It doesn’t happen often, but now and then, people have an odd reaction when they hear that I work at an orphanage in Mexico. They say, “I’d rather help kids in America.” This statement brings up so many uncomfortable and unhealthy issues. The snarky side of me really wants to say, “Great, what are you doing for kids in America?” I can almost guarantee they aren’t doing anything for anybody. Continue reading
Leadership in ministry matters. This sounds like an obvious statement, but it’s amazing how little thought is given to this. Who we partner with, who is hosting us in ministry, is everything. Ministry is a top-down thing. If the leadership is weak, the best funding, planning, or organization in the world won’t help. An organization will never be better than its leader. Continue reading
Short-term missions are a very big deal in the American church. One out of three churches will send a team internationally this year. Tens of thousands of people and many millions of dollars will be dedicated to these efforts. Why? Why do we as individuals, or a church body, put all of these resources into these trips? Sometimes it’s good to step back and just ask the simple, but important, question: Are short-term missions worth all the funds and resources dedicated to them? Continue reading
OK, it’s a clickbait title, but a lot of people do believe that short-term missions are horrible. Many others believe short-term missions are a huge blessing. Like so many topics, the truth is somewhere in the fuzzy middle. When done correctly, short-term missions can change lives for the better, if done poorly, they can do a lot of damage. It’s good to take a balanced look at both sides and move forward wisely. Continue reading
DJ from the orphanage 