I am an atheist woman, and I occasionally accompany my parent's church on mission trips, this one time, we went to this orphanage in Mexico. The kids were well clothed, well fed, and just very chill nice people. One of the church members had donated some money for us to buy the shoes. We did and we gave it to them. Their first reaction was like any normal person would react to getting shoes, "Oh, ok, thanks, these are nice". A lady in the corner was filming and she immediately pulled the pastor aside and explained how the reaction was unsatisfactory. The events that proceeded were as such: the pastor told everyone to take the shoes back, explained to the kids that we were going to give them the shoes with one condition, when he asked " Do yall want some new shoes?" they had to gleefully shout YEEESSS!! and cheer etc. Next thing I know the video of the fake reaction had been posted to facebook saying "When was the last time you received a pair of new shoes? did you react like this?, these kids are living in poverty and squalor, they have so little that a new pair of shoes excites them to the point of tears. Be greatful for all that god has given you" The giving new shoes was fine, what angered me is the entire fakeness of it all.

@darthutah6649

8 жыл бұрын

just goes to show that churches aren't immune to corporate greed

@kuif234

7 жыл бұрын

Crazy Little Thing Called Sam Damn...

@adan1509

7 жыл бұрын

We noticed this when we were helping out at an orphanage, there was a stream of tourists coming and giving the kids $2 toys and hoping for a big reaction. They had a container full of toys. What they really needed was privacy in their own home, fly screens on the windows and someone to cook for and feed the toddlers.

@religionispoisonous3685

5 жыл бұрын

What a disgusting story...but it doesnt surprise me. Their religion is lies upon lies upon lies

@Jaaz7

5 жыл бұрын

Darth Utah 66 they are the most prone to it actually.

Most of the christians from the US that came to our country in the poorest villages when I was a kid actually brought a lot of food and goodies from america and clothes, they built a park for children, they held games for kids/early adolescents and were generally really nice people. Some of them even brought doctors with them and consulted us free of charge and brought medical supplies. Really neat stuff. Even if I'm an atheist I really respect these people.

@austinthompson4217

8 жыл бұрын

don't believe this man why are you an atheist in the first place Jesus does exist theres more proof He exist then evolution witch does not make sense by the way

@garlandlucas3762

7 жыл бұрын

austin thompson how does evolution not make sense? and how is there more evidence of God than hard evidence of evolution? I honestly want to know because you may be misinformed

@BABEEBEEH

7 жыл бұрын

These really nice Christians are the hands and feet of Jesus to serve u for free

@darkrain6944

7 жыл бұрын

you can be a christian and believe in evolution. the pope even said its true

@Rolando_Cueva

7 жыл бұрын

I just realised he didn't mean witch, but which. I was thinking of a literal witch xD

"I'm helping to save their SOULS, .. . not their LIVES" . . THAT is what allot of THOSE people who do that will tell you.

@davidsoutreach847

3 жыл бұрын

Saving their soul is saving their life!!!

@letsrank9349

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidsoutreach847 how good sir? So when they DIE. Their SOULS can live in paradise?

@Themachine615

3 жыл бұрын

@@letsrank9349 Precisely. Yes.

@MrRono19

3 жыл бұрын

@@letsrank9349 We all die at some point. Helping someone eternally would have a longer effect.

@spawncampe

3 жыл бұрын

My Soul is better without Jesus. Right now with this life, we gotta make the most of it

There's this chick that I went to college with that is doing this right now. She keeps asking for money every day. Someone anonymously donated $200 and she said it was Jesus...

@Mintyoreos

8 жыл бұрын

Oh good lord. She goes to college? So webpage layouts and people deciding to help is another language that can only be explained by something that does not exist in front of one? Lolol

I hate it when people do nice things just to better their reputation. And then they get angry and tell you you're evil just because you called them out on it. Dude I'm not evil, I like it when people do nice things. Just do them the smart way and not expecting anything in return.

@tabletop5226

10 жыл бұрын

When in Africa I met a lot of Catholic nuns who lived many years amongst the poor and will die far away from their home, having given their lives. No-one knows their names and no-one will ever know, they don't care for reputation. Don't judge people who do good stuff. Not everyone wants to "better their reputation."

@Lun4812

10 жыл бұрын

Table Top I think you should read my post again. I wasn't even generalizing.

@heyzues8363

10 жыл бұрын

Table Top nobody will know the names of those women who have sacrificed their lives to place another feather in the church of rome's hat. no doubt that every catholic will say, "look what the church is doing in africa." i cannot post images here, but if i could i would post images of crystal palaces, marble columns and arches inlaid with gold. the wealth which went into constructing, administrating, and maintaining these edifices could educate all those 'starving' people. not a religious education, but an education in the fundementals of engineering. the fundementals which help to irrigate labour intensive sustenance farms. instead of teaching people to pray, teach them to farm, fish, and pass the knowledge to the next generation.

@massey904

10 жыл бұрын

hey zues What are nonbelievers teaching the poor?

@heyzues8363

10 жыл бұрын

Chris M 'nothing' ... but that is better than giving them false hope. spirituality focuses on death ... we humans only have that time between birth and death to create new life, and teach it how to survive this world long enough to continue the cycle. one cannot focus one's efforts to this purpose if one is so focused on earning a place in the afterlife. think how much kufu's priest imhotep, might have accomplished if he had focused on making egypt better ... instead of building the great pyramid at giza. yes it is a marvel, but it serves my argument that religion steals time and energy from life.

One of my big problems with missions is, they go into these third world countries mostly to spread their gospel. I feel it would be insulting to go to another country and try to force western religious thought onto people who already have their own cultures. It's been shown throughout history that Christianity destroys pretty much every culture it embeds itself in, and causes even more problems for people. Plus it's an insult to think that these people somehow feel that their culture and religion is superior. It's like they look upon non-western cultures as savages to be tamed and brought to the lord. Yes, I have a lot of problems with Christian missions.

@BillyBike416

9 жыл бұрын

No insult. Christians just talk to people. Some believe some don't. Western civilization largely believed until a few decades and people seem to flock here. Europe will soon fall to Islam and the US will likely follow shortly thereafter. Let's seem if the migration continues.

@Kawamura2

9 жыл бұрын

Bill Asbury Your comment makes no sense.

@Stabsnipers

9 жыл бұрын

Bill Asbury "Christians just talk to people." Well, that's a big part of the problem, Bill. They "talk" about how others will burn forever and ever unless they accept Christ, which is wrong. "Europe will soon fall to Islam and the US will likely follow shortly thereafter." Too laughable to even address as an actual statement.

@BillyBike416

9 жыл бұрын

***** Ray, You're right, my comment does make no sense. Let me try again. " I feel it would be insulting to go to another country and try to force western religious thought onto people who already have their own cultures." No insult. Christians just talk to people. Some believe, some don't BECAUSE NO ONE CAN FORCE SOMEONE TO BELIEVE. SOME PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH THE MESSAGE AND SOME EMBRACE CHRIST WITH JOY. COUNTLESS LIVES AND CULTURES HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED FOR THE BETTER. TAKE THE EVANGELIZATION OF IRELAND BY PATRICK CENTURIES AGO. THAT COUNTRY WAS TRANSFORMED AND HAS BEEN INDISPENSABLE TO THE WESTERN STORY. THE SAME IS TRUE OF SCOTLAND AND MANY MORE. ""It's been shown throughout history that Christianity destroys pretty much every culture it embeds itself in, and causes even more problems for people. Western civilization largely believed IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH until a few decades AGO and DURING THOSE EARLIER YEARS people seem to HAVE flockED TO THE WEST. CHRISTIANITY FORMED WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND IT HAS BE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CULTURE IN HUMAN HISTORY. CHRISTIAN COUNTRIES HAVE LED THE WORLD FOR THE LAST 1500 YEARS IN ART, PHILOSOPHY, MEDICINE, SCIENCE, ARCHITECTURE MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY. NOW Europe will soon fall to Islam and the US will likely follow shortly thereafter (and by the way THAT WILL be force). Let's see if ALL that migration STILL continues FOR WHEN THE LOSS OF CHRISTIANITY PERVADES WESTERN SOCIETY FOR SAY 200 YEARS, I DOUBT MUCH DESIRABLE IN THE WEST WILL BE LEFT INCLUDING FREEDOM. PS: "It has been shown, throughout history that Christianity destroys...." BY WHOM has this been shown?? References please.

