Transformission: Making Disciples Through Short-term Missions

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?

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.