FEATURE

Short-term missions will stretch you in good and healthy ways. You are likely to make friends both on your team and on the field.

If the believers you meet on your short-term mission trip speak a different language, you might be given the rich opportunity of hearing in worship the doxology, Gloria Patri, or Apostle’s Creed resound in your ears in Czech, Japanese, or Luganda—giving you a glimpse of the day when “a great multitude ... from all tribes and people and languages” join together in worship of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9).

You might discover gifts and interests that you didn’t previously realize you had. Who knew you would love working with children so much? Who knew you were gifted with the ability to quickly pick up everyday phrases in a new language?

Many short-term missions opportunities are evangelistic in nature; you may be challenged in the defense of your faith or be required to articulate it. You may also see the Lord grab hold of someone’s heart and change his or her life. I saw this first-hand in Ukraine in 2014 when I served as a part of the English Camp team. My teammates and I witnessed the Lord work in one participant’s life and were able to hear her profess a credible testimony of faith by the end of our time there.

Be careful: short-term missions can also have the effect of planting seeds for future missionaries. A number of OP pastors and foreign missionaries sensed a call to service or the pastorate while on a short-term trip. Could it be that the Lord would use this time to give you a taste for full-time ministry?

Think you are interested?

OPC Short-Term Missions has these opportunities available:

The Czech Republic--Team Praha 2020

Uganda--urgent needs for a team leader for summer and a missionary associate nanny along with other opportunities

Quebec City--English for Kids (third week is open: July 13-17) and year-round opportunities

Asia--English House & Missionary Associates

Uruguay--Missionary Associates

Key West, Florida--Evangelism Training

Boardwalk Chapel--Spring cleanup and preparation for the season

OPC Disaster Response--Register to show your interest in volunteering: http://www.opcdisasterresponse.org

Want more information? Go to our website: http://www.opcstm.org