For some time now, I’ve been thinking about adding a new element to the blog and it’s finally found its place: I’m calling it “Short Term Missions Mondays.”(STMM for short) , where I’ll discuss elements of Short Term Missions (STM) on a broader level than simply how they relate to our current time in France.

STM

Short Term Missions has become a multi-million dollar undertaking globally. While we understand it as the outflow of the Great Commission (Matthew 28), it is no longer strictly limited to a Gospel-sharing activity, many humanitarian efforts now come under the banner of STM in a broad sense.

For the purposes of this segment though, I’ll continue to focus on, among other, the aspects of:

– Sharing the Gospel
– Personal & Spiritual Growth
– Associated Struggles & Challenges
– Preparing to Go, etc.

Posting Frequency

My main blog posts appear every Saturday morning and that all takes time to pull together. For this reason, you can expect to see between one and two STMM posts per month (always on Mondays of course).

Crafting great posts takes time and I didn’t want to start something new that would take away from our main reason for being in France. That being said, we have learned a few things from our various STM experiences dating back to the 1980’s and 90’s and want to be able to share some of those experiences for your benefit.

 

Are you considering Short Term Missions?

If so then this part of the blog is dedicated to you!

I can say 100% that STM has completely. changed. my. life.
Think I’m just exaggerating?

• It was in 1986 (while on a STM trip) that God confirmed that missions, at least STM, would be part of my future. This led me to Belgium in 1989.
• During my 2-month STM experience in Belgium in 1989, God made it clear that he was calling me back for a longer stay. This happened from 1990-1992.
• From 1990-1992 I lived in a primarily Sicilian neighbourhood in southern Belgium. I saw many English-speaking tour choirs come through during my stay. Although French translation was provided (via overhead projector – cutting edge technology at the time), I saw how people didn’t always get quite as much out of it.
• In 1995 the opportunity arose to be part of a French speaking tour choir that would travel through France, Belgium & Switzerland. It was during this tour that I met my wife-to-be... a Sicilian, raised in Belgium.
• In 1997 we married and today, nearly 20 years later we are again serving God in French-speaking Europe.

Who I am today has been radically impacted by the time I gave God in STM. It would’ve been impossible to map it out ahead of time, but looking back, it’s easy to see. If you continue to give time, effort, prayer and consideration to the prospect of making STM part of your life, who knows what that life will look like 20 years down the road.

I say without the shadow of a doubt that I am who I am today because of the Lord and the impact of STM on my life. I wish the same for you.

 

Stay informed

So, if you’d like to stay up to date on new STMM posts, you can

• sign up to follow the blog in the sidebar (top right); by clicking the “Get Weekly Updates Please” button.
• Click the floating “Follow” button (If you’re already a signed in WordPress user) and have posts appear in your WordPress Reader.
• Check back regularly and click on the The Blog /  STM Monday in the menu bar.

God bless your STM journey, you won’t regret it!
Until next time…

 

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Next Post: How to Know Where to Go?

What if you know you’re called to missions, but don’t yet have a clear calling to a specific place?
There’s too much time, money, preparation and mental energy involved to not get it right so how do you take that first step… How do you choose a Short Term Missions destination?

Click here to find out!

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