What is the vision for short-term missions at your church?

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The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

What is the vision for short-term missions at your church?

I said in a previous question that everybody should want to do short-term missions. One of the reasons for that is that we're a global church, and seeing the way the church functions outside of your own culture is enriching, broadening, strengthening, and deepening, and it gives you a bigger picture of God.

So one of the functions of short-term missions is all of those things: more of God, learning to trust him more, learning how he works in another culture, learning what missionary life is like, taking some risks yourself. All those things are good for us.

Secondly we want it to be good for missions. So part of the strategy is to make sure that missionaries want you to come before you go. That would be a part of it.

And, thirdly, many long-term missionaries were birthed through their experience in short-term missions. So for recruiting or inspiring more long-term missionaries, I think a program of short-term missions is important.

The world has become very small. It's a global village, and globalization is an increasingly obvious reality. And for us to be ethnocentric or culture-centric would show that we don't have an appreciation for the breadth of God's kingdom and the complexity of his church.

BOHNEL, or Ti-Bo which means "little kiss," is one of the youngest boys at Maison de Lumiere. His father brought him to the orphanage in tears after the death of his wife. He was unable to care for his nine children. When Ti-Bo came to the orphanage, he only weighed 12 pounds at four years old. Today, he is a healthy, vibrant, energetic, and intelligent little boy. We thank the Lord for his healing, health and growth. He brings much life to the orphanage and is loved by all the boys. He loves school and is one of the top students in his class. At playtime, he can be heard practicing English while he is swinging on the swing set. He also loves to worship and sing about Jesus. Please pray for Ti-Bo, that God would work dramatically in his life and that he would grow up to become a Godly young man.

WALGENS is a kind, energetic, intelligent young man. His big smile and funny sense of humor make him popular at the home and at school. He is a good student and enjoys studying. Very orderly and organized, he always keeps his clothes and bed neat and tidy. He loves to play with all the other boys and gets along well with everyone, no matter their age. He has been learning English and his English has improved tremendously in a very short period of time. He loves to play soccer and looks forward to being big enough to play with the older boys. He has a heart for Jesus and serving others. One of his favorite things is worshipping, singing praise songs, and attending church. Please keep Walgens in your prayers as he continues to grow in his young faith and in the knowledge of God's Word.