Covid-19 has taken so much from us. So many of our normal routines have been disrupted and cultural norms have been turned upside down. Businesses, churches, schools, civic leaders and servants, healthcare providers and almost every family and household have all had to learn how to adapt. Global mission activity has also been deeply impacted.
Short-term mission trips have been a powerful tool to not only do great, kingdom-building ministry around the world, but also to meaningfully engage everyday followers of Jesus in the mission of Jesus while opening their eyes to mission opportunities around them in their own communities. But how can these Jesus’ followers go in a Covid-19 era of travel bans? Recently, a member of one of our churches shared a solution for the countless now cancelled short-term mission trips that had been planned.
Linda Dietz from Faith, Seguin, introduced me to the concept of a “Virtual Mission Trip,” an idea pioneered by E3 Partners. Since mission teams from American churches are unable to travel as planned to other nations, E3 developed a plan for enabling teams to receive training in mission activity at home while supporting a mission team from a local congregation in another country around the world. Both teams are trained and support and pray for one another as each engages in sharing the Gospel in each their own neighborhoods. Any individual or church group can sign-up to join one of these virtual mission trips and join in God’s activity from, well, virtually anywhere!
While this notion of a virtual mission trip is not an exact replacement for the real thing, I do believe it is a fantastic idea that still accomplishes the purpose of short-term missions. John Williams of E3 Partners in San Antonio is coordinating two upcoming virtual mission trips to Uganda that you are invited to join. For just $200, you can be a part of supporting the Gospel being shared in Uganda and receive invaluable training in how you can share the Gospel in your own community every day.
To learn more about how you or a team from your church can get involved in either of these Uganda trips or another trip, please go to our website: www.lcmctexas.org/virtual-mission-trips.
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Pastor Bryce Formwalt is the Director of Mission Growth for LCMC Texas District and Program Director of Harvest Workers, an online ministry training program (learn more at www.harvestworkers.net). Residing in Georgetown, Pastor Bryce is available to coach congregations on mission. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments: 512-942-7776 or bryce@lcmctexas.org.
