re: Let's talk about photo-op "mission trips".

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Does your hip church send people on "mission trips" frequently? I have recently attended a church that is sending people to freaking Germany this spring. They send people to Haiti like every other week. They send people to Rwanda, etc.

It seems mostly like photo-ops to me.

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There are many different types of mission trips - construction, vacation bible schools, orphanages, church planting, street evangelism, encouragement, whatever. All have value for different types of people.

Frankly, I wouldn't say that I have great skills as a personal evangelist. But I can swing a hammer and have been fortunate enough to go to South Africa twice in years past. WE built a church in a remote are the first time, and I was able to help with some repairs/renovations at a poor Christian school the next.

These days I don't have the work flexibility to be gone for weeks but I feel fortunate enough to be able to donate financially and give to our missions partner CASAS POR CRISTO, who leads teams building homes for families and digging clean water wells in Latin America. I feel that we are making a difference one family and community at a time, and that impacting people in a very real tangible way is often the best method.

On the other hand, for teens and college kids - simply SEEING the conditions of third world countries has a very real benefit all by itself. Often, it is of immense value even if all they come back with is an appreciation of what they have themselves, both materially and spiritually.