Hosting Wise Short-term Missions

HOSTING WISE SHORT-TERM MISSIONS PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESS AS DEFINED

BY CAFO GLOBAL LEADERS

Thought Leadership from Collaborate

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CAFO Collaborate workshops initiate conversations about effective care for orphans and vulnerable children within developing local church and NGO networks around the world.

These workshops generate ideas to: • creatively share information.

• involve more churches and individuals.

• equip local churches for more effective care of vulnerable children in their communities.

During Collaborate 2019, over 122 global leaders from 32 nations brainstormed about shifting cultural mindsets within their nations towards Wise Short-Term Missions Principles, from the perspective of a host nation. This publication is a summary of those discussions.

In a previously published resource, Wise Short-Term Missions: Principles and Practices to Benefit Vulnerable Children and Families, CAFO highlights both the risks and the benefits of short-term missions.

Too often, short-term missions may not be led with a long-term mindset or do not include quality consideration of the best interests of the children, or needs and culture of the host country. Yet, the potential benefits of serving orphans and vulnerable children through high-quality partnerships between host countries and organizations and visiting short-term mission teams are numerous.

If approached wisely, hosts and guests can initiate and continue effective practices that will enable short-term missions to develop into long-term service for orphans and vulnerable children.

“When carried out with due caution and wisdom, short-term missions can benefit children for the long term – especially by building up the families and communities capable of caring for them over time” - CAFO Wise Short-Term Missions, OVC Research

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SHORT-TERM MISSIONS: WHY ARE WISE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IMPORTANT . . . . . . 6

BUILDING A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR WISE-SHORT-TERM MISSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

WISDOM BUILDS: APPLYING WISE PRACTICES TO SHORT-TERM MISSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

INSPIRE: WHAT CAN WE DO?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

CONNECT: WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

EQUIP: HOW CAN WE BUILD TOGETHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

SHORT-TERM MISSIONS: WHY ARE WISE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IMPORTANT?

Participants from Collaborate 2019 discussed effective ways that leaders and organizations can receive and host short-term missions in their countries. In small groups, leaders discussed strategies for child protection and local solutions to promote a high-quality approach to short term missions. The small groups were organized by network leadership roles. Inspirers discussed what can be done to properly engage short term mission teams. Connectors discussed who can be engaged in safe, effective short term missions. Equippers discussed how hosts and guests can serve orphans and vulnerable children effectively through shortterm missions.

Hopefully, wise short-term missions will: • Serve orphans and vulnerable children in a way that honors God, who cares deeply for the fatherless (Psalm 68:5-6a, James 1:27).

• Build meaningful, enduring relationships to strengthen local communities, including families and children, and organizations.

• Promote healthy partnerships between those who participate in short-term missions, as hosts or guests, who are united in their goal to care for orphans and vulnerable children.

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BUILDING A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR WISE SHORT-TERM MISSIONS Protection Safeguarding children from harm is the first priority.

Attachment Support bonds between children and their parent or primary caregiver.

Caregivers Honor the role of parents and primary caregivers.

Community Support the communities surrounding vulnerable children.

Expectations Make sure the purpose of the trip is clear and the expectations are thoroughly understood.

Partnership Anchor every trip in long-term relationships with quality partners.

Training Commit to learning before doing.

Media Share stories and images with care.

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WISDOM BUILDS: APPLYING WISE PRACTICES TO SHORTTERM MISSIONS

“Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. She has prepared a great banquet [...] She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. ‘Come in with me,’ she urges [...] ‘Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.’” Proverbs 9:1-4, 6 (New Living Translation) In this passage from Proverbs, Wisdom is the ideal host. She builds her house with a firm foundation, prepares to receive guests and warmly welcomes those who come.

Most importantly, Wisdom instructs her guests to use good judgment. Wisdom guides her guests so that when they leave, they can “begin to live,” with more discernment and understanding than before. The lessons of Wisdom last far after her guests leave.