@BillyBike416

9 жыл бұрын

Stabsnipers Stab, "Europe will soon fall to Islam and the US will likely follow shortly thereafter." Too laughable to even address as an actual statement. You REALLY need to explain why that is laughable. Do you really think Islam can be stopped in Europe? With their radical "tolerance" of everything, HOW will Islam be stopped? There are too many Muslims there now to force them out. France would never tolerate the bloodshed. Europeans have a birth rate so low that it is far below the replacement number and is now irreversible. Europe has no children to form the next generation. Who do you suppose will fill that vacuum as the old pass away? France now has numerous "Non-Muslim Free Zones where the police refuse to go and where Sharia law governs those zones. You think this is stoppable in France? What would provide the power to stop the power of the Muslim will? Charlie Hebdo??

I was talking to an atheist who used to be a Christian missionary and he told me that his group was basically lying to the people and misleading them into thinking that the reason the missionaries have all this access to food, water, medicine and technology is because they believe in God and are Christians. He told me how they'd be pushing that idea constantly, and then when they actually convert people the missionaries work is done and they all leave and take the food, water, medicine and technology with them leaving the people in the same state they were in before missionaries rocked up, except now they believe in God and Jesus. He told me that people from his missionary group knew and openly talked to each other about the fact that these people believe that by converting they will get access to those things and that they mostly felt it was OK to mislead them into thinking that because if they didn't convert these people they believed they were going to hell. If you think that unless you convert someone that they will go to hell and that you converting them is the only way they will be saved, it can lead you to make all sorts of horrible and immoral decisions on how to help these people. It becomes easy to justify outright lying to them if the alternative is they go to hell. Another thing that pisses me off is when missionaries think that conversion is a priority, over food, water and shelter even because in their mind even if the people do die from hunger or dehydration or exposure they are better off because they end up in heaven and not in some horrible situation down here on Earth where they're hungry, thirsty and don't have a roof over their heads.

@TorianTammas

10 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing that!

@revivalbangor

10 жыл бұрын

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

@13Yeared

10 жыл бұрын

revivalbangor You're in the wrong place, dude.

@GrlWhoLoves

10 жыл бұрын

revivalbangor God damn, shut the fuck up.

@benjamins7905

6 жыл бұрын

StreakyBaconMan I promise and guarantee if he swears in every day talk to you he truly was never a Christian. Be assured from a true Christ follower here

i cannot post images here, but if i could i would post images of religious headquarter's around the globe, crystal palaces, marble columns and arches inlaid with gold. the wealth which went into constructing, administrating, and maintaining these edifices could educate all those 'starving' people. not a religious education, but an education in the fundementals of engineering. the fundementals which help to irrigate labour intensive sustenance farms. instead of teaching people to pray, teach them to farm, fish, and pass the knowledge to the next generation.

@Table-Top

10 жыл бұрын

I agree, we spend far too much on buildings. You'd like a preacher called Tony Campolo. He's the one who inspired me to give up my job and live amongst the poorest or the poor in Africa.

@aoife7190

10 жыл бұрын

tabletop581 but you're on a computer?

@samanthaarielann6318

10 жыл бұрын

hey zues And you believe those with wealth are following who they say they follow? Jesus said, No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. *You cannot serve both God and money*. Seek salvation.

@samanthaarielann6318

10 жыл бұрын

tabletop581 Jesus needs to be your center piece. If you did all that just because a man inspired you then you did it for all the wrong reasons. Jesus said who ever loves their life will lose it. But who ever hates it will gain it in abundance. Get into a relationship with Jesus our lord so he can guide you like he has guided me. The way of the church is going is not his way. Jesus bless you though:)

@stephaniemitchell8509

10 жыл бұрын

SofiaLove888 "Jesus said who ever loves their life will lose it. But who ever hates it will gain it in abundance." What? What is wrong with loving a life that was gifted to you by your creator? And if you hate life, what sense is there in gaining it in abundance?

As a long-term full-time missionary, I appreciate what you say here. I agree that churches as a whole need to study missions more. I have seen cases where well-intentioned short-term teams have caused more harm than good.

@MichaelPabon-dd2fy

Жыл бұрын

Not one of you have the holy spirit. You guys remind me of Mormons. Not real Christians. And most are secretly eacist

@KingJonathanThe1st

Ай бұрын

How about not try converting them at all and leave them be 😂 they’re not hurting anyone. As for their Soul, I’m sure they have their own way of connecting with the Living God

I'm a Christian (formerly very anti-theistic though) and I have to agree with this guy. Send money to people who are ALREADY there.

@maisymallory6253

9 жыл бұрын

I agree. That money could be better spent. When a group goes to a foreign country, thousands of dollars are wasted on travel expenses. That money could accomplish so much in a third world country.

@MarkBH70

2 жыл бұрын

Welcome! Glad you converted, if you did. I'm a cynical Christian. When someone says he's a Christian, I usually don't believe him. But if you are, great! Yes, there's no need wasting money; but churches, like governmental groups, and NGO's, find ways to waste it that would embarrass a sailor!

@YasminYoruba

3 ай бұрын

I disagree I go because I want to ensure the money goes directly to these communities

I disagree, missionary teens and adult missionaries used to come to our poor neighborhood in NYC and brought us crayons, notebooks, school supplies and things I couldn't get because even though my family worked we were working-class poor in NYC. I lived and worked in South America and saw missions hold up whole communities without any government aid.

@Emma88178

2 жыл бұрын

Those are far and few between unfortunately. Not the norm.

@sejanus855

Жыл бұрын

You can't just disagree with something because you personally had a different experience. Nothing always universally is good or bad, but having had a good experience with something doesn't mean it can't be bad on the broad scale

The trips I went on brought food, clothes and medical supplies. I have seen Christian missions trips drill fresh water wells, build homes, fly medical planes.

@boopbop8861

3 жыл бұрын

they also push their religious beliefs onto these people and use them and their culture as a photo op. it’s honestly super fake and embarrassing. i would be so annoyed if these rich people came into my home and used me as something to make them feel good about themselves.

@tylerl4320

3 жыл бұрын

Ah the classic “it’s not bad because i saw 3 examples so it’s an overgenarilaztipn”

I remember something that happened when I was at my Catholic high school a few years back. It was red nose day and I'd brought a red nose with me and was wearing it. My Religious education teacher walked up to me and told me to take it off. They didn't support comic relief at my school because the charity teaches about safe sex and hands out condoms in Africa to combat HIV. And my school didn't approve of saving these people. I was dumbfounded. Needless to say, I am an atheist.

@late8641

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah like which is worse, getting aids or doing something a 2000-year-old book doesn't approve. That's just disgusting, they should be ashamed of themselves.

@pixeled9683

4 жыл бұрын

HIV is an issue in Africa, and can be combatted by them not having sex at all. You shouldn't just have sex whenever you want

@late8641

4 жыл бұрын

@@pixeled9683 The point is, unless you can prove the existence of your spesific God or justify the validity of you spesific holy book, why should other people act according to what it says? I could write a book that says eating porridge as breakfast is wrong, but why would anyone have to act accordingly since I have no way of justifying that the book is a valid source of moral guidance.

@Mateo-gh4ps

3 жыл бұрын

Anyone ask your fkng history

here's my experience: I went on one mission trip and my experience was very positive. We built a shelter for the kids church, brought bottled water, food, clothes and shoes. We didn't preach, we didn't convert, we had a mission and we fulfilled it. I can go on and tell you how this experience changed my life but I'm not. It did so I'll leave it at that.

@creevey82

8 жыл бұрын

+sid gallegos Thats pretty much what he said. You offered some minimal assistance, over a very short period. The end result is that you get to feel good about yourself, and jot it down on your resume, while those kids are still in a shitty situation. Missions are band-aids, when these countries need reconstructive surgery.

