Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions

In this episode we’ll be featuring a podcast interview of Nathan Nelson, one of the authors featured in that book. Recently Ashley Goad and Wil Bailey asked Nathan to be on their podcast, called the Broken Banquet, to talk about Nathan’s work in missions, missions pastoring, and about his writing. You’ll find a link to the original interview in the shownotes for this episode, but for our purposes here is an abridged version of that conversation.Broken Banquet PodcastBethany Community ChurchBethany MissionsKeywords: Reverse missions, global missions, Rwanda, World Relief, mission partners, short-term missionWebsite: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

Recently, Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke asked Forrest Inslee to be a guest on their podcast, called Think Global, Do Justice. Among other things, they about the book he co-edited calledRe-Imagining Short-Term Missions. They also talked about other interesting things like innovative missions practices at Bethany Community Church in Seattle, and even the story of how Forrest came to adopt my daughter when he was a missionary in Turkey. So here is an abridged version of that conversation with Phil and Brandon on the Think Global, Do Justice podcast.Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions websiteThink Global, Do Justice podcast, unabridged interview with ForrestThink Global, Do Justice podcastEarthkeepers podcast, with Forrest InsleeBethany Community ChurchKeywords: God's family, family of Christ, global church, copowerment, Gaza, social justice, environmental justice, reverse missions, adoption, Turkish churchWebsite: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

What would happen if short-term mission trips were built around values of mutual transformation—instead of the usual top-down, one-way dynamic of “service”? What if Christians in the global north really believed that their brothers and sisters in the global south could help them understand God and the world in new, liberating ways? Or that short-term trips could be opportunities for visitors and hosts alike to be changed and challenged by one another through mutually respectful, coequal exchange?In this episode, we'll be talking to Dr. Jay Matenga of the indigenous Māori people in New Zealand. Jay is a theologian of missions practice who serves as the Director of the World Evangelical Alliance Global Witness Department and Executive Director of its Mission Commission. He is also one of the authors of the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, and in his essay—called “The Mutuality Motivation”—he makes the case that the future of short-term missions will be built on the courage, humility, and vulnerability that allows people from different cultures to have a challenging, changing impact one another so that all might become more like Jesus.Jay Matenga, World Evangelical AllianceJay's webpageRe-Imagining Short-Term MissionsMost of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

What if short-term missions were focused on long-term objectives?  What if short-term teams began to measure their success not on the scope of the work projects completed or the number of people evangelized, but instead on the establishment of authentic, collaborative, long-term relationships between communities of Christ followers in different locations around the globe? And might it be possible for Christ followers in wealthier nations to become humble enough to acknowledge their need of churches in less developed countries, and even to become the receivers short-term teams from those countries?In this episode, Forrest talks with Robert Katende, founder of SOM Chess Academy—a ministry to impoverished youth in Uganda. Notably, Robert is the chess coach whose life and ministry were the subject of the Disney film Queen of Katwe. He is also a writer for the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions; in his chapter called “Reframing Short-Term Trips through Authentic Relationships”, he makes the case that the most important function of short-term mission teams is not the work they do or the resources they bring; instead, short-term missions should be understood as the platform for building long-term relationships between communities of Christ-followers in different parts of the world. In his work with Ugandan youth, Robert models the idea that churches and ministries in developing nations can and should be supporting churches in developed nations. To learn more about this sort of “reverse missions”, we’ll also be talking to Venita and Sidney Gardner, who have worked with Robert to adapt the SOM Chess Academy model of ministry from Kampala, to their own context in Baltimore.  Robert KatendeSOM Chess AcademyQueen of Katwe—Disney MovieThe Board Room Chess--BaltimoreMA International Community Development, Northwest UniversityMost of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

What happens when people who participate in short-term missions do it for the wrong reasons? How much damage can be done by short-term teams when they haven’t taken an honest inventory of their own fears and prejudices—when they haven’t done the necessary heart-work in advance?In this episode, we’ll look for answers to these questions as we talk to CJ Quartlbaum—a writer and speaker from Brooklyn, NY. His current work focuses on theology, culture, and personal development—and in particular, he advocates for more accurate and honest teaching of Black History than what is currently taught in schools. CJ is also one of the authors featured in the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, and his essay—called “When Non-Believers Go on Mission Trips”, draws on his experiences hosting short-term teams—mostly from white suburbs—who travel to New York ostensibly to serve in the name of missions.  More often than not, though, he has seen some of these visitors cause hurt and disruption when they act not out of genuine Christ-like love and humility—but more out of self-interest, unexamined bias, and even deep-seated racism. CJ QuartlbaumRe-Imagining Short-Term MissionsMost of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

Why do people go on short-term mission trips? Are the things we do in the name of “missions” actually reflective of the Great Commission? If we’re honest, how many of these trips are really more about the personal transformation of those who are sent?  And if we admit that our primary motive for short-term missions has to do with personal transformation, is that motive actually a bad thing?  In this episode Forrest talks with Dr. Greg Burch, professor and chair of Global Studies at Multnomah University. Even though Greg has devoted his career to studying the problems that are part of short-term missions culture, he is honest about the fact that the short term trips he went on as a youth were deeply transformative for him. So, even now he wrestles with the question: Is our own personal transformation a legitimate motivation to go on trips that we are calling “missions”? Greg BurchMA in Global Development and Justice at Multnomah UniversityMA International Community Development, Northwest UniversityWebsite: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

