Mission Team Dynamics

We often forget that Jesus, in His Gethsemane prayer, recorded in John 17, twice linked the unity of believers with global outreach, "…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:21-23) Jesus was praying for the church universal through the ages.  We, as a local application of His prayer, work with the local church. 

What does this unity look like?

Practically speaking, this unity that leads to belief should be demonstrated through short-term mission teams.  If the team operates as a community, demonstrates forgiveness, and works in unity, the impact for communicating the gospel is much greater.  But functioning effectively as a team does not just happen; it requires work and intentional preparation.

On a short-term mission trip, we bring together diverse individuals who also happen to be fallen sinners, tire them out with travel and jet-lag adjustments, house them in unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable surroundings, feed them exotic foods, and encourage them to live outside their comfort zones.  Combine these ingredients and you have a recipe for conflict, hurt feelings, and general team dysfunction.

Preparing the short-term mission team should include training on living in community, teaching on how to forgive, and illustrations on how to have (and resolve) conflict constructively.

Please feel free to comment on this post.  We would love to hear your experiences that we might learn from them.

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