Short Term Mission Trips - who is up for it?

I love the idea of missions, i have been a couple of short term mission trips myself and i believe they are life-changing. In the last few years we as the Australian Nazarene church, have not had or promoted short term overseas mission trips. I wonder why this is? Do we not value what missions can do in the life of young people? or have we just lost that 'passion' to see people transformed by a stretching experience? or maybe just not enough 'time'.
I am sure it isn't quite as simple as that, but anyway.

When it comes to short-term mission trips, often it is the lives of the missionaries that are impacted the most. The Barna Group recently published research that explores how short-term mission trips affect those who take them. Here are some highlights:

Who takes short term mission trips?

•9% of American adults
>> only 3.5% of American adults went in the last 5 years
•11% of churchgoers
•23% evangelical Christians
•12% of Mosaics (ages 18-24)
•9% of Busters (ages 25-43)
•7% of Boomers (ages 44-62)
•9% of Elders (ages 63+)
How do short-term mission trips affect those who go?

•75% say the experience changed their life in some way
•25% say it helped them become more aware of other people’s struggles
•16% say it taught them more about poverty, justice, or the world
•11% say it increased their compassion
•9% say it enriched their faith
•9% say it broadened their spiritual understanding
•5% say it boosted their financial generosity

How have short-term mission trips affected your congregation?
What would happen to our people if we were a sending church?
Just some thoughts...

The Great Generational Transition - Darlene Zschech

This Book facinates me and I think I will be purchasing it next time i visit Koorong. Darlene has her critques, however, i believe she may have alot to say to us about forging a way forward for current leaders and leaders to come in harmony and unity.

Has anyone read this book? I will let you know what it is like when i eventually get it and read it.

get it HERE

Brengle Create - a space and conference for artists, muso's and drama in the Wesleyan 'spirit'

Hi all,
Here is a great opportunity to express/use your talents and abilties, check it out!

http://salvos.org.au/get-involved/events/brengle-create.php

Do you see things?

There is an old Hillsong song from the Geoff Bullock days called "We Have A Vision" and while the music is a little cheesy, I've been thinking a lot about the words lately...

"We have a vision for this nation We have a dream for this land..."

And, I have to be honest, I don't really have a vision for this nation, or even for all of South Australia... but I do have a vision for my church.

We don't have a youth group/program at Croydon at the moment. It wouldn't make much sense if we did, since we don't have very many youth-type-people anyway. What we do have, however, is a number of young kids around 7-12 and in a few years these guys will definitely be looking for a youth group and if we want to keep these young people we will need to find a way to cater to their spiritual needs.

So this year we have started a series of activities for the kids we have in this age group. The plan is that we will grow these kids into a youth group.

But we have to start planning for this stuff now!

So, as I think about this stuff there are 2 questions that come to mind...

1. What is your vision?

2. What are you doing now to make that vision a reality.

"Whether it’s across the table with another church leader, at a planning retreat, or talking to the whole church-every time you talk about what could be and should be, you’re casting vision" - Andy Stanley

To check out the article that this quote came from follow this link.