What do we do when we come back from a STM trip?

Debrief, to conserve the fruit of spiritual impact of the STM

  1. Services
  2. Missions Paths
  3. Short Term Missions
  4. What do we do when we come back from a STM trip?
Create your custom Missions Path PDF
Missions Pastors, Short Term Missions
Post-trip debriefing makes the difference between the trip being a life-changing experience, or a mere memory (whether good or bad). Debriefing seeks to help short-termers to:
  • Process what they saw and learned while on the field
  • Decide what next steps are best for continuing their participation in God’s global mission
  • Give feedback as to how future trips should be run, what mission agencies are good and poor future partners, etc.

Short-term debriefing specialists agree with the above key goals for debriefing, but vary in how and where debriefing should occur:

  • In the country of service or back home
  • Written or verbal
  • Individual or group
  • Duration of debriefing

Here’s a list of ten solid questions to use in debriefing short-termers, adapted from questions from Tim Dearborn and David Livermore:

  1. What did I learn about myself on my short-term mission?
  2. What did I learn about God? 
  3. What did I learn about the people, the church, and the Christian community in the area where I served?
  4. What did I learn about how culture impacts the ways people live and understand the Gospel?
  5. What did I learn about justice, economics, poverty, and politics during my short-term mission?
  6. As a follower of Christ, what did I learn that can help me be a more fully devoted disciple?
  7. How might my faith be different if I had grown up where I was serving, as opposed to in
    my home community?
  8. What did I learn or experience that will change the way I live and represent Jesus in my home community and church?
  9. What have I learned about my own Christian calling?
  10. How can I continue to support the ongoing work in the area where I served?

A qualified leader who has substantial short-term missions experience and has successfully mentored returning short-termers should lead debriefing ideally.

Most churches that have sent short-termers will ask for a report when they return.

< Previous
How should we prepare for a STM trip?
Return to Short Term Missions
Next >
How can we transfer all the benefits of the STM to the church?