“You Want Me to do What???,” was the emphatic response from a member of my church, 10 years ago. I had asked her to join the short term mission team to conduct a VBS overseas.

Speaking in a calm, reassuring way, I explained that a short term mission (approximately two weeks) is a journey to a church overseas to share the love of Jesus Christ with children through a Vacation Bible School (VBS) experience.

That person eventually went on several VBS mission trips to Romania and is still actively supporting the church VBS efforts.

What motivates people to take two weeks their time and money to have the VBS experience?

In my case, I was looking for another kind of travel experience. I was what you might consider “well traveled’, but all those experiences had been for me, for what I was going to get out of it. I wanted a different experience, one where I could give something of myself in some way.

“I wanted a different experience, one that I could give something of myself in some way. ”
Warren Jaycox

I shared this with a friend who had been on various short term mission trips with her husband. She raved about a VBS mission trip they had just completed. In fact, she invited me to attend an orientation meeting for volunteers for the next summer VBS.

I joined the mission team. The next year I went again, and again the following year. I saw the love of Jesus Christ shining through the happy faces of the children.

I was “hooked”. It changed my life.

Which of the reasons below would motivate you to take a short term overseas mission trip?

• You have a friend who went on a mission and keeps talking about how great it was. Maybe even a “life changing” experience..

• You are following up on a magazine or newspaper article.

• Your interest got piqued by a sermon or TV show.

• You remember the Great Commission, the scripture in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

• A friend or relative wants you to go on a short term mission with them.

• . Taking a vacation with a “purpose” just makes good sense. It probably wouldn’t cost any more, but maybe you can be a blessing to someone.

• . You read a blog by some guy named Warren and decided it was worth a try.

Talk to friends, explore short term missions on the internet, get some books on the topic from Amazon. Then decide to make your next vacation a MISSION WITH A PURPOSE!