@sidgallegos

8 жыл бұрын

+Michael C , you are correct sir when you said that "these countries needs reconstructive surgery". You are incorrect in saying that I "got to feel good about myself". Yes, everyone has an opinion, and I respect that however; this experience made me want to go out and help others. I've helped out in homeless shelters, orphanages, women's shelters, food banks. Are those band aids too? If this country is so rich, why do we still have poverty? I don't point fingers, I go out and help those that need some helping. Those third world countries leaders should be ashamed of themselves for not taking care of their people but that's not my job to judge...there's too many of those out there who hide behind the screen and type away their "observations". OH, and by the way, I don't boast my outreach works on my resume..and what I typed here two months ago wasn't boasting either, it was my imput on this video. Anyways, have a great day sir.

@m.d4375

8 жыл бұрын

+sid gallegos United States does not take care of their poor people well at all compared to many european countries, in fact they don't do much at all to help them.

@sidgallegos

8 жыл бұрын

+iOwn17_ Pro Family Planning  Consolidated Health Centers  Transitional Cash and Medical Services for Refugees  State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)  Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit-Low-Income Subsidy  Medicaid  Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program  Breast/Cervical Cancer Early Detection  Maternal and Child Health Block Grant  Indian Health Service  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (cash aid)  Supplemental Security Income  Additional Child Tax Credit  Earned Income Tax Credit (refundable component)  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)  School Breakfast Program (free/reduced price components)  National School Lunch Program (free/reduced price components)  Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)  Child and Adult Care Food Program (lower income components)  Summer Food Service Program  Commodity Supplemental  Food Program Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico  The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)  Nutrition Program for the Elderly  Indian Education  Adult Basic Education Grants to States  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant  Education for the Disadvantaged- Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Title I-A)  Title I Migrant Education Program  Higher Education-Institutional Aid and Developing Institutions  Federal Work-Study  Federal TRIO Programs  Federal Pell Grants  Education for Homeless Children and Youth  21st Century Community Learning Centers  Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP)  Reading First and Early Reading First  Rural Education Achievement Program  Mathematics and Science Partnerships  Improving Teacher Quality State Grants  Academic Competitiveness and Smart Grant Program  Single-Family Rural Housing Loans  Rural Rental Assistance Program  Water and Waste Disposal for Rural Communities  Public Works and Economic Development  Supportive Housing for the Elderly  Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities  Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance  Community Development Block Grants  Homeless Assistance Grants  Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)  Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)  Public Housing  Indian Housing Block Grants  Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers  Neighborhood Stabilization Program-1  Grants to States for Low-Income Housing in Lieu of Low-Income Housing Credit Allocations  Tax Credit Assistance Program  Indian Human Services  Older Americans Act Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers  Older Americans Act Family Caregiver Program  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (social services)  Child Support Enforcement  Community Services Block Grant  Child Care and Development Fund  Head Start HHS  Developmental Disabilities Support and Advocacy Grants  Foster Care  Adoption Assistance  Social Services Block Grant  Chafee Foster Care Independence Program  Emergency Food and Shelter Program  Legal Services Corporation  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (employment and training component)  Community Service Employment for Older Americans  Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Activities  Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities  Social Services and Targeted Assistance for Refugees  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (employment and training)  Foster Grandparents  Job Corps  Weatherization Assistance Program  Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) No sir, the US doesnt take care of their poor people...at all! (scarcasm)

@m.d4375

8 жыл бұрын

sid gallegos Not what I meant, there are a very lot of poor people in the US compared to many europeen countries.

Bit apprehensive watching as I am preparing for a 9 month long mission trip, however I am very pleased with your analysis. I have always been critical of mission trips that don’t have a visible fruit from their time there. The best way to spread the gospel is by showing love and one of the best ways to show love is providing necessities and supporting those in need.

I'm from Kenya and I can tell you this definitely helps way more than you think.

@bike4aday

3 жыл бұрын

It warms my heart to hear that

I’m a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, we don’t really “spread Christianity” or preach about Jesus when we’re there, us and the family build the house and it’s a super fun and refreshing experience. What my group also does in our week of going there is we throw a block party in the neighborhood that we’re building in to get to know the people of the town and we give them food and play games and talk to them about their lives and just make some friends!

Christian here, just came back from a missions trip to Balcones Del Sol, Mexico. We brought doctors and donated clothes, to say these people were grateful is an understatement…not because of what we brought but because they felt loved, seen and heard. I got more from that trip than I could ever give them. Heading out on my second trip in January, I thought missions trip was about talking about the Bible when in reality it’s about sharing the unconditional love of god.

I went with my friend's church to Haiti this summer, we gave them food, water, and clothing. Yeah, we stayed there for only a week, but I feel like we really made a difference. You say that having a Bible with them or that Christianity doesn't help them. I couldn't disagree more. There have actually been studies that show that people who believe in God are more likely to survive cancer and avoid cancer in general. Also, my church DOES donate to long-term commitment groups, as well as charities. Every year, around Christmas, we wrap presents bought by the church members, and send them to orphanages. We do the same on mission trips. Yeah, we like to share the Gospel, but that's not what we're all about. We want to improve the health and well being of these people by giving them food and clean water. But something that I found interesting, is 90% of the time, they really don't care about stuff like food or water. They just want people to play with them and to love them. As soon as I got off the bus, like seven of them jumped up on me. Seeing their smiles made my year! I almost cried, seeing these children, who had been been to hell and back, smiling, and being thankful for the little they have. Something like that, for me personally, can only be because of God. You may disagree with me, and you may even laugh at me, but those kids made a HUGE difference for the better in my life.

I call bullshit on this. My gf's grandparents were missionaries in a remote part of Peru in the '50s, and actually helped teach them how to distill clean drinking water, introduced corn and lima beans, along with tomatoes, to this tribe (the tribe first made contact with American explorers who landed by plane in the rainforest in the early 40s, in which they responded with fear and killed all of the explorers, which they later apologized for this), they provided them with beds, blankets, and helped set up mosquito protection, and even without eating more than once a day to make sure there was enough food to go around, alongside this, her grandparents actually learned the tribe's dialect to teach them the Bible, not forcing the tribe to lose their own language. Even to this day, my gf's mother, who lived with the tribe for 6 years, sponsors a girl in that exact tribe (Because even though her parents did help the tribe, unfortunately the tribe was hit with very tough times), and she gives to the point it hurts her financially. Sometimes, these mission trips are about more than just religious conversion, sometimes, it's about helping people and doing what's right, regardless of if they choose to even consider what you teach or not.

@linap92

10 жыл бұрын

Watch the video before criticizing. If you took the time to listen you would know he amends organizations like the one you described and says there should be more like it. He is against a whole other breed of "charity"

I left the church after I went on a missions trip to Honduras. It was a week long feel good trip for the missionaries because we were saving the world one bible at a time.If we wanted to solve any real problems we should have passed out birth control instead.

sharing the gospel is giving eternal life to someone whos never heard it, and thats the best gift you could give anyone, though you may not agree with that. ive been to haiti, i went for 10 days. we built a few houses and fixed some places up from the earth quake. but i agree somewhat.. going for a week doesnt really help much. our church has two groups that moved their perminantly to help.. and they dont just give the people stuff, thats doesnt help, thats inabling.. instead they set up biusnesses and hire people to work so theres jobs. so haitians are employed. now that helps.. give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime.

So, OK, agnostic theist from Honduras here: if someone wants to come here, that's fine by me. And if they want to preach their faith, whatever that may be, that's still fine by me. If they feel motivated by that for humanitarian work, still, I don't have a problem. Help is help, and if you offer it, we'll take it. And many of the people who come with religious/humanitarian missions are indeed quite dedicated, develop ties with the community, and do a honestly good job in providing useful services (medicine, getting resources). But if you come here thinking that locals "haven't heard about Jesus", then you're either an idiot or a douchebag. And that also leads to the kind Hemant is mentioning: those who go there for "colonial touring"- the clueless kid who has no discernible skills, doesn't know Spanish (or whatever the local language), and is just there to feel awesome that they helped. They enjoy their "superhero" status (riding on the work others have done) and just get off on the thought of being the superior people at their current location. Basically, Gary Boisseau : can you stop assuming that Christianity is the magic gift that we'd only have down here if first world countries kept sending people? Do you assume, perhaps, that our memory is deficient and locals would forget Christianity if you didn't keep your preachers flowing? Can you understand why we don't see colonialism in a precisely positive light?

