Comments for LarryMcCrary.com

Comment on Packing for a short term trip by Larry

Larry — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:38:47 +0000

Thanks for reminding me what Marcel once said. I think somehow I actually remember that. Flexible is definitely a good one for the list of things to pack.

Comment on Packing for a short term trip by MSP

MSP — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:18:30 +0000

Our friend, the late, great Marcel T Bull used to say, “Never leave home without a jar of peanut butter and enough money to get home.” Thus, I always travel with a peanut butter sandwich. I would add to your list above the healthy expectation that things will not go as planned so Be flexible!

Comment on Be Local and International . . . And Everything In Between by Larry

Larry — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:38:46 +0000

Gilles, thank for your interest in this topic and your research. I would not even begin to claim we have it all figured out. We are learning a lot as we do these trips. We believe if we can take a group of pastors or leaders on a trip and spend time with them in three general areas that we can see them start their church on a path towards thinking and acting as a missionary. So we spend time each day discussing biblical missiology, learning about the culture and religions of the culture we are visiting and introducing them to a wide range of ministry venues. We talk about sustainable partnerships. We talk about pitfalls to avoid. We start unpacking what it means for the church to be “all in” to a place or people. I personally believe as an over seas worker that you can strategically use short and mid term teams effectively. It takes effort and preparation but I have seen it work all over the world. A good number of people who come on our trips are not currently engaged in a global work or they are trying to determine just where the Lord wants them. When we see them return back to their home and start putting together ideas and strategies for their community and the world then we see that positive. Often pastors return from these trips realizing that the world has moved next door and they need to find ways to engage cross culturally in their own city. So they start leading their church in doing just that.

Comment on Be Local and International . . . And Everything In Between by Gilles Gravelle

Gilles Gravelle — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:58:16 +0000

Larry,

I was recently involved in a research project analyzing the effect of short-term missions in regard to becoming more missionally minded and the use of the annual $3.4 billion spent by Americans on short-term foreign mission. Sadly, most claims of beneficial impact on both the ST worker and the people they served for 10 days are not confirmed. You seem to be suggesting two things that our research also suggested. 1) if you do STM, then focused outcome-oriented vision-building may be a better use of the money, 2) international missions is around the corner from your house. See the book “Strangers at the Door.” The vision building outcome so far has not shown significantan impact on local churches. How will your vision trips create growth and change from such trips? How will you know it is being effective?

Comment on Be Local and International . . . And Everything In Between by Larry

Larry — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:21:09 +0000

It was great talking with you this week. We would love for you to come on one of our trips. We still have two this year; Montreal and Portland. We are working on where we go next year. We are open to suggestions.

Comment on Be Local and International . . . And Everything In Between by Johanna Fenton

Johanna Fenton — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:30:13 +0000

What a blessing to wake up this morning and read this post, especially since my conversation with you and Caleb is so fresh in my memory.

I like this part: “When you start as an outsider, you understand the need to adjust your language, appearances, and preferences for the sake of incarnating the gospel.”

I was giving serious thought this morning to joining a JetSet trip. Reading this helps me. Thank you.

Comment on Remember Care: What a Missionary Needs from a Sending Church by Larry

Larry — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:34:19 +0000

Thanks Michelle. It is a great reminder for all of us.

Comment on Remember Care: What a Missionary Needs from a Sending Church by Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:10:55 +0000

So true Larry. thnaks for posting this as a reminder to us all (on both sides of the pond).

Comment on Short Term Mission Prep School by Michael

Michael — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:35:43 +0000

This is a great article on three difference makers in short-term trips. They are

1. pre-trip training
2. on-site mentoring
3. follow-up after the trip.

http://www.missiondiscovery.org/researchers-weigh-value-short-term-missions

Comment on Short Term Mission Prep School by Larry

Larry — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:19:08 +0000

Very good point Phil N. on all three. I was short sighted about prepping for the return but it is true. What happens after the trip is vital. I have seen many people return to suddenly become more aware and mobilized to work across cultures in their own back yard. I love that! We should not overlook the many people groups in our own city on the way to the airport for our short term trip. It is both local and global. It is a mission lifestyle not a one week trip.