Book Description

Updated in 2020, including a chapter on traveling amidst the coronavirus (Covid-19), a worldwide pandemic. Short-Term Missions, A Christian Guide to STMs is a full and concise guide to STMs. What you need to know about planning a STM, or joining a STM team, and considering the options as part of the Great Commission, from the Good News to good works. This book is full of anecdotes and advice with informative timelines, and a biblical framework for STMs to help you engage in cross-cultural missions; with viable solutions to common mission issues to make your STM more effective to the glory of God. Mission considerations and types of STMs. What to do, where to go, with the best methods. How to pick a team or choose a STM organization. Raising financial support and managing your STM budget. Travel kit list, items to buy and what to leave behind. Emotional and spiritual work, before, during and at home. Security, safety, duty and character, and being streetwise. Dealing with social media and disruptive team members. Medical advice, obtaining a visa and your plane ticket. What to pack, how best to travel and airport etiquette. Christian literature, building a home or sinking a bore well. Communication, language issues and public speaking. Team dynamics, food and drink, the tribe, and social time. Working with the locals and being culturally sensitive. What to do before and after you return home. Mathew Backholer is the co-founder of ByFaith Media (ByFaith.org) and films and presents the reality mission series ByFaith TV which airs globally on numerous Christian networks. He has been on more than thirty mission trips and has experience: as a team member, a leader and as a host. Mathew is passionate about the Great Commission – to make disciples of Jesus in all nations by the power of the Holy Spirit. He has travelled the length of Africa, from Cairo to the Cape, across South-East Asia from India to Vietnam and from Nepal to Russia via China and Mongolia and has survived the Trans-Siberian Railway. He has driven around Europe, visited North Africa six times, and has journeyed alone, with friends, as part of team and as a leader.