Did you know that American churches and Christian individuals spend a total of about two billion dollars annually to send around 1.5 million people on short-term mission trips?  That is a huge investment and not all of it is well spent.  Some may wonder if short-term trips are worth the expense and energy put into them.  Would those funds be better invested in long-term missions where people have learned the language and culture and are in many ways better equipped to have a more significant impact than a team coming for just a week or two?

At Browncroft we believe that support of both short-term and long-term missions is important and that both need to be done with careful thought and prayer to be effective in glorifying God and helping extend His kingdom throughout the earth.  Here are some principles that guide our planning and preparation for short-term mission trips:

• We recognize the experience of our ministry partners where we send teams, knowing that they have a better understanding of the people, the needs, and the challenges, so we plan trips together with them.  We seek their input on what would be helpful using the gifts and skills of Browncroft people.  We do not come as heroes but as servants.

• We value the tremendous opportunity that short-term mission trips have to impact lives – not only for those we go to serve, but also for those who go.  That’s why we try to be careful in preparing leaders as well as teams.  We want to help the people we send go with open eyes to see what God is already doing in other parts of the world and to have a greater appreciation of Him, seeing Him through the eyes of another culture.  We want to help our teams process what they experience and to consider next steps in their own lives, as well as how we as a church and as individuals can be better ministry partners and advocates for those we visit.

• We understand that people have different gifts, skills, and interests, so we aim to provide a variety of trip opportunities that can engage people in meaningful ways. Over the years, we’ve sent teams to North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

• We appreciate that spiritual growth and discipleship are key components of a short-term mission trip. Those who go typically return with a greater understanding of the need to give and how to pray more intelligently about the people, challenges, and opportunities they saw. They also gain discernment about what steps God might be leading them to next. While there is great value in short-term trips, we also want to have an appropriate balance with resourcing long-term missions.  In 2026, for example, we spent approximately five times as much on long-term missions as we did short-term mission trips.

• We know that this is Christ’s mission and not our own, so we need the prayer support of the congregation as we plan, as we go, and as we return.  Not everyone can go.  Some can participate by giving.  All can support through prayer.

At our informational Pray Give Go meetings on Sunday, October 25th at 10:30 or at Noon (pick the time that works for you), we plan to present approximately 12 to 15 trip opportunities to various parts of the world in 2027.  Whether you are interested in going this coming year or in the future, we hope to see you there. Please RSVP below so we can plan for seating and light refreshments. If you can’t make it to one of these meetings, please contact me at gary.kneezel@gmail.com for further information.