Short-term missions have taken over the mission efforts of many U.S. churches. The amount of people, time, and resources given to these projects grows every year. Recent studies showed 1.5 million U.S. Christians participating in short-term missions each year, spending in excess of $2 billion annually. (You might look at an older article “The Cost of Short-term Missions“)

This is where our churches are increasingly giving the funds they set aside for missions. While the argument is often made that these trips increase missions awareness and missions giving over the longterm, studies have not borne out this claim. (See, for example, the study “The Impact of Short-Term Missions: A Case Study of House Construction in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch“)

In an ideal world, short-term missions would be a welcome add-on to existing mission efforts. In reality, they are often a replacement for such; funds given to short-term missions often result in a decrease in funding given to longterm works.

These facts should make us want to be as efficient as we can be when planning and executing short-term missions. They aren’t going away any time soon, nor should they. Our task needs to be one of good stewardship, making the most of the time, money, and other resources dedicated to these trips. (I’d recommend “Why Most Mission Trips Are A Waste Of Time” as a decent starting place)

Let’s not just say, “What can we do in Whoville?” Let’s consider how to most effectively use God’s resources to serve in Whoville and around the world.