The COVID-19 pandemic created endless problems and shut many things down. But it also gave us a chance to step back and evaluate what we were so busy doing that we may have lost an objective perspective on it. In at least that respect, the pandemic was a gift hidden in a tragedy. This is certainly true when it comes to short term missions (STM). This $5 billion annual industry, pre-pandemic, was shut down completely as international travel became impossible for a long time and then inadvisable for longer.  Suddenly, we had a chance to ask if we should we be doing this. If the answer is yes, then how can we do it better when the opportunity opens again? 

During the first year of the COVID-19 lock-down, MRN engaged in extensive online listening groups with mission and church leaders around the world to help us assess all the ways Americans engage in God’s mission. One of the things we heard repeatedly, especially from leaders outside the USA, was that we needed to develop clear recommendations for how to do STMs better in the future. We took that information and worked with a wide range of wise people with substantial missions experience to develop a paper we are now releasing with the endorsement of 17 other leaders/organizations. 

We hope that you will find this helpful for your church and that you will share it with others as well. We believe that making these changes will serve the Kingdom better and bring greater blessing to all who are involved. 

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