And therein lies a problem. Some see short-termers as actually counterproductive to the goal of world evangelization. What is most needed, however, is clear recognition of the difference between serious short-term programs and glorified overseas sightseeing trips. Based on my experience in Operation Mobilization, let me suggest seven principles for highly effective short-term missions, which I believe embody many features of Jesus' earthly ministry. Clear and Prayerful Strategies.
Many good models exist for short-term ministry.
Examples include Scripture and Christian literature distribution and assistance in the construction of church, medical, and educational facilities. Regular group intercessory prayer before going to the field helps discern God's strategy, making the teams better able to adapt as He directs. Prayer undergirded the ten-person team which headed toward Novosibirsk, Siberia, for a summer of outreach in 1991. Eighty visas had been applied for, but only ten were approved. The team prayed for and recruited bilingual translators from the local university, only one of whom was a Christian.