Customer Reviews

The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip

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In writting "The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip," David C. Forward has generously provided first-time trip planners with a comprehensive and detail-filled resource. I would recommend it to any congregation that is looking for a "manual" that will get them started and see them through their first trip.

Maybe you are a missions pastor teaching a class on short-term missions and are looking for a textbook, or you are leading a team overseas. You might be going on your first trip and want to know how to approach the whole matter.

"The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip" by David C. Forward explains with examples the sorts of things which those in missions leadership at a church should be thinking about.

The points made in this book could avert disasters. What good is spending a lot of money to go overseas only to find you've no idea what you've got yourself into? While it is true that having a flexible personality is key to any missions effort, it is also a good idea to prepare when possible.

Some readers may cringe at the strategic sensibility of David Forward. "The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip" is all about practical thinking. St. Paul prepared practically for his trips. He knew where he was going, how long it would take, and how much food to being along. Forward helps think like Paul.

Noting that many going on the trip may be first time short-termers, or first time airplane riders, he discusses travel tips. For example, bring a spare pair of glasses, remember to bring a list of people you intend to write (Like your supporters), and how to deal with lost luggage. He even outlines how to run a team meeting, with suggestions for topics.

He spends time on the complex matter of money, and how support should be raised, and what a church's financial involvement should be. He is not dogmatic, but points out the pro's and con's of the various positions.

Forward's missions experience has taken him primarily from Britain to Romania, with stopovers in Budapest. He cites from this experiences fluently, and helps the reader see how the essentials in this guide can be applied. He gives anecdotes about cultural sensitivity, like how in Romania, the real Dracula is considered a national hero for reasons other than what Bram Stoker's novel talks about. Jokes, Forward writes, about the morbid side of Dracula are unappreciated by locals.

The appendices are useful, helping the reader think through the incidentals. Some things, like having calling card codes and travel insurance numbers with you, should not be overlooked.

I fully recommend this excellent tool for preparing a team for short-term missions. For a solid text helping the sender church, see "Serving as Senders" by Neal Pirolo.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

This is the best book ever written on short term missions. It helped me organize our teams and we gave one copy to each team member for their own planning. It covers the spiritual basis and logistical requirements, it tells us about mistakes others have made so we can focus in being true missionaries.

This book would have been pretty good a decade ago but it is showing its age. Some information is great all the time such as Bible verses for trip meetings and general information. It is still ok as a guide.

The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip by David C, Forward is good useful, helpful and practical and the only spiral bound STM book on the market to-date.

This book is Good useful, helpful and practical and is spiral bound which makes this 200 plus page book helpful to turn and lies flat at 180 degrees.

Your church is taking a mission team to some country and this books explains how best to go about it, what to do, finances, what to plan for and how best to accomplish your mission. Good life lesson and practical examples from experience.

It is a good read and is full of lots of good points and some good Scriptural references.

A better book is How to Plan, Prepare and Successfully Complete Your Short-Term Mission - For Volunteers, Churches, Independent STM Teams and Mission Organisations. The ... and those Planning a Christian Gap Year T whilst another mission book from a more spiritual angle (seeking God, being led of the Holy Spirit, power for ministry etc.) is Mission Preparation Training - How to prepare for your short-term mission trip which is split into four sections.

Covers all the basic with very practical tips. Every leader of a short term missions trip should read this book. I highly recommend it for new leaders as well as seasoned leaders.

This is a must read for any first time short term missionary. It prepares you for trips from 1 week to 1 year.