Covenant News

Short-Term Mission Approach Evaluated

CHICAGO (November 29, 2000) - A review of the short-term mission program of the Evangelical Covenant Church was one of the key agenda items when a dozen representatives of Covenant Mission Connection (CMC) met here recently.

Participants represented the Department of World Mission and the following conferences: Canada, Central, East Coast, Great Lakes, North Pacific, Pacific Southwest and Southeast. Covenant Mission Connection coordinates mission trips to Alaska, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia and South Africa, as well as a variety of outreach opportunities in North America.

How Short-term Mission (STM) opportunities are constructed is crucial to their success, said Barbara Johnson, CMC director. "Without proper orientation, STM may unintentionally cement cultural and racial biases and perpetuate unhealthy relationships with the North American churches," she said. "When done properly with sensitivity - when 'missioners' go with an attitude of serving and learning - STM can be a tremendous blessing to the host as well as to the sender." An in-depth CMC mission trip curriculum has been developed and will be field-tested. One of the proposed names for the new curriculum is Don't Just Do It: Plan-it!

Returning short-term mission participants significantly contribute to the spiritual vitality of their home churches, Johnson observed. "They gravitate to places of service and help lead the church into a greater global awareness and commitment to both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission," she said. "Many discern God's calling and return as career missionaries as well. It is an exciting new era of doing missions, with fabulous cross-cultural opportunities available to every single church. CMC is your first stop from here to there.

For more information on short-term mission opportunities, contact Johnson at BarbaraWM@covoffice.org or visit the Department of World Mission page on the Covenant web site at www.covchurch.org.

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