Why most mission trips are a waste of time
Youth mission trips are a common activity in churches around the country–each year, countless enthusiastic youth groups travel to exotic locations to build churches, share the Gospel, and learn about service. How could such well-intentioned activities be a waste of time?
That’s the question raised by Noel Bacchetti of the Center for Student Missions. In Why Most Mission Trips Are a Waste of Time (And How to Make Sure Yours Isn’t), Noel looks at common features of mission trips that sabotage their effectiveness and hamper their ministry potential. Noel doesn’t suggest that we abandon the idea of mission trips, but that we carefully rethink the way in which we do them, and offers some practical ideas for doing so.
It’s a sobering piece, but well worth reading–especially if your church or youth group has a mission trip planned for this spring or summer!
