someplace nicer – like Europe or the Bahamas or Aruba
A missions trip is not a vacation. While it’s easy to think of it as one because it has many of the staples – a unique country for a week or so with many wonderful experiences and lots of developing friendships – a missions trip is different for a couple of reasons: A) it’s not for your benefit and B) it’s not about your enjoyment of the place. While the wonderful end result is that most people do have the benefit of sunshine and tourist attractions, those are not the most important things. They are just the kindnesses of God for our willingness to be faithful. But they should not be expected things. The expectations should, in fact, be the opposite: to visit the worst places, to work as hard as we have ever worked in our lives, and as a result, to grow in dynamic, powerful ways. A missions trip is not a vacation: it’s an opportunity to be God’s floodlight in a pitch-black place.
God has good desires for His people. He desires for His people to experience enjoyment and the happiness of the moment. But God is more concerned in what’s inside us: the growth of character and purpose. A missions trip is often not without the former, but its essence is in the latter. Do not be dismayed if this sounds hard; mountains are hard to climb, and that challenge is part of the reason they afford spectacular views.
One fantastic missions trip opportunity is our upcoming Summer Vision Tour, July 28 through August 1, hosted by our president, Chip Anderson. If you’re interested in the possibility of at least seeing what you might be getting yourself into, please email drchip@cfci.org or visit the link below.
Written by John Michael Den Hartog
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