Yesterday in Albert Reyes’ blog Pan Dulce I commented on his questions: “Does short-term missions make a long-term impact? How is Buckner International doing in this area?”
Here was my answer:
Buckner is doing a good job mobilizing the short-term missionaries and serving as a conduit for ministry in other cultures. I feel that Buckner can evolve its already great mission endeavors into training, preparing, and educating potential participants better for short-term missions. Intentionality is the key with an understanding that those who serve alongside Buckner will be expected to develop what David Livermore writes in his book – Serving with Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-term Missions with Cultural Intelligence – as “CQ” or Cultural Intelligence (quotient).
I know there needs to be a balance here understanding that the participants are spending/raising many funds to go and giving much time away from family and work. However, there needs to be a higher level of CQ for participants as Buckner tries to assist with the huge explosion of short-term mission trips. I believe the more CQ we have as participants, the more open another culture might be to our serving alongside them and ministering to them. This will then result with possible long-term impact.
I particularly appreciate Buckner taking cues from the Christian/partnering Nationals in those countries where Buckner has teams serving. This is a less colonial and more humble style of missions. It is also more effective. Long-term impact will have a greater chance to take hold.
Livermore gives some practical insight for short-term teams as they try to make a lasting impact:
1. God is a lot bigger than Your Short-term Mission Trip
2. Stop Petting the Poor
3. Be Yourself
4. Seek to Understand
5. On Second Thought – Think Again!
6. Try, Try Again
7. Actions Speak Louder than Words
8. Give Up Trying to See Who’s In and Who’s Out
9. Incorporate Short-term Missions as Part of Your Seamless Missional Journey
10. Love God, Love Others
What other resources would you point to for Cross-Cultural Competency? You may have been on a mission trip before where all these rules of engagement were violated. Having a high CQ is a must for effective short-term and long-term missionaries.
kevin
