A Program for Congregation-Based Short-Term International Evangelistic Campaigns

The Problem. The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a program to facilitate short-term mission trips originating in North American Division congregations and conducted in cooperation with local members in international settings, especially outside North America. The Method. A short-term mission trip conducted in 1999 by the Florence and Reedsport, Oregon, Seventh-day Adventist churches and an ongoing short-term mission program being conducted by members of the Medford, Oregon, church, all to locations in India, were selected for evaluation. Selection was based on similarity to the program developed for the research and convenience of access to the congregations by the researcher. A subjective questionnaire designed by the researcher and personal interviews were used in soliciting feedback from North American participants. Telephone interviews were used in soliciting feedback from church workers in India affected by the respective campaigns. Feedback from both groups was compared and contrasted for a subjective evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. The Results. The components of the proposed program were affirmed by the responses of the Indian interviewees and the comparison of their responses with those of the North American participants. Conclusions. The research affirmed the value of training for prospective short-term missionaries, including opportunity for examination of cultural preconceptions. Subjects’ responses seemed to support the recommendation of the program that members be assigned duties on the basis of their demonstrated spiritual gifts. The need for North American groups preparing for mission travel to make concerted efforts at clear communication and coordination with believers in the target area is supported by the research. The propriety of considering the ambient culture in determining the technology to be used in evangelism is affirmed by the program evaluation. The inclusion of funding for local evangelistic workers and church buildings in the campaign budget is supported by the research. The research supports the concept and practice of holistic mission when applied in harmony with other mission principles