Short term mission trips have become controversial. Should Christians leave them behind?

Short-term mission has come under heavy criticism in recent years, with concerns ranging from white saviourism to doubts over motivations and priorities. But Heather Tomlinson discovers another side to the story 

Since the beginnings of modern Protestant missions, credited to William Carey taking his first steps in India in 1793, travelling to exotic destinations for the sake of the gospel has been widely celebrated. Stories of sacrifice, courage and adventure have inspired many.

Perhaps it was this glamorous image that drew Christians into short-term mission (STM), assisted by the advent of cheap air travel which, by the mid-20th century, made a fortnight on the other side of the world a realistic possibility. The number of these trips, which typically see churches send groups of people oversees to evangelise in word and deed, have grown “exponentially” since the 1960s and 70s,  according to Liberty University research published in 2009, through the growth of agencies such as Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and Operation Mobilisation (OM).