Guest Blog: Short-term missions, lifelong rewards
By Kristi Rhoton
“Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel” – Mark 16:15
My husband, Ray, and I live with our two children in Costa Rica. We serve in this beautiful country as full-time missionaries.
There are people throughout the world, like us, who feel the Lord leading them to move their families to foreign countries, learn new languages and customs, and serve as missionaries. And there are many others who don’t necessarily feel led to full-time missions, but they feel a strong call to play a part in those ministries. They desire a personal experience. They just don’t know how to engage.
For those people, we encourage short-term mission trips.
These trips play an integral part in our ministry in Costa Rica, and we can see the benefits to the people in the communities we’re serving and to those short-term missionaries who travel many miles to help us share the gospel.
Here are a few of the benefits of short-term mission trips:
Children, teens, and adults have the chance to see a different culture, a different people group, a different way of worship in action!
I love it when people realize that no matter where we are in the world, we can all serve the same living God in any language. It can often be intimidating to think of serving when you are out of your comfort zone; but time after time, I have heard testimonies of people saying the same thing: “It didn’t even matter that we didn’t speak the same language!”
People usually leave with a renewed and humbled sense of thankfulness for God’s blessings.
If people go with an open heart, ready for God to move, and willing to take that step of faith, He will do amazing things in their lives.
If nothing else, it can make them thankful for what they have, for the privilege of growing up in a place like America, where religious freedom was given to them. People don’t experience poverty in every foreign ministry, but there is often opportunity to see people living with far less than you (and still being thankful), which can always cause a heart to be humbled.
Short-term missionaries experience our Lord working through a global community.
When groups or individuals come to Costa Rica, we always like to give them the opportunity to work face-to-face with the community, doing some kind of family fair, Bible School, or medical clinic.
Spending this type of quality time with a different people group can do a lot to change your outlook on life.
One of my favorite things is watching believers come together from different parts of the world and serve together. I love watching these unlikely teams working hand-in-hand to lead others to the same Christ that they have found.
I guess I am such a big supporter of short-term mission trips because God used one to speak to me.
In 1996, at 21 years old, I was able to go to South Africa on a two-week trip to help missionary families with outreach to their surrounding areas. It was during that time, working with those precious people, that God made it clear to me that this is what He wanted me to do. I couldn’t think of any other way I wanted to spend my life.
So, I know there is value in it. I know that God still speaks, He still calls, and He still uses His people to reach others.
Will you go?
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Ray and Kristi Rhoton have been living in Costa Rica as missionaries since 2003. Their ministry focuses on three different neighborhoods in the area of Tres Rios. Ray is the pastor of Iglesia Bautista Vida. Besides Sunday worship, they host weekly Bible studies, youth meetings, and a children’s club. They recently launched a seminary. Their goal is to lead people to follow Christ and be completely committed to Him. In 2007, they started an organization called Vida Ministries; its purpose is to assist Latin American missionaries and pastors with resources, personnel, and funding. They currently partner with ministries in Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. The Rhotons are blessed with two children, Lily, 5, and Max, 1, who keep their lives busy and exciting!
You can learn more about the Rhoton Family ministry by liking their Facebook page.