I have always been a huge sports fan. I can’t remember the day where sports was not somehow a part of my life. I love the competition, rivalries, pageantry and skill that takes place in sports. I will never forget being at Game 1 of the NBA Finals in 2006. It was my beloved Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat. I had tickets through my best friend Nic Lesmeister who worked for the Mavericks. My seats were about 4 rows from the top of Everest, but I was grateful. For a couple of minutes of the game, I got to go with him down to the end of the tunnel and watch some of the game almost court side. What I saw completely blew me away. 30 feet in front of me stood the biggest man I had ever seen in person, Shaquille O’Neal. For a few minutes, I was in complete awe of how a man so big (7’0 350lbs) could move so fast and be so precise and quick with his footwork. It is still to this day the greatest display of athleticism that I have ever seen in person and I have been to a lot of college and professional sporting events.
What’s interesting is that I had seen Shaq play on TV numerous times. And while I appreciated and understood that he was a great athlete, it did not become real to me till I saw it in person. My eyes were opened. I could see with my own eyes, from close up, the total and complete difference of watching him in person compared to the TV or computer. It was a completely different experience.
Growing up, I really had no desire to do anything missions related. I knew from watching TV, going to church and from my sister (Melissa) that people in other countries had it tough and many of them needed Jesus. I believed that, but it was kind of like watching Shaq on TV. I know he is big and good, but whats the big deal? I was not heartless towards missions, but it was not personal to me… yet.
After I graduated from High School a good friend invited me to go with him on a mission trip 500 miles into the interior of Mexico. I was up for adventure, so I went. That week in the Mexican jungle completely changed my perception, outlook and heart towards people of other nations and for that matter… missions. Shaking real hands, hugging real necks, hearing real stories and seeing real need with my own eyes and not through a TV screen changed everything!! For the next 15 years, I would go on a short-term trip every year. I even had the privilege of spending four months in China in 2008.
I know the struggle can be real when you evaluate short-term mission trips. Questions like… is it really just a vacation with a little work? Will anything really be accomplished with this group in that country? Or sometimes its the feeling that you are supporting a team that is shooting spit wads at army tanks of evil. While I understand that some short-term trips are possibly more spiritually/kingdom beneficial than others, I do know this. It might not actually be about that trip. It might not even be about that people group or that country. What I have noticed over the years is that when people young and old set their sight on going on a short-term trip to serve, love and help another people, it is ALWAYS a good thing and worthy to get behind.
I was a late teen kid who knew little about missions and really cared even less. After one short-term trip, my life was on a new trajectory. It’s still ironic, that me, the little boy who grew up with only sports on his mind is now helping to lead a missions ministry with 300+ field workers in 60+ countries. When I look back, it really all started with an invitation to go on a SHORT-TERM missions trip. I will always and forever be a supporter of us sending young and old people around the globe for a couple of weeks. Let’s all continue to send and support those going on short-term trips! We just never know the change it will bring about in a persons heart and how it can completely change the trajectory of their life!
Marvin Slaton – Modern Day Director
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