@cyruspalmer98

10 жыл бұрын

Great comment.

@bryanrodezno3183

10 жыл бұрын

Dude? What part of Honduras are you from and where have you had the privilage to go to school at? I too am Honduran, but I live in the US where secularist beliefs and scientific reasoning is tolerated a bit more. Limme just say that I'm impressed that you, in a 3rd world country with people who base many of their beliefs on hearsay and don't bother to question it, are able to develop excellent critical thoughts. I'm not trying to insult the intelligence of my people, but the places my family is from such as Copan, San Pedro Sula, and La Entrada, you would surely get killed or get your house burned down for being an agnostic theist, which to many people there is the equivalent of being Satan.

@NightmareGanon

10 жыл бұрын

San Pedro Sula, and IDK, there's plenty of openly atheist people at college who get along with others just fine. I know this may just be my perception, but I feel that most lapsed Catholics and lapsed non-denominationals won't mind you having different beliefs than them. That's not to say there aren't fundies, but they're not that hard to avoid.

@bryanrodezno3183

10 жыл бұрын

NightmareGanon Dude, you live in the most dangerous city in the entire world! Kudos to you. Out of curiosity, do you by any chance know of the Savedra or Lendos family?

@NightmareGanon

10 жыл бұрын

I think I have some Saavedra acquaintance, but Lendos really doesn't ring any bell. Sorry, man.

Those people you mentioned, the ones who just want some pics for Facebook, how can you say "their heart is in the right place"??? Obviously, if their intentions are about themselves, then their hearts are NOT in the right place.

@carstenhansen5757

8 жыл бұрын

+Jimmy David - I think you could argue, that goes for just about ALL religious actions.

@eddiekemp6603

8 жыл бұрын

bc if he didn't they would have clicked dislike and left the video with some your going to hell bs comment

this one large church in our area (High Desert Church) did something really amazing. at Christmas a few years back they asked their congregation to take some/ or all of their Christmas funds and donate it to this place in Africa ( I forgot the name of the place.) they went and built I think it was like 6 wells so this place and the villages near by had fresh drinking water. Then the following year they asked the Congregation to do the same thing but this time they built a medical facility and had like 2 big rigs full of medical equiptment and supplies. they continue to donate medical supplies there to this day. every Christmas the congregations comes together to provide the funds to supply that facility. they also send Bibles and preach Christianity.

so true. Just like those charity concerts dont actually help and they're just there for the wealthy people to make them feel better about themselves.

I've been looking for a video like this. Thank you.

The Methodist church does mission trips completely differently than what you described. We build schools, we bring diapers, we set up clean water systems, we bring clothes etc. and we aren't trying to convert them. Just saying that not all churches operate in the same way. Also, the benefit that servers get is not just a vacation or for photos; it literally teaches them values and experiences that make them into more kind people for the rest of their lives.

@kerismith7130

2 жыл бұрын

They can build their schools, they can make their clothes. Empower them, don't do it for them.

@molintsui7501

2 жыл бұрын

Amen

I disagree Christians don't go with purely good intentions, they want to level up they're godly ranks to get into heaven lol.. the good they do is laced with selfishness and greed...

@alienslovepeanuts

8 жыл бұрын

Marcel Venter I agree 100% that was perfectly said, people like you give me hope.. the human race is naturally retarded it seems like, so glad to not walk around blind like so many do, yet its really depressing to see the reality...

@joshuacargill6656

8 жыл бұрын

+Marcel Venter I went on a mission trip to Memphis, Tennessee this summer and I worked with kids, I fell in love with them because I couldn't help but love them like Jesus loved all of us. I did not go for any selfish intent. Yes, I did feel good after the trip, but that's because I knew I had helped the people of Memphis by loving on them and helping them with so many things they needed. I saw many of those kids come to know Christ and that made me realize I did something so great for them simply by loving on them like Jesus. I'm sorry you feel that we don't love people and that we are selfish, I hope you meet Christians who are good examples for you.

@alienslovepeanuts

8 жыл бұрын

Joshua Cargill people like you make me sick, people don't need faith they need help with problems that religion cannot help fix.. you fell in love with the people because you had a human connection that's it, I'm godless and would fall in love with wonderful people the same as you... godless is best, I help people because I care, you help to indoctrinate children with problematic folklore to continue the Stockholm syndrome that has plagued people for so many years ? you think everyone godless or non-Christian needs you to brainwash them lol go fuck yourself literally :)... I love many wonderful Christians personally but I pity the ignorance and blindness of believers, i will never be a Christian until their is evidence and if he is proven I'd never worship the Christian god I'm better than that, Joshua I honestly am really pissed at your bullshit but I hope someday you grow up and stop your nonsense.. i'm so insulted you think I don't know good Christians I do but that doesn't mean I should believe the same shit that I don't, my life goal is to stop indoctrination and people like you are my enemy number one :), i'll see you in the future maybe i'm with the freedom from religion campaign and we will stop you from brainwashing children as we should, if we can your days are numbered :D...

@theyworkweplay

8 жыл бұрын

+alienslovepeanuts have you ever thought about where "love" comes from?

@blue5had0w

8 жыл бұрын

+Sherri Cargill It's a chemical reaction in your brain, quite fascinating really.

Christian missions is usually relief or service related. I don't see how relief aid or service help is "not helping".

Not to mention manny of these countries already have religion.

@kuif234

7 жыл бұрын

alek carpenter Yes

@cynax7757

4 жыл бұрын

Religion doesn't mean God is in the center of those principals.

@cynax7757

4 жыл бұрын

God is not someone you can reject. You probably will reject your children. If you don't want them or not believe in them. That's what you're doing to God.

@Zoki4444

4 жыл бұрын

@@cynax7757 Did God not create us with free will to make choices? We have the ability to choose to reject God. Isn't that the whole point of Christianity, to make the choice whether to accept God or not?

@cynax7757

4 жыл бұрын

Yes. Ready for the consequences for rejecting God. Since when did humans know about anything. Do children know more than their parents. Never.

Wow, I had never thought of mission trips in that light. Good video.

I'm a Christian and I think you make some really valid points that the Southern Baptist Convention is already talking about in great detail. But a lot of places missionaries go are fine infrastructurally and they just go to share the good news about how we can be saved from our sin through faith in Jesus and his life, death and resurrection.

@tenzylama9112

3 жыл бұрын

Southern baptist missionary here nepal live in very luxuriously without doing much.they are good in writing news letters.

@chrisbennett3290

3 жыл бұрын

@@tenzylama9112 That's a shame to hear. I definitely believe you and as a missionary I know they will have to give an account before God of how they used their time and money, as will I. There is no greater cause to give your life to than living for the glory of God and making him known to those around you.

@anniegirl_1421

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that’s literally the worst part about your trips...

@chrisbennett3290

2 жыл бұрын

@@anniegirl_1421 I truly believe that apart from faith in Jesus people will eternally perish for their sins. Shouldn't I share that with others then? Isn't that the most loving thing for me to do if I care about and love people? I'm eternally grateful that someone warned me about the coming judgement of God and shared about his loving plan of rescue to save me from my sins and the penalty I deserve for them. I want nothing more for people than to know and love the God that created them and experience his grace and mercy.

@kevinvorster9777

2 жыл бұрын

@@chrisbennett3290 you've been sucked into a cult. The biggest and oldest scam in history.

I completely agree with you. I was born on a mission trip. My parents went in a third world country for **2 years** with a 1-yo boy and my mother was pregnant of me. They didn't went there to "spread the gospel" , they went there to teach at the university, because in that country they lacked high-level education. This happened 20+ years ago; 3 years ago we had a sudden loss in our family... we received a letter of condolences signed by the dean of the university, so I'm quite sure what my parents did there *actually* helped someone. But I can't understand a 1-week "mission trip"... that's called a vacation.

