Brief Missions
July 11, 2006
I just returned on Saturday from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with one of our mission teams after nine days in the Villa Mella area of that city.
I know that there are some who have openly questioned the value of short-term mission trips of less than a month or so. I think I understand why: change takes time, relationships are the context for ministry and it takes time to build relationships, follow-up is crucial but nearly impossible for short term teams, etc.
Still, after this trip, I am excited about what can be done in a week. I think about Philip in Acts 8, how God used him in brief encounters with Simon the Magician and with the Ethiopian. He wasn’t with the Ethiopian a day, and yet God used him. Amazing stuff, but only possible by God’s hand.
In the short time we were in the DR, we were overwhelmed by the needs there, but I still believe that God strengthened at least two churches there during out time with them and our prayer is for that work to continue.
