The church has often been criticized for short-term mission trips. A group goes in, fixes a house, sings a few songs and then leaves a few days later. Many shake their head at the amount of help one can provide in only a week.
The argument that is often given in response to these critics of short-term missions is, “My calling is not to move overseas.”
My perspective on this issue greatly changed as I spoke to Randy and Ginny Schwindt. Randy is a professor of engineering at Union University, and his wife Ginny is a professor of social work. They have both been involved with GO Trips for over a decade.
Randy said the thought of overseas missions had never been one of his goals. The main passion God had given him was to teach and disciple college-age students. While Randy and Ginny only take part in short-term missions, they have discovered how God can use discipleship to lead students into working full-time on the mission field.
This discipleship method began when an engineering student approached Randy about using his vocation on the mission field in less developed countries. Randy, being the only available engineering faculty to help him, was then secured as a mission leader to go overseas.
Ever since then, Randy has participated in leading GO Trips. He and his wife Ginny use this opportunity to disciple their students to share the gospel with others. While their calling is not to move permanently overseas, they have still been obedient to God’s calling to advance the gospel through mentoring their students.
“They both made me comfortable and equipped to share the gospel,” said Katie Richards, junior social work major.
Katie went with the Schwindt family to Kenya on a recent GO Trip. She said that Ginny and Randall invited students into their home and really fostered community and comfortability before going on the mission trip.
Katie said, “One thing that they focus on is how through the gospel we have been invited into the kingdom of God. So as God’s children, we must extend that invitation to others we meet. Not just through word of mouth, but also how you live.”
The Schwindt family models hospitality to their students. They use this model while in the United States but also take part in it while overseas.
Randy and Ginny recalled when they were in Kenya, they were invited into Muslim homes during Ramadan — the Islamic month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. During this time, Muslims are very open to hearing about other religions and cultures. Randy and Ginny were often able to share the gospel through an interpreter at these meals.
Once, the religious leader of the town, the Imam, invited the GO Trip members to his home and listened to them as they shared God’s word. On another occasion, a group of team members even led a Muslim man to Christ.
Ginny said that it was almost less complicated to share the gospel in these foreign places. However, that does not mean believers do not have an opportunity to share Christ with members of their immediate community.
“I do think in some ways it’s easier,” Ginny said. “But that may just be because we may not take the time to step out and do it here. We are in our comfort zones here, and [sharing the gospel] is a very uncomfortable thing to do.”
The Schwindt family definitely affirmed that there is just as great a mission field here in the United States as there is overseas.
“The mission field is wherever you are at,” said Ginny.
While the Schwindt family has been able to share the gospel overseas, their main mission has been to encourage students through their vocation to make connections and make disciples. By doing life with others, they have been able to model Christ.
“I think Jesus modeled that. He lived with his disciples for three years. That’s the Biblical model,” Randy said.
Randy and Ginny are not traditional foreign missionaries, but they have fulfilled a role in preparing college students to share the gospel around the world for years to come.