Short term mission trips can actually be much more beneficial than you realize. I went to on a 2 week mission trip to Guatemala last summer and we helped build a church and helped with the crafts at the vacation bible school. We were helping build the second floor of the church and often times in Guatemalan churches, when a second floor is built, that second floor becomes the pastor's house. So, really we were helping give someone shelter. Aldo, every day, there would be a bunch of little kids playing by our worksite. It brought them so much joy when we went to go play with them. Even though we speak different languages and verbal communication was difficult, we interacted through hand motions and gestures and we tried to use as much of the other person's language as we could. We connected with each other because of our shared love for God. I wish I could show you how much joy it brought to those kids' faces.

@saharalessa6107

4 ай бұрын

building a church is not going to be what helps a family that doesn't even know where their next meal is coming from.... meeting kids for 2 weeks and leaving them over and over again as other groups come in isn't setting them up for stable emotional regulation, they tend to be very trusting and loving immediately and feel abandoned when their "friends" leave.....Why would you assume that these trips are more beneficial than realized if you couldn't even bother to speak the language of the people you went to "help" in order to recognize what they are truly struggling with and why they are in need of help.... there are no short term solution to long term problems

Hemant, I am from Brazil, and when I was 15 years old a group of missionaries came to my country for a short term missions trip, and contrary what you say, they went there to fix houses of the people in the favelas (the poor villages in Brazil) not only they fixed people's house that barely had money to eat, but they really took the time to love on the people and add value to them. I became a short term missionary myself, and as long I can remember, we helped build houses (away more than churchs) , we painted orphanages and fix things for free, and of course, we shared the love of God with them, faith without deeds, is a dead faith(James:14). About clean water, Christians raise so much money to help with clean water in Africa and India, I was so surprise when you said that, it seems like Christian work really bother you.

@natatata4249

4 жыл бұрын

why does christianity need to be related to the service work? just do it without spreading religion if you genuinely care about the wellness of these communities. it’s extremely demeaning for the communities to go on these trips with the intent of “saving them from themselves.” separate the religion from it, then these trips would be less problematic.

@lordbloodraven9159

3 жыл бұрын

In name of helping this missionaries are converting native religion into christanity so this is not help this is greed .

Being a missionary is a great responsibility! A missionary must have great energy, fortitude, and courage. Wherever the missionary goes, no matter what part of the world he is in, he must spread the Word. Locals must understand what the missionary is telling them. The missionary must get the Word right! Therefore, every missionary must know the language of the local people! To everyone who is on a mission or preparing for one, I would like to recommend a very good workshop written by Yury Ivantsiv Polyglot Notes: Practical tips for learning foreign language. This wonderful book will give you answers how to properly learn a foreign language with a minimum of your time and effort. This book provides answers to many of the questions that everyone faces when learning a language. I wish you good luck in your important work!

I just wanted to say (as a Christian who has been on a week long missions trip) that I genuinely appreciate what you're saying, and think Christians considering short term missions should watch this video to help them have the right perspective, because you're absolutely right that it's not about getting cool pictures and testimonies to share about on Facebook. It's about caring for people's humanitarian needs, and also spiritual needs--not even necessarily "Christian" spiritual needs, just even showing love and kindness in simple ways, while helping with food/clothing and other needs. I only differ from you in that I do believe in the importance of sharing the gospel, but not as a means of "converting" people, but rather to give hope. Anyways, I've been contemplating going back this year to the area I went on a short term mission before, and this really helped me remember and solidify in my mind the reasons I want to go. So, thank you. =)

OMG I cannot stress how much this hits home.

I liked how you spoke frankly and practically about the effects of short term missions . I love God and believe in Jesus christ .

Remember, MrBeast is a christian but never involves religion in philanthropy, he's the kind of person that would be moral with nothing in return

Its a vacation for stroking their "ego" and show how "spiritual" they are. I'd love to hear about a summer long science / technology "mission" that built water treatment, etc. (health and other useful stuff), reguardless of what else the volunteers did or didn't believe, though.

@sierralow9044

5 жыл бұрын

Jared Blackburn i know this was posted 5 years ago - but i will gladly tell you about what my group did in our mission last october! i am also super sorry about whatever other missionary that's actions have convinced you that it's just a vacation or to show off spirituality! all of my missions have been so emotionally AND physically draining on me, nothing about it is vacationing and about halfway through it my "ego" (as you put it) is about as low as it gets because of this. on my last mission not only did we bring people that were in touch and knowledgeable on the bible, but we also brought nurses and health practitioners. the nurses had their own bus to carry sickly and hurt people in and bring them back to the "hospital" rooms that they have set up, free of charge for anybody that had to be diagnosed and worked on. they remained on their mission for MONTHS trying to help as many people as possible. and as for the missionary, spiritual side of things, not only did we walk around with open arms despite the majority of people's religion not being christianity, because that's what Jesus would do, but we had backpacks full of water purifiers that would last a family for years. we did not carry Bibles around giving them out, although there were several people that said they wanted a relationship with Jesus that we had long, beautiful talks with, in which case we got a Bible and returned it to them. one mission will not save the world! as a matter of fact, it won't even save a tiny percentage of it, but if i travelled across the world all over again just for ONE person say that they wanted to welcome Jesus into their life, i would feel far from failing what i came to do. to somebody without a missionary/christian perspective, i'm sure that doesn't make sense, but that's just the heart of somebody that lives on mission.

@cynax7757

4 жыл бұрын

Either way man needs to help those in need whether they believe or not and still proved truth.

@cynax7757

4 жыл бұрын

Sierra Low Don't forget that evil forces also position themselves to cause greater harm in these places. Non believers will see this and will attempt to tear the fabric of faith apart.

@m.jenkins8503

4 жыл бұрын

@@sierralow9044 you said it perfectly. For atheists they are full of anger and down their noses judgemental. Its like they want to be a god. Quit judging those who want to help. Look for their desire to express love for others. Just like Jesus is still doing.

Thank you for caring and for making this video. I hope we all continually search for ways to be selfless and caring for others needs.

I have been reading your stuff for a couple years. You do a good job of reason and observation. Thanks

I have gone to mission trips in Ecuador, and really, not necessarily you have to speak about the gospel. At least I never did until the people asked me to do it. The most important thing you can do in a mission trip is to listen them. This is my reason to go for a week. Yes you won't change their reality in a week, but you can make someone feel that one actually care of him or her. And this is the most meaningful thing you can give. Despair = Suffering - Meaning if you help the to find something meaningful what ever it is, you will take their away their despair even thought the suffering is still there. Good video!

As a Christian myself, I'll be the first to admit that you have a strong point here. While I obviously see great worth in telling people about Jesus, one week just isn't even enough time to do this thoroughly - let alone enough time to learn a new language and/or produce much meaningful humanitarian work. Furthermore, the examples of missions provided in the Bible are all mid to long-term trips. The only occasions on which the Apostle Paul left a city prematurely were when an angry mob chased him away, or when he received death threats. (Sometimes, even then, he refused to leave!) Honestly, I probably wouldn't find much on this channel that I'd agree with. But you're definitely on to something with this video. Thanks for your honesty!

@michaelhodgdon250

Жыл бұрын

I work at a Rescue Mission. Sure meet needs. But Paul rejoiced the gospel was being reached, false motives or good ones he said. He told Timothy, preach the word in season and out. Also he told him give yourself to it ! Timothy 4:13. We are told to go out by Jesus. There doesnt always have to be a qualifier. God bless

Well spoken, sir. Never thought of a lot of this stuff. Good video!

I am a member of the LDS church. I am currently preparing to go on a 2 year mission trip to serve the people of Panama. We have missionaries sent all over the world. I am preparing to preach the Gospel of Christ in the Spanish language, and will live in Mexico for 2 months to learn Spanish (I already know basic Spanish). While I am there, we talk to people about Jesus and SERVE them in ANY way they need. You cannot go to people and hand them everything they want or need. As soon as you are gone, they will regress and not know how to help themselves. Part of the fight is teaching them to provide for THEMSELVES

I never knew that Teach for America was really like that. I will agree with you, though, that a week-long trip isn't going to make a huge change for anyone, especially if they're just building a church.

