“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

The scripture before us gives clear directives for this season we find ourselves in. A new day for us but not new to Jesus who has gone before us and is shining the Light of Truth, Hope and Love in the Samaria of the world.

How might we respond when we have been used to serving, training, accompanying and de-briefing 900 volunteers annually? When borders closed and the last registered volunteer was safely back in California, the Short-Term Mission(STM) office stood at the crossroads, discerned, prayed and listened for God’s guidance to shine a steady light on “the good way.” Not our human good way but The Godly good way for us to lean in and obediently “walk in” and facilitate movement with God’s ambassadors. Whether you are 9 years old, or 20 something or 60 something, the team at STM extends their hands along this new path. The STM community has not disappeared. We are alive and committed to being the hands and feet of Christ alongside partners and global servants with you.

• Since June 2020, virtual experiences have been held in the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Thailand, Japan and Zimbabwe with over 150 people in attendance. Your presence is a testimony of full and steady commitment. We have volunteers actively serving in cross-cultural opportunities in Spain, Asia and the Dominican Republic. We are praying for an experienced ESL teacher to serve in Cambodia as well as a French speaking Nurse Educator to serve in Vanga (the Democratic Republic of Congo), to respond to God’s call and follow the movement of the Holy Spirit.
• Two well written guides filled with a plethora of resources are available in English and Spanish. The English version entitled, Short-Term Mission Team Essentials – Together On The Journey has been published and is available through BookBaby and Amazon. The Spanish version entitled Vamos Con Dios is available in a PDF version on the IM website, under Resources for Short-Term Mission.
• A new podcast has been launched, where diverse voices who speak about being bridges for mission can be heard. Stop by and listen to B4M on the Apple podcast app or Bridges For Mission on Spotify and Buzzsprout.
• Our cross-cultural training has us doing more self-reflections on our journeys and unpack implicit and visible racial divides. An article in The Christian Citizen Magazine, entitled Walking a new walk – engaging in practices that build bridges, break barriers provides manna for the new-old path.

All good ways for us who are passionate about God’s mission to ponder, welcome, lean in and boldly step in and remain guided by the Holy Spirit. All good ways to serve humbly and fully. Won’t you join us?

You can reach the STM office at volunteers@internationalministries.org