Three years later I returned to the church where mud had filled my boots and sweat mixed with rain. It was a joy to see a growing, active, and vibrant local church. Their feeding program had expanded to serve 125 meals a day, their congregation had doubled, and they had renewed a commitment to care for orphans. Prior to that trip we had done the hard work of making sustainability a priority. We came alongside an existing ministry, empowered an indigenous church, and met real needs. It may have been difficult, but it was worth it, and God continues to move through the ministry.

Before you plan your next short-term mission trip, make sustainability a priority. You’d be grateful you did, and so will the people who go and serve.

author

Matt Schulte has lead more than 35 short-term trips over the past nine years. He serves as the director of Casa Viva USA. Casa Viva is mobilizing the indigenous church of Latin America to care for orphans in their community by connecting them to families.