I went on a mission trip with my school to Cuba, it was only for 2 weeks. We went with big plans to make a big difference. All we ended up doing was having a 2 week vacation bible study for children... In the end, sad for our inability to have done something huge, we had our last day spent with around 200 Cubans, expressing how greatful they were for the little we have done. Many mothers told us, that though things may be economicaly harsh, there children can believe in a God that can provide their every need. WHAT they were more greatful was that there was someone who was willing to give their time, give there energy, and care for those who could need it most. God qualifies the least of his people, you don't need to be a certified doctor. (Shure it helps) But the main thing is:You have to be willing to go somewhere, spend your time and energy and God will open the way to qualify you.

Where it really falls apart is when the "help" offered by the missionaries is dependent on the people they visit accepting the religious message, converting to that religion, etc. Back in 2004 when that huge tsunami hit the coasts of the Indian Ocean and hundreds of thousands were killed and millions hurt, homeless, and so on, there were news stories of missionaries rolling up with trucks of food, offering it under stipulation of the victims converting to their christian religion, and then driving off when the people refused. Certainly not all missionaries would be like that, but the fact it happened even once is sickening.

You NAILED it here man. I spent 34 days in Haiti with some family who run their own orphanage, but as an atheist I was solely interested in humanitarian, break my back along side you work when the Christian church teams would come and preach and do crafts and leave. this video was spot on brother, keep up the good work

have you actually been on a mission trip? I would encourage maybe tagging along with a trip to see what they do and see the interaction with the people they are helping.

@jpobrien1973

8 жыл бұрын

I have friends also born in Africa and they would fully disagree with you.

@jpobrien1973

8 жыл бұрын

+Golde Glass I don't doubt that there are some that use religion to scam people. but there are countless others that don't. I know many that have indeed done things well.

@jpobrien1973

8 жыл бұрын

+Golde Glass I think you need some different experiences. lol

@jpobrien1973

8 жыл бұрын

+Golde Glass ...again, yes, some ate bad, but many more are not. you need some new experiences...and observations. should I judge all atheists as mass murderers simply because a handful of atheists killed the most people in the 20th century? no, that would be wrong of me

@abdouhamidniang6263

7 жыл бұрын

i was born in America and currently live in africa for 6 years now. Africa is not a huge village, just like every country there is the poor and the rich side. Now my mother works in a study aboard which brings in students from America, once they arrive they experience and "help" us. Are they actually helping the needy? not really they basically just talk, briefly learn about their cultures, and take pictures. Once they get back home they speak as if they did us a favor but in reality they didnt. Donating is much more efficient way to help these kids.

What is obvious to me is that we come from different perspectives. You desire to help is obvious and I commend you for that. I appreciate the spirit with which you gave you opinion. However, I must disagree with your thesis. I am a career missionary serving in Africa and our team is made of three persons from the medical field, a pediatrician, nurse practitioner, and an RN. Relief work is a major part of what we do, but it is not all we do. We are, however, unapologetic in our conviction that the greatest gift we can give someone is the gospel message. We have just worked with a short-term team from the USA during which we erected three tabernacles that not only will serve as churches, but will also serve as schools, medical clinics, etc.. While on this trip the team also engaged in relief work during which an individual was discovered that was dying with aids and they were able to provide medical assistance and pay for the individual to be transported to a clinic and receive further medical assistance. While I cannot say that this saved the persons life, or that help would not have arrived without this team, the simple fact is that it did. And the lives of each team member was profoundly affected. As a result, their passion for outreach was increased and will likely translate into more funds being available for such ministry in the future. I acknowledge that this does not happen with all teams, but similar situations do occur with some degree of frequency. As a missionary that has made a lifelong commitment to the third world, I welcome these teams. Rather than object to teams going, perhaps a better approach would be to encourage the missionary who receives the team to invest significant time in planning so that the teams time on the ground in the country of their destination would be productive and beneficial, as defined by the missionary organization that does the sending. Thank you for hearing my response and thank you for your interest in the underprivileged parts of our world.

@Daniel.Emmanuel10

4 жыл бұрын

Wonderfully spoken sir.. We never denied that the GREATEST of gifts is the gospel.

Im a born-again christian I watched this video because its title caught my curiosity- I agree with his perspective on this subject- his points are fair, balanced & inoffensive. Good vid!

I have been going to a mission trip for 3 years now and we drive about 7 hours north every year which helps us build bonds the locals and many come to our mass daily and thank us for all we do. Every day we spend hours repairing houses, building sheds or handicap entrances. I cannot see how these mission trips don’t help.

Hi I'm a Christian and I totally appreciate this video! I think you gave some really good arguments and helpful rebukes to Christians. Thank you a lot for this video, even though I - as I said - am a Christian and believe that spreading the Gospel over the world is good.

i’ve been on multiple international mission trip with my family, not with the church. though it was short term we drilled a well to provide CLEAN water and teach hygiene skills. bible lessons were obviously a focus but physical needs were met. not everyone has the ability to go long term. short term missions have an impact.

@tylerl4320

3 жыл бұрын

Most are actually terrible!

@michaelhodgdon250

Жыл бұрын

Yes

i agree with you on most points. definitely well said brother. us as Christians need to realize this and act on it. thanks man

Yes, you're right.. I love how logically pointed out the things that we Christians should do and shouldn't do.. This simply reminds me of what St. Francis of Assisi would always tell us, "preach the gospel, use words if necessary." You may not be a Christian but thank you to have come across this video.. For the reminder..

Feel-good charity. It's like a lush funeral; all for the people who want to feel better, not the one in the coffin.

I always help other people because i feel good about it myself. Nothing wrong with that :)

As per Squidderplan below, do you donate money or otherwise volunteer to help those less fortunate than yourself?

Missionaries give people shelter and food and water too. But they also give them Jesus because THAT IS the most important. Hands down.

Yeah, my old church built 2 hospitals in Lesotho. They helped a lot.

I am a follower of Jesus (seldom use word Christian) but I could not agree with you more! This has been a core value for me for a long time. Thank you!

@FactStorm

Жыл бұрын

Yet you remain a Christian. The delusion is very hard to break off. No matter how much logic and rationality comes your way, you will likely remain a believer

I'm a Christian and he made a lot of really great points that the Church should certainly take seriously ! Great to hear different perspectives

I've been on missions trips I feel like I've helped and I feel like I've been to ones where I didn't help. The key is to help them with things they don't have like food and clothes and along the way share the gospel with them. One I was at we had a huge event for an entire community where we gave them food, shoes, haircuts, a family photo along with a few other things and the only piece of God was at the end to leave the event we set up a prayer booth and simply asked people if they needed prayer. Our job (as Christians) is to help people by living how God would want us to live and let God do the rest.

I think a major problem with most charity programs is they base their program on dependency. They do things for them amd not with them. Teach them how to do it themselves. Cause when you take their ability to take care of themselves they lost. You have to give them the knowledge to live without you. That's affective charity. That's long lasting Chariry. Food is temporary.

@mepemcl

10 жыл бұрын

Agreed - they need aid like food shelter clothing medical supplies more than they need Jesus... But more than aid, they need technology & skills to develop a self-sufficient economy... They need personal responsibility to make tough economic choices (like have an abortion instead of 10 babies that you can't even feed). They need an infrastructure to support growing their own food & clean water & medical care & provide safety. They don't need infrastructure & skills for self-sufficiency - not dependency.

@kdwitherspoon77

10 жыл бұрын

iamtheone whoiamlight They don't really need Technology and people forget these people have been there for centuries. If they can survive this long they obviously don't need technology. The problem is pollution. We've polluted their way of life. Before they can just get water from the river, now the river is too polluted to even swim in let alone drink. AIDs in certain areas have ravaged the health of many of their people so few people can actually farm, like they used too. Really their industrial revolution has caused them more harm than good to the people who once depended on their country's natural resources. It's funny how people once lived in Tribes and Villages once perfectly able to fend for themselves are now struggling to provide for the basics.

