"Abiding in the Word"

“Short Term Mission Trips”

        By the time of your reading this article brother Robert Martin and I, the Lord willing, will have already begun preaching and teaching the Word of God in the Solomon Islands. Our travels over approximately 7,000 miles and through at least three pacific island nations will have brought us to a land with many lost people and only a few faithful Christians. The brethren here cried out for someone to come and help them. I thank our elders for sending me to help Robert Martin in attempting to answer their call. 

A careful reading of the book of Acts, not to mention the epistles of Paul, reveals the following items:

First, the Gospel was designed to be preached in more than one place. We teach our children about “Paul’s missionary journeys.” These are important for us to learn. However, Peter, Silas, Barnabas, John Mark, and many others (including the Lord) also traveled from place to place in order to get the saving message of Christ out into the world, and to plant the church throughout the world (Colossians 1:23).

          Second, when the church was scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution, everywhere it went it preached (Acts 8). This is consistent with what the Lord told the eleven He wanted. He said that the Gospel would go to, “the end of the earth,” (Acts 1:8).

          Third, short term mission trips require a tandem of workers and supporters. In Acts 13:1-3, we read, “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ²As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

Mission work of any kind has always incurred financial outlay. Paul thanked churches like Philippi for supporting the mission work he did in different places (Philippians 4:15-20). I am thankful that our elders have chosen to finance the foreign mission trips that we engage in. This makes the church at Fairview the co-worker of any and all who come out here on the field. We become fellow-workers with God (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 3:9).

          Fourth, short term mission trips are highly intense and fast paced. The sheer amount of work that is done goes very quickly because the time is so brief. Workers often get tired and in some cases even physically sick from the pace that is kept out here. In Mark 6:30-31, Jesus had to call the twelve aside to rest a while due to the intensity of their work load. The same is often true on one of these trips. We rest a little while every day because we need it. Contrary to what some ill-informed brethren feel and occasionally say this is not a church paid, glorified, vacation on the high seas. For anyone who believes this, the challenge is hereby offered for them to, “come and see.”

          Finally, these trips MUST HAVE the prayers and encouragement of those of you at home.  In 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.” In his first letter to this same congregation, Paul simply said, “Brethren, pray for us,” (1 Thessalonians 5:25).  Both Robert and I would ask the same from each of you.

You are beloved and precious to us. We miss you. But, we are working hard for the Master. Lord willing, we will see you soon and report to you the good things the Lord was able to do here in the Solomon Islands.