Countries and organizations who receive short-term missions, as well as the guests who visit on short-term mission trips, are each like Wisdom in Proverbs. As hosts, organizations prepare to receive teams. When guests come, the hosts guide them in how to best serve the needs of the larger community, including orphans and vulnerable children. As guests, short-term mission teams have the responsibility of carrying out their service wisely, in an appropriate and honoring way. Both hosts and guests look for people who want to partner with and learn from them.

In addition to the eight foundational guidelines of wise short-term missions, we will look at ways we can inspire, equip and connect in partnership to effectively serve orphans and vulnerable children through short-term missions. Ideally, through applying these practices, hosts and mission teams will create a positive, long-term influence in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children.

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INSPIRE: WHAT CAN WE DO?

Community and communication are central to serving orphans and vulnerable children and building relationships that will last long after a short-term mission team leaves.

Community Matters Organizations and individuals need to actively participate and strengthen the local community. The local community may include local government, social workers, the church, nonprofit organizations, businesses, families and individuals. Equipping the local community to lead strengthens advocacy, short-term missions and child protection efforts.

Communication is Key Effective and thorough communication is very important and should begin long before visitors arrive on their short-term mission. The host organization should have a formal statement of their mission, values and policies, so guests understand how they may work within the goals of the organization and what is achievable during their time of service.

Purposeful Partnership Ideally, the partnership between hosts and guests in short-term missions is a long-term commitment, built on firm relationships and mutually beneficial service. This way, the local community can continue the work that was begun or performed by the short-term mission team. A long-term commitment strengthens the community and better serves orphans and vulnerable children.

“You might be coming for a short term, but we want you to think long-term.� (sixth presenter)

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CONNECT: WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS?

Alongside organizations and professionals, the children, the church and the caregivers each have an important role and insight to offer short-term mission hosts and guests.

LET THE CHILDREN COME When possible and appropriate, children should be given a say about their protection and rights when visitors come, so everyone has a clear understanding of what is and is not appropriate. This allows children to have a sense of dignity and self-worth, while also allowing organizations, specialists, caregivers, the local community and guests to be actively involved in caring for orphans and vulnerable children.

AN ACTIVE CHURCH The global church is a community that includes children, individuals, families, nonprofits, churches and local leaders. Every member of the church can do something to help care for orphans, and hopefully, the church will lead conversations about short-term missions and child protection to help inform others.

HONORING CAREGIVERS Children may have many caregivers actively involved in their lives, such as teachers, nanny figures, counselors and others. Caregivers should be honored by organizations and guests for the important role they play in the daily lives of children. Guests should recognize and respect that the caregivers know the needs of the children and the local culture. “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.� 1 Corinthians 1:10 (New International Version)

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith[...]�. Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version)

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EQUIP: HOW CAN WE SERVE TOGETHER? Effective partnerships in short-term missions should include formal training and policies to help avoid misunderstandings and promote long-term benefits for orphans and vulnerable children in the community.

TRAINING COMES BEFORE SUCCESS Training informs individuals on how to care for and protect orphans, in a practical and hands-on way. Training should ideally take place before the trip, to adequately prepare individuals. Proper, quality training has many benefits, including: • Establish cultural boundaries and cultural sensitivity for the comfort of the hosts and guests.

• Proper use of social media for child protection.

• Expectations and goals for the short-term mission.

STICK TO YOUR POLICIES It is very important for the host organization to create and follow a set of defined and non-negotiable values, goals, and policies. This will help protect the children and make it clear to guests what is acceptable and not acceptable when they come to visit. Clear values, goals and policies help avoid misunderstandings between hosts and guests.

“One training method is cultural sensitivity, which means people need to learn our culture, our traditions, and understand what they can expect and what they cannot expect, and what they can do here and what they absolutely cannot do here.” (second presentation) READY, SET...GROW Creating effective short-term missions is an ongoing and growing process and we must remember that partnerships are not formed immediately but take time, energy and prayer from both sides. Keeping the long-term in mind will help the children, hosts and visitors feel welcome and supported. Focusing on building a firm foundation for the future helps us have grace and patience as we continue serving orphans and vulnerable children, together.

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