Short-Term Missions or Voluntourism? Working against objectification, with Austin Robinson Artwork

Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions

In this podcast we take an honest look at short-term mission practices, and talk frankly about unhelpful models even as we dream of healthy alternatives. In this podcast we look critically at the top-down, one-way, unbalanced relationship dynamics between sending organizations and the communities that receive their teams. Instead, understanding that all churches in every culture are broken in some way, we try to re-imagine how churches in cross-cultural partnership can serve one another in mutuality service. The essential aim of this podcast is to consider new ways for Christ-followers in every part of the world to collaborate, working together to meet the world's deep needs.

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Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions

Short-Term Missions or Voluntourism? Working against objectification, with Austin Robinson

March 07, 2023 • Austin Robinson • Season 1 • Episode 6

What happens when visitors to other culture contexts remain unaware of their own personal agendas? How might short-term mission trips be transformed into opportunities for learning and listening–and for putting aside assumptions? What if humility and teachability became the hallmarks of all mission trips?

In this episode, Forrest talks with Austin Robinson, a full-time missionary and Executive Director of Eternal Anchor, a ministry in Mexico that is dedicated to serving children with special needs. Austin is also one of the authors of the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, and his essay—called “Re-Symbolizing the White Van”—makes the case that the kinds of short-term visitors who actually help more than hurt are those who come with an attitude of humility and teachability—and a willingness to come alongside locals who are already doing the work of Jesus.

Eternal Anchor Ministries
MA International Community Development, Northwest University

Most of the folks you’ll hear on this podcast are also contributors to a new book called Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. So if you like what you hear, and want to learn more about what these folks have to say, the book will be a great resource for you.

Website: https://reimaginingstm.com

Publisher's book page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666712919/re-imagining-short-term-missions
Email: reimaginingstm@gmail.com
Instagram: @reimaginingstm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078703976617