@belaireguy4117

10 жыл бұрын

kdwitherspoon77 Very well said. It is an unfortunate reality that is occurring all over the world in continuous mode.With the internet the extent of the damage being done by the many different pollutants is now being realized. That in combination with radiation which began its dispersion shortly after its inception many decades ago. Now with Fukushima (ENEnews) spewing radiation into the Pacific and through the air for almost three years unabated does not bode well for the planet. Who to blame? I think individually one might think partially (a little). But the mindset was installed and some gray behaviors have been made to look somewhat acceptable by the "they" folks. Example: Littering, a huge pet peeve. You can go anywhere and find it literally everywhere. Simply take a walk around your neighborhood and look around. I have seen folks at a bus stop just drop whatever they consider trash right to the ground. The bitter part is there is a garbage can no more than feet away from them. Dragging on, sorry. My point is some individuals are more unknowingly I suppose responsible depending on how deep the indoctrination. We are at the end game of what many evil persons have manipulated for thousands of years. We are just here to see the beginning of the end quite possibly. Have a great time with your family in a few days. Best to you and yours my friend. Take care.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of Father Son, and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things and lo, I am with you always."

@frostifire_

8 жыл бұрын

amen amen amen!!

@trevorsutton2770

8 жыл бұрын

+Vexalon true dat

@frostifire_

8 жыл бұрын

***** God is alive. You'd be dead if He was

@frostifire_

8 жыл бұрын

***** because God gives us life

@joandarc441

3 ай бұрын

Japan: I think we should ban Foreingers.

i need some opinions about LDS missions! no one really talks about the bad sides of them and i'm considering going on one when i'm 19! i know that you have to pay for everything yourself but is there anything else?

I have been on a couple mission trips. On one mission trip I built a wheel-chair ramp onto a ladies home. On the 2nd trip I renovated a house with a group of Christians. Neither trip is on my resume. One trip was in West Virginia and one was in South Carolina. How were these not helpful things to do?

+The Atheist Voice,I'm sorry,but You are wrong on this one a lot of mission trips DO provide,clothing,food,medical cares.Also they have built schools,Joyce Meyer sends I. food buses for feeding children who are raped daily,have aids because of it,they live in the dump and eat trash,she and all her supports DO HELP in a tangible way,maybe YOU should go on one,and help out,so then you can speak from experience,and no give a helping hand!:)

This is a drastic generalization of how missions trips work. I have been on trips both overseas in third world countries as well as on trips here in the US. This has been my experience: 1. We work with missionaries who are already there and committed long term. Our group simply helps them do what they are already doing. We don't experience the lag time of trying to create connections. We hit the ground running. 2. In advance of the trip we find out what needs are present within the community and bring those items with us so that we can meet practical needs as well as come prepared to work on projects that will benefit the community long term. 3. The experience for a young person to see first hand real poverty has an incalculable long term impact on their worldview and is well worth the money spent. In fact I would argue that it fuels a lifelong commitment to giving to those who have less. I think it is relatively irresponsible to formulate an opinion on how effective missions trips are based on some articles written by people working with a specific organization without taking into consideration that there are many organizations doing a great job leading effective trips that create both a positive experience for those on the trip as well as having long term meaningful impact on the communities that they travel to.

My brother flew to Africa from the US to give shots to kids years ago. He went as part of the chamber of commerce in his city. His airfare alone was $3500 and no telling what he paid for lodging. And that’s just his expenses. Multiply that times 15 other members of the chamber of commerce and you’re talking about at least $75,000 just to give kids vaccinations. I read all the local media about how all those members of the chamber gave so much of their time. But I know my brother. He doesn’t do anything for anyone without getting something big out of it. All those chamber of commerce members just went there to massage their own egos. They all got photo ops that were published in the local papers. I thought it was disgusting. I wondered about all the good that could be done if they just sent $75,000 for those kids and their families. Local people could have administered the shots. I’ve heard things like this are really common. I heard of a Fortune 500 company that donated $100,000 to a charity and then spent $10 million dollars in ads telling how generous they were to donate that $100 thousand. I find acts like that completely immoral. You’re so right Hemant about those missionaries. In almost every case it would be better if they just stayed at home and send money to help. And they can keep their Bibles at home too. There’s been enough poisoning of other cultures with Christianity.

Hemant, I appreciate your civil & thoughtful comments. First of all understanding and appreciating the culture, partnering in providing what the recipients care about and having long-term partnerships is the key to successful "helping". There have been times, I have sent my $$ as they needed that a lot more than my presence. There are some benefits of short-term trips however- the traveler is educated in ways they would not be without going and thru that they often will be motivated to donate more the rest of their lives. At my church in Washington, DC multiple people have moved to the host country to start a program after going on a short-term trip. And sometimes both the traveler and the recipients, need to see God at work thru real people that show up and that share their beliefs. I find that God gets people where He can use them effectively when they are humble and listening. Thanks for the conversation, Jill Abernathy

I did Peace Corps in Thailand for three years. I have been on mission trips, and I am a practicing Catholic. The education I have received from living/visitng a foreign coutry has been one of the most valuable experiences of my life. At sixty I have worked in the US to provide funds to build hospitals and schools in many countries. Whatever you think of Christianity, many hospitals and schools have been built that bring life to the poor areas of the globe because of the the awarness mission trips bring.

well I went to a couple mission trips and it's been amazing... hell their are vision schools and programs like that. they go on it for a year and take gap years or even stay in a country for long time. they are people that are genuinely there to help... u have to realize that.

Our church does a yearly mission trip to Guatemala. They go there to build houses for the locals, hand out bags of rice and other foods, and spend the rest of their time volunteering at Casa Shalom. Casa Shalom is a Christian orphanage that houses about 200 kids I believe and the short term volunteer missionaries build expansions on to the buildings, repaint rooms, and help with the children. On top of all that they spread the love of Jesus, yes.

Very valid points. Week long mission trips tend to focus on the the needs situated at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs rather than needs towards the bottom. However, I have to say that these week long mission trips have a positive side since they can plant the seed for long-term commitments to help vulnerable communities across the globe.

Im an African , I saw a great impact of this mission trips in our country. Because of those missionaries I received Christ as my Lord and personal saviour. I have also learned that we need to share what we have with others. One thing about life it's that not everyone will appreciate the good things that others are doing.......

@bike4aday

3 жыл бұрын

That is a very enlightening message!

@moneybxndz161

2 жыл бұрын

you are being brainwashed my brother

@joandarc441

3 ай бұрын

Sadly Africa is still suffering.

have you heard of NTM??? My family is involved in them and we have worked in the country Papua New Guinea for years!

I apppreciate all of your videos, Hemant. As a former mormon and one who is trying to figure out what exactly I believe, your voice is a light in my sometimes dark world. Your video about 15 questions really made me start to think that I am no longer agnostic, but now atheist. :-) Jury is still out, but it's leaning in the atheist direction. As a mormon, I went to Haiti at 19 and did what they typically do there, convince people to become mormon. In the years since then I've often questioned why I did that which led to me leaving the mormon church in 2005. But in 98 I started going back to Haiti on medical missions with a group started by a former mormon, but not religious in nature. Healing Hands for Haiti Foundation is one of those organizations who have been on the ground in Haiti since 1998, providing rehabilitation services to Haitians for free and also training Haitians to be Physical Rehab professionals and giving back to the community. So these days, when I go to Haiti for medical missions, I go as a translator and I work with this organization who I know only wants the physical rehabilitation issues in Haiti resolved. And my short mission trips actually provide direct treatment to Haitians, training by US and Canadians based PR professionals to those attending the school. I've always had issues with the motives of those going to spread religion there, spawned by my own experience. Those who are willing to help those who join your faith are missing the boat. We should be willing to help anybody, regardless of faith. I call it, "Doing Good for Goodness Sake." Thanks for sharing.

I am a Christian that has gone on a couple different mission trips and I thank you for sharing your tips. I have been on long term, short term, and extremely short term trips. I believe that none of the those trips where worthless (not saying you are saying that). I believe that each trip has impacted me in a way that makes me continue to want to be helpful towards everyone else. Just recently I came back from a short mission trip and I thought to myself along with others from the group how can we be a continual support to this project, these people? And we are working on that now. I think it's important to be wise in the way we spend our finances when supporting missions. I also believe that we should keep in mind that some people won't care about giving to support a mission unless they take a trip, even if it's a short mission trip to reveal to them the great basic needs of the people and the fact that they could actual help make a difference and help supply for them. I would like to see more church groups follow up with each mission trip project they have gone to. I agree with your idea of long term support. We should continue to support those real needs of the people. I believe as Christians we can do better and because, as you have said most have good intentions God will inspire them to step up the game as He has inspired me and many others. All good efforts count and we may not see the outcome or the effects of them now but every good effort will have it's positive effect and eventually it will be revealed to us all.

