Can You Go on a Short Term Mission Trip without Doing Harm?

Jesus vs. America

The popularity of short term missions continues to increase year after year, and for many it has become a regular part of our Christian practice. And yet, there are so many ways in which our efforts can cause harm, not only to those with whom we visit, but even to the team that is making the effort. In this episode we focus on the reasons why short term mission trips can be harmful and question whether the practice should continue. We discuss examples of the ways this harm comes about and the American values and attitudes we inadvertently bring into short term missions. We end the episode with helpful tips for those who wish to continue to engage with short term missions, referencing the book When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, whose work we suggest should be a prerequisite for any short term team traveling domestically or internationally.