People do need God. But how do we show them God’s love? If a mission trip is not about serving others, there is no point.

I went on a 10 week mission trip to California when I was a new graduate. It was really hard for me. That’s probably a sign that I was actually doing some good, because I was exhausted at the end of most days.

Among the things I did was feed the hungry at a homeless shelter, scrub and clean a church for a Hispanic congregation that was finally able to buy a building, but it was a dilapidated structure that needed real elbow grease. The missionaries were given soapy water and brushes and we worked out butts off getting the place cleaned up. I also taught inner city kids, led a packed VBS, etc.

Here’s the thing — there are PLENTY of poor people here in America. If someone wants to do a mission trip and do some good, you don’t need to go abroad. And instead of doing a week or two, serve a whole summer or a whole year. Take enough time to make an impact.

It doesn’t just have to be “poor brown and black folks” either. There are plenty of poor whites in Appalachia that need a hand. God’s love doesn’t know skin color.

The thing that appalled me most about your story was the negotiating that the other pastor did. When churches I have attended have raised money for various causes in other countries, it was with the understanding that ALL the money was to go to help the people in those places. NONE of it was to fund our staff or home church.

Reading about that makes me have more respect for the Catholics, whose monks and nuns took vows of poverty and lived like the people they served — sleeping on the same types of beds, eating the same food and so on.