This site is designed to help you navigate through the Short Term Mission (STM) concept. It contains resources to help you understand the process from the inception of the idea in your mind all the way through to getting on the plane making the flight to the destination country. Many of the links are from the Southern Nazarene University missions department and their professor of missions and world evangelism, Howard Culbertson. There might be some issues or nuances that are unfamiliar to you or with which you even disagree. There is no attempt to proselytize but rather to give you as much information as possible to make it the best trip possible if you decide to travel. There is a tremendous amount of information and this writer encourages you to read with an open mind. Glean what you can use and let the rest go. Also, you are specifically directed to some select links, while there look around and have fun exploring the other sites available.
To Go or Not To Go? Pros, Cons, Etc.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS: A church for every people and the Gospel for Every Person https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/
A Missionary call: Is it God's will for you? http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/call.htm
10 Ways to avoid becoming a missionary http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/10ways.htm At this site again I remind you that there are many specific references to the Nazarenes BUT the basic steps are SOUND. Make sure you read through the entire page.
Answers to Objections to Going into Missions www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/4/1312_Answers_to_Objections_toGoing_into_Missions
Some Pros and Cons of short-term missions http://www.gotquestions.org/short-term-missions.html
Orchard parable: The society for the Picking of Apples http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/apples.htm
Short Term Missions - STM http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/short.htm
VOLUNTEERISM IN MISSION Condensed from chapter 9 of a soon-to-be-published Introduction to Missions textbook, Discovering Missions, by Chuck Gailey and Howard Culbertson http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/short.pdf
Safety: The first priority https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/safety.htm
U.S. Passport information http://travel.state.gov/passport/
Half a Dozen Safe Travel Tips Don't Be Vulnerable to Thieves (or worse) on Your Short-Term Mission http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/travel.htm
Raising MONEY
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/support.htm
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/funds.htm
Sample Fundraising Letters: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/sample.htm
Mission Trip Fundraising Characters http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/raising.htm
Crossing Cultural Barriers
Ten Commandments for Mission Trip Participants http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ten.htm
Understanding culture Stress http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/shock.htm
Ten Ways to Ruin short Term Mission Trips http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ruin.htm
Cross-Cultural Understanding Milestones http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/path.htm
Building and Burning Bridges on Mission Trips http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/bridges.htm
Spiritual Preparation for short Term Missions
Short-Term Missions: go With a Servant's Heart http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/dearyim.htm
Missions Slogans and Notable Quotes from Missionaries http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/slogans.htm
Verses on Missions: Christian Missions in the Bible http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/biblical.htm
Can Elephants and Mice Dance Together? http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/dance.htm
General Details - General is the salient term. These sites give an overview. Should you decide to become a team member and take a trip, a much more detailed list and information will be provided.
International Health Insurance - Don't Leave Home without It! http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/why.doc
Safety When Traveling - http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert
Possible Packing List for Overseas Mission Trips (pick and choose appropriate to YOUR trip)- http://urbana.org/articles/possible-packing-list-for-overseas-mission-trips