The EFC and the Canadian Missions Research Forum, a group of denominations and mission agencies, have conducted a remarkable research project on the missions engagement of Canadian Evangelicals and their congregations.
Like most research, this one started with a good question. Are Evangelicals pulling away from global missions? Is there, in fact, a disengagement with global missions, perhaps as a result of increased local preoccupations? Do we need to change how we understand and how we do missions?
What we have in our hands now is the first ever comprehensive national research on how Canadian Evangelicals engage with “mission” or “missions.” The series of reports produced from 3,400 Canadians polled and qualitative interviews with 56 Evangelicals provides a snapshot of how and why Canadian Evangelicals engage with missions. It also marks a baseline for future study.
As EFC donors, your prayer and financial support help make this kind of groundbreaking research possible. When we understand ourselves better, we can do better and plan more effectively for the future. We can understand better what is behind certain trends, and what they mean for the present and future health of the Church.
The first portion of research we want to share in Canada Watch are insights into evangelical practice and belief with respect to short-term missions: We’ve only chosen highlights below, please visit www.TheEFC.ca/CMRF to download the free, full report.
Who goes on short-term mission trips?
Pastors, frequent attenders and younger Evangelicals are more likely to go on short-term mission trips, as are evangelical lay people from larger congregations or in Canada’s western provinces.
- Two-thirds of evangelical pastors (67%) and one-fifth of evangelical lay people (22%) reported going on at least one short-term mission trip (STMT) in the past decade.
- Lay people who attended religious services at least weekly in the last year were eight times more likely to have taken a STMT in the last decade than those who attended religious services just once or a few times in the last year.
Where do they go and for how long?
Many short-term mission trips are close to home and the duration is usually two weeks or less.
- One in five STMTs by lay people in the last decade were to locations in Canada. A common sentiment in the qualitative interviews was that STMT and mission resources needed to be “rebalanced” back to Canada to deal with spiritual and physical poverty at home.
- Nearly one-third of missions trips were to locations in the United States, Mexico or the Caribbean.
How much do they spend?
- On average, pastors reported spending $2,118 on their most recent STMT compared to $1,691 for lay people. Generally speaking, pastors reported spending more on STMTs than lay people even for trips to the same locations.
- Older lay Evangelicals, those from larger churches and those from the West tended to spend more on STMTs than those who were younger, from smaller churches or lived in the East.
Why do they go?
- About two-thirds of pastors and half of lay people agreed that the spiritual growth of STMT team members was the primary purpose of these trips.
- Many see participation on STMTs by non-Christians as a form of outreach to those non-Christian team members. Two-thirds of pastors agreed that spots on STMTs should be made available to non-Christians who have skills and abilities to contribute.
What do they do on these trips?
The STMT tasks most frequently reported were those that could be accomplished in a short timeframe.
- The five most common: building, construction and repair; vacation Bible school; evangelism and discipleship; encouraging missionaries; and working with orphans and orphanages.
Checking in with you
- Do these findings resonate with your experience?
- Are you surprised by any of these statistics?
- Do you go on short term-missions trips?
Share your response to these findings at
www.Facebook.com/TheEFC.
Also in this issue: The EFC welcomes David Guretzki as executive vice-president; "Battling Pornography: A Guide for Canadians" now available; Message from the president; Updating you on Canada's most immediate issues; EFC donor writes.