The fourth of five in our series of blog posts highlighting the newest editions of From Mission to Mission Publications:
Understanding Short-Term Mission: A Guide for Leaders and Participants
by Julie Lupien
Blog post by Julie Lupien, author and From Mission to Mission Director
For most of our history at FMTM our only focus was on re-entry after years of serving in another culture. This changed when one of our Re-entry Workshop participants expressed that he wished he’d had our workshop after a Spring Break service trip he went on in college. That led to our first resource created to help those involved in short-term mission to reflect on their experiences, “Remaining Faithful: How do I keep my experience alive?” (now “Remaining Faithful: A Guide for Reflecting on Short-Term Mission Experiences).” This then led to numerous requests for help in preparing for short-term experiences.
When I researched what resources were available for short-term mission, I discovered that most focused on the logistics like what to pack. Knowing the importance of good preparation and reflection, I decided to write Understanding Short-term Mission.
When I researched what resources were available for short-term mission, I discovered that most focused on the logistics like what to pack. Knowing the importance of good preparation and reflection, I decided to write Understanding Short-term Mission.
I actually wrote this with someone in mind. When I worked in a parish, Doug volunteered to lead our mission trips. Doug designed computers for a living. He was a very kind and generous person with a big heart. But, he didn’t know a lot about how to prepare the group for what they would encounter on their trip, nor how to reflect on it. I wrote this so that others like Doug could help their groups understand mission and how to enter another culture with respect and sensitivity.
I wrote this so that others like Doug could help their groups understand mission and how to enter another culture with respect and sensitivity.
$27.95 Buy it on Amazon
This guide offers support and learning for those who lead short-term mission programs as well as for the participants. Topics include understanding mission, practicalities for leaders, a comprehensive tool kit for reflection and spiritual practice, and a series of essays sharing wisdom from experienced leaders of short-term mission experiences.
This book provides practical guidance on how to prepare for, participate in, and reflect on the experience so that participants integrate short-term mission as part of a lifelong commitment to service.
The guide shares insights from decades of experience with those returning from a time of living and serving in another culture.
Many good-hearted women and men have taken part in a variety of short-term mission programs for years, but proper guidance often was lacking. However, finally, this book, Understanding Short-Term Mission, provides an excellent accessible resource for participants and organizers through the stages of preparation, insertion, and return. It includes practical tips, reflection guides, and most importantly in-depth insights into the challenges and opportunities of such experiences.
– Rev. Roger Schroeder, SVD, Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD, Professor of Mission and Culture, Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, Author of What is the Mission the Church? A Guide for Catholics, 2nd ed. (2018)
FROM MISSION TO MISSION 