Fellowship Hall

Leaving a Lasting Impression

Rarely does a day pass without images of hunger, poverty, suffering and humanitarian crises being paraded across our television screens or newspaper pages. But even as we view the images and hear the stories, the reality of that hardship can still seem quite distant and abstract.

By providing a bridge that spans language, culture and economic circumstances, short-term mission trips (STMs) aim to go beyond ‘voluntourism’ or merely providing an eyewitness to the daily reality in many developing nations.

This, says Kara Kuipery of Missionary Ventures Canada (MVC), is one of the key reasons STMs are so crucial and why thousands of Canadians take part in mission trips each year.

“Once an individual goes on a mission trip to a developing country, they come home with a completely new perspective on global poverty and a higher awareness of the needs in their own community,” she says.

While criticized for spending money that could be used on the ‘home front,’ Kuipery says mission trips have never been more affordable. Additionally, one cannot put a price tag on the lessons learned.

Kara Kuipery

Each year HDCH supports the efforts of Western Christian Academy and Youth with a Mission (YWAM), both long-term groups whose work in Belize aligns with Hamilton District’s vision. By partnering with them, the school is able to leave a lasting imprint on the country.

When STMs support a long-term objective, Van Kampen believes it’s truly worthwhile. “Our mission trips help to raise funds for that ministry that normally would not be raised,” he says. Additionally, “they stretch our students to grow and trust God in different cultures and circumstances.

Each student raised $1750 for this year’s March Break trip to Belize; of that, $600 was directed to local building projects.

Essentially the students paid to work during their spring vacation. Not only did they pour a concrete sidewalk at the YWAM base in hopes that the community might use it for skateboarding and walking; they also built a foundation for a new classroom at Western Christian Academy. A Christian high school located in a small village, Western’s tagline is “Changing a nation, one classroom at a time.”

“Their desire is to bring Jesus Christ to the students by teaching the high-school curriculum of Belize,” explains Van Kampen.

Despite this being his third visit, the principal says, “I was energized by this trip! It is so good to see students working hard to make a difference in this country. Devotional times became very meaningful; I saw students growing closer to God and each other.”

Last year HDCH sent a team for an extended three month mission, part of a co-operative education course; they hope to continue offering it in the future. As well, the school plans to host a team of students from Belize over the next year.

“Short-term missions are important as they help our students develop a missional focus that goes far beyond just their school years, but shapes their thinking and priorities for their entire lives,” states Van Kampen.

George Van Kampen

“The short-term mission trips I’ve participated in through Worldwide Christian Schools (WWCS) really helped me gain a fuller understanding of God’s worldwide call to His people,” says VanAndel.

“If we grow up in cozy southern Ontario and never realize what following Christ means to people outside of this area or even our own church, we’ll never have a full understanding of how God interacts with His people in their specific walks of life.

This summer VanAndel was in the Solomon Islands for eight weeks with Wycliffe Bible Translators, where he helped with distributing translated Bibles and promoting literacy. “I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to gain some valuable cross-cultural experience through my earlier short-term mission trips,” he says.

HANDS is a unique initiative by WWCS to not only raise funds for the construction of school facilities in needy countries, but to assist with the actual building of the schools. A new development, it has grown from two teams in 2003 to anywhere between 25 and 30 today.

Andrew VanAndel shares a cola with a group of boys in Nicaragua during a mission trip with Hamilton-based Worldwide Christian Schools

“Not only do team members come back inspired and passionate about missions,” says WWCS programs coordinator Michele Ludwig, “they also begin to see how Christian education is one of the most practical and effective ways to make an impact and spread the gospel."

This year more than 20 teams will travel to Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, South Africa and Zambia.

Ludwig is careful to point out that the groups develop a partnership with each country, versus taking over. “We always strive to protect the vision and culture of the people we serve,” she says.

As a result, HANDS touches lives wherever it goes. “Participants can be certain the fundraising and work they do provides hope (more students now have access to Christ-centred education),” shares Ludwig.
“This is an investment that makes a long-term impact in a community or country and makes an eternal difference for those who come to know their Saviour.”

Michele Ludwig

“I only believe in STM trips if groups are willing to look beyond their own purposes, and where long-term benefits for all those involved are considered,” she clarifies from her office in Burlington.

In other words, Sybenga says, she does not approve of ‘drive-by’ projects which consist of writing a cheque, taking plenty of pictures and returning home with a new experience to jot on one’s resume. If done right, she adds, STMs can be opportunities to learn, grow and transform. Specifically, they can offer opportunities to grow in one’s faith and one’s understanding of mission and development work—to discover that God is “bigger than the box we tend to put Him in;” to grapple with some of the bigger issues of poverty, justice and HIV/AIDS, and look for ways to respond; to learn about the people and culture of a country; to learn how our agencies engage in ministry, and to join with a local church’s initiatives.

“For youth in particular, we hope that STM trips will generate a desire for life-long service and possibly see missions as a career choice,” says Sybenga.

“I think it’s important for people to be engaged in any kind of service—either at home or abroad. Not only do we have a lot to offer, but we also have a lot to learn from our brothers and sisters around the globe.”

Ken Vanderlaan is a founder and leader of the ‘Carpenteros and Friends’, a group born at Calvary Christian Reformed Church (Flamborough) that has grown to include other congregations and denominations. He agrees with Sybenga and encourages his STM teams to Honduras and El Salvador to be wrapped in a ‘servant frame of mind’ from start to finish.

Since their first trip in 2001, the Carpenteros and Friends have consistently looked for ways to build lasting relationships and deliver long-term benefits to the communities they serve.  Mission trip participants are actively involved in a September sports celebrity dinner and February Valentine’s dinner, with proceeds supporting micro-credit cooperatives, legal and justice work, literacy and health training, and education ranging from kindergarten to university.  By working with established Christian agencies in Honduras, the Carpenteros are able to identify and partner in projects that are based on the priorities of Honduran communities.

Carol Sybenga

The Carpenteros put all short-term mission trip participants through a structured pre-trip orientation process aimed at dispelling North American biases, including the mentality that suggests ‘we’ have the answers to solve ‘their’ problems.

“If the goal is to bring about long-term change, then it is essential to focus on ‘serving’ rather than ‘solving’ and on creating opportunity without fostering a dependency on charity,” says Vanderlaan.  “We never take control or ownership of their problems, but we offer to become partners in addressing those projects and needs the community has determined are their priorities."

Among their ‘best practices’ the Carpenteros strive to billet participants at homes within the community they are serving, and put a high emphasis on working, playing and worshipping with local residents. Mission team participants are paired into ‘prayer partners’ and daily devotions maintain a focus on having a the mindset of a ‘servant’.

Most of all, says Vanderlaan, mission trips provide the opportunity for participants to learn from some of the world’s greatest teachers – those who place their reliance on God as they struggle with poverty and injustice on a constant basis.    ■