What happens when visitors to other culture contexts remain unaware of their own personal agendas? How might short-term mission trips be transformed into opportunities for learning and listening–and for putting aside assumptions? What if humility and teachability became the hallmarks of all mission trips?In this episode, Forrest talks with Austin Robinson, a full-time missionary and Executive Director of Eternal Anchor, a ministry in Mexico that is dedicated to serving children with special needs. Austin is also one of the authors of the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, and his essay—called “Re-Symbolizing the White Van”—makes the case that the kinds of short-term visitors who actually help more than hurt are those who come with an attitude of humility and teachability—and a willingness to come alongside locals who are already doing the work of Jesus.Eternal Anchor MinistriesMA International Community Development, Northwest UniversityMost of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

What happens to our valuation of people when we think of them as “the mission field”? When we relegate churches to that sort of box, is it really possible to think of them as our equals, or to see them as potential partners in service? In this episode, you’ll hear from both Forrest Inslee and Angel Burns, co-editors of  the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, as they describe two crucial themes that can help re-orient Christ-followers who seek a more just, effective way forward for STM. We’ll explain why thinking in terms of the global church—and in terms of what we call copowerment—can help us develop a new paradigm for short-term missions. Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

When it comes to short-term missions, how can we learn about history and culture of the people we go to serve—and even more importantly, how can we begin to build strong working relationships with our hosts before we go? How do we cultivate the humility among team members that helps us to work quietly alongside the people we visit, rather than assuming a role in the spotlight? In this episode, Forrest talks with two of the authors from the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions—David Sanon and Stephanie Robinson of the nonprofit Konbit Haiti. As an organization that has hosted many short-term teams, they have learned that the challenge of re-imagining short-term missions requires that short-term visitors learn to “stand in the back” as they serve cross culturally, rather than assume roles of leadership or expertise. (A note about the voices you’ll hear in this episode: In addition to sharing her own views, Stephanie will translate David’s responses as well.)Konbit HaitiNorthwest University MA in International Community DevelopmentWebsite: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

Are short-term mission trips really the best way to invest a church’s resources? If sending churches have come to rely on mission trips as a way to encourage personal growth for those being sent, what are alternative ways to achieve those goals that are less costly and closer to home? If the current models of short-term missions aren’t working, then what SHOULD we be doing? In this episode, Forrest sits down with Dr. Miriam Adeney, and expert in missions and cross-cultural ministry and the author of many books on the subjects. In her view, the challenge of re-imagining short term missions is a matter of re-directing the good motives that churches have for sending team; its also about collaborating with all members of the global church to cocreate better ways for churches in every part of the world to deploy their respective strengths to make disciples of all nations. Dr. Adeney at Regent College, and Seattle Pacific University (you’ll find her book list on this site)Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

If you are wondering whether this is a podcast for you, check out this short introduction episode. We seek to answer two basic questions: What have we been doing in the name of short-term missions? And what ought we to be doing in the future?This podcast is intended to help you and your faith community to answer these important questions.   If you’ve been searching for podcasts about short-term missions, chances are you already suspect that what most of the church calls “short-term missions” doesn’t exactly line up with what we read in the bible about missions. If you are anything like me—or like any of the people you’ll hear in this podcast—you probably think that there’s got to be a better way. Well we think so too, and that’s what this podcast is all about: Imagining better ways to engage the world and to play the part God wants us to play in the wider mission of the church all over the world.   The people we’ll feature in this podcast are calling for increased creativity, more humility and mutuality, and more attention to context and culture. These are folks who have begun experimenting with new approaches to short-term missions--approaches that challenge the status quo and offer new ways forward. This podcast is a platform for these visionaries who are calling for better ways for the church to engage the needs of the world. By sharing their experiences, our hope is to foster rethinking and creative re-imagination about the ways that the global body of believers might work together on a whole new basis. Most of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617

Can we honestly speak about short-term mission “partnerships” if one partner is always the giver, and the other always a receiver?  What makes a sending church assume they know what is best for the people they want to serve—even when their well-meaning efforts sometimes cause more harm than good? What is it that makes those on the receiving end of foreign teams and resources so afraid to speak up, when they know better than anyone what their communities really need? Forrest talks with Emmanuel Karegyesa, a Pastor with the Anglican Church of Rwanda, and a community development practitioner with HOPE International in the East and Central Africa Region. Emmanuel is also a writer for the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions; in his chapter called “Working Side by Side: A Better Way Forward in Short-Term Missions”, he and his co-author Tom Rakabopa insist that there is great potential for short-term missions--but only if sending churches learn how to truly listen to their hosts—who are the experts on their own cultural contexts—and only if those on the receiving end find the courage to speak up and speak into the lives of their short-term guests.Emmanuel KaregyesaAnglican Church of RwandaHope InternationalTom RakabopaMost of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.Website: https://reimaginingstm.comPublisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missionsEmail: reimaginingstm@gmail.com Instagram: @reimaginingstm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617