TransforMission: Making Disciples through Short-Term Missions

by Michael S. Wilder, Shane W. Parker

Overview

Remarkably, thirty percent of North American teenagers—millions of people between the ages of 13 and 17—have engaged in religious missions or service projects. Building on this statistic, the authors of TransforMission believe that short-term mission is one way God is taking the gospel to the nations and, concurrently, transforming the lives of these student participants.

Writing to youth ministers, missiologists, church leaders, adult volunteers, and post-high school students, they assess strategies for further promoting this kind of involvement by exploring several questions:

• What mechanisms is God employing to achieve this advance in mission?

• What is taking place in the lives of believers who are obediently participating in the fulfillment of the Great Commision?

• What are the theological and theoretical foundations for the life transformation that is occurring?

• What is the most effective means of conducting short-term mission experiences?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805447743
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/01/2010
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Michael S. Wilder is assistant professor of Leadership and Church Ministry, associate dean for Doctoral Studies, and doctoral coordinator and director of Supervised Ministries at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky.

Shane W. Parker is a veteran youth pastor and researcher in the field of Youth Ministry and Missiology. He has served as a student event and conference speaker throughout North America and in Southeast Asia.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Calling Them to Greatness: Short-Term Mission for Life Transformation 1

Part I Short-Term Mission in Perspective: Exploring the Bigger Picture

Chapter 1 Holding the View-Master: The Where, What, and Who of Global Mission 9

Chapter 2 What Students Are Doing: The Yesterday and Today of Student Missions 18

Chapter 3 What People Are Saying: The Two Sides of Short-Term Mission 35

Chapter 4 What Researchers Are Finding: Rose-Colored Glasses, Blinders, or Bifocals? 51

Part II Transformation in Perspective: Examining the Process and Principles

Chapter 5 Overcoming Inconsistencies for a Change: The Promise 85

Chapter 6 Overcoming Inconsistencies for a Change: The Power 99

Chapter 7 Overcoming Inconsistencies for a Change: The Premise 124

Chapter 8 Overcoming Inconsistencies for a Change: The Practice 140

Chapter 9 Overcoming Inconsistencies for a Change: The People 161

Part III The Transformissional Dimensions of Short-Term Mission: Getting the I.D.E.A.

Chapter 10 Influence: Surround Them with Relationships 175

Chapter 11 Develop: Shape Them Through Process 189

Chapter 12 Engage: Mobilize Them for Challenge 209

Chapter 13 Assess: Evaluate Them for Change 222

Conclusion: Challenging Them to Death: The Gravity of Mission and the Weight of Student Ministry 234

Name Index 241

Scripture Index 245