I don't understand why people go to these poor countries to preach and hand out bibles. they need food, clan water, clothes, shelter, a support network. these things help more than praying ever will. don't forget that these countries have different cultures. I have have no problem supporting charities that actually help people, I will donate clothes, non-parishable food things like that. I will give money to projects that make life better for people such as filtration systems to provide clean water

@LionLemon57

10 жыл бұрын

/watch?v=AhPaSNwyByc You have much to learn about what actually goes on during mission trips. Don't forget to watch this either. /watch?v=0nQHfJxXffU You are judging to quickly. Keep in mind that "The Atheist Voice" makes very biased videos, and they are hardly ever completely factual. I would suggest not buying into this guy's nonsense. It isn't worth it. If I were to guess, he only speaks from his own limited experience as a Christian.

@SuperVancouverBC

10 жыл бұрын

LionLemon57 what if the people that you are trying to help are not Christians though? going to these countries and forcing a religion on them-by handing out bibles and/or preaching is wrong. people who go to these countries should respect the different cultures and religions. and this guy is not a Christian.

@LionLemon57

10 жыл бұрын

SuperVancouverBC What do you mean, "this guy is not a Christian"? Who are you talking about? Wrong how? There is no wrong act in handing out bibles to people who have never heard of Jesus before. I don't understand how this would be a wrong act. You should also note that these people are not mad about people coming to them with stories of the bible and Jesus. They are accepting it, and are genuinely happy about it, and I want to also make it clear to you that it is not forced. It is more of a take it or leave it sort of thing. People introduce belief in God to other people because they genuinely believe it, not to "control" them. That is just some conspiracy cooked up by people who don't understand good nature. I would also hope that you realized the main focus of ADRA is not to preach, but to alleviate suffering, which is exactly what you are having an issue with, correct? The purpose of ADRA is to provide relief, not bibles. /watch?v=znGhjEhSNZc There are no mentions of preaching in this, only service to other humans. Why? Because ADRA knows that helping people without asking questions is exactly what Jesus would have done, and what is the correct thing to do. Their first idea is to help those in need. If people inquire about faith, then they introduce it. I think you are reducing Christianity to some brute force that is only out to control the minds of less knowledgeable people. This is not the case, although this method has been used in the past under certain denominations of Christianity (note that all Christians did not use Christianity to "control" people). It is sad to think that people still buy in to the argument that Christians are only there to control people. I want to let everyone know that this is not true. Christianity is in place because people love Christ. Are there bad people? Yes. Is anyone perfect? No. It shouldn't be too hard to recognize that Christians are not perfect people, and they will disappoint you at times, but in all honesty, who doesn't? The Atheist Voice proclaimed by the title of the video that all Christian mission trips are not beneficial. This is a universal claim. And being a universal claim, it only takes one counter example to prove it false. I have supplied that counter example.

@SuperVancouverBC

10 жыл бұрын

LionLemon57 dude this guy is an Atheist, not a Christian. mission trips to only hand out bibles and preach are not beneficial. it is wrong to bring bibles to non-Christian countries. and hand them out like countries. it is called Respecting cultures and religions of other countries.

@LionLemon57

10 жыл бұрын

SuperVancouverBC I understand that the guy in the video is an atheist, however, I do not see how that pertains to what I stated. I was simply refuting his argument that Christians do nothing but hand out bibles and preach during mission trips. As I had two videos in my previous posts that suggested otherwise. Whether or not the guy in this video is an atheist is of no relevancy. I don't understand why you keep saying he is an atheist, it doesn't make sense. And you still haven't provided an explanation on why bringing bibles to other countries is wrong. Christians have every freedom to do so. Just like you have freedom not to believe. If you say it is wrong for Christians to bring their bibles to other countries, then it follows from your reasoning that it is wrong to proclaim your atheism to others. You can't keep on going back to these double standards. If it is alright for you to proclaim your beliefs, then Christians should have every right to do the same.

Derek Smith comparing atheists to Satan. That's about as offensive as comparing us to Voldemort. lol Not to mention the bad guy of the bible is actually the prideful, vengeful, self righteous, murderous, jealous, petty, tantrum throwing character known as God. But hey, if a silly Christian needs to feed his ego by comparing people he knows nothing about to his idea of the bad guy, so be it. He obviously misses the more decent aspects of scripture anyway.

@fearedjames

10 жыл бұрын

That is something that has always baffled me. Lets hypothetically believe the bible is 100% fact and god exists. That guy is a fucking asshole who expects worship without actually doing anything. Why would I want to worship such a person!?

@Fxrichards

5 жыл бұрын

Rainbow Dashtruction The “guy” who created everything, including someone who decided to use his life to be as vulgar and unthankful as you....

@Ashen_Engineer

5 жыл бұрын

frans Richards God is at best a negligent parent and at worst an abusive one. If he did exist, then he couldn’t be bothered to stop natural disasters or from another perspective he causes them. A parent is not entitled to unconditional love just for creating a child, it is their responsibility to take care of the child and if God was real, he’s done none of that.

@Fxrichards

5 жыл бұрын

Robert Donahue wrong on all counts of your arguments. You are just feeling sorry for yourself and maybe humanity. He has supplied you with everything and more to live a happy and fulfilling live.... the fact that you are sitting in front of a computer with the physical ability and the time to write such an argument shows just a tiny weeny bit of his caring parenthood. And all that whilst you denounce Him... ain’t that something? But to answer your question: aGod who created the universe in such minute orderly detail you expect to be explained in one line is just not realistic. That being said, one can know that He send His own Son to compensate/ pay for our iniquity and shortcomings so we can have a personal relationship with Him! Why does He need to intervene when disasters happen which is the seed of our rebellion, greed and independence? Sometimes He does, but He is not compelled. People are so wicked that they kill more of their kind than natural disasters do.... So I think you should start there with your bitterness and accept responsibility for the depravity as part of mankind and repent... However, your statement about Him creating or allowing natural disaster- of course He can do both, but the question is: did He and if so why? I believe to blame him for ever natural disaster is plain ignorant. I.e. who created global warming? Does God need to take responsibility for our insatiable greed which caused global warming etc? Let’s talk about other instances. If you believe in God you have to accept the existence of the devil (as depicted in the Bible), he is another cause of natural disasters. Fact is if you come to God he can undo the works of the devil, but if you refuse you are on your own... God will respect your stupidity. Then of course there is instances where got send natural disasters our way and it mostly is to draw us to Him... so we can see we are not so mighty, independent and technically advanced as our deprived minds believe.... we need Him desperately. Lastly I also believe that in extreme situations He, as a Holy and Just God, also from time to time have enough of humankind’s wickedness and just put a natural disaster to stop us... Question remains, if He can do something devastating as that, why does He not just wipe the slate clean and start all over again? The answer is simple... Because of His love for you and me...

@cynax7757

4 жыл бұрын

It's because the silly atheists doesn't understand there's an unseen spirit world that holds existance together. Micros don't hold themselves together by randomness.

I am a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and think that spreading the message about him is the most crucial thing a person can engage in since Jesus is the only one who can solve our biggest problem, which is sin. It's because of sin we are dying and eventually will die. But to preach about Jesus in a foreign culture on a foreign language requires long term commitment. So thank your for shedding light on this subject and helping us see the a lack of impact if there is no long-term commitment.

@joandarc441

3 ай бұрын

Hence why a lot of people from third world countries don't want you guys anymore even Japan wants you out.

You make some really good points! This is actually something I have thought a lot about since I went on my first trip last summer, and here's what I have to say. There are people that are there on these trips who are in it for the long hall, who stay the whole summer. They provide food, water, shelter... But they need people to do it. So that is where the 1 week trips come in. People go down there for a week and there is someone there who has been there all summer, and plans the whole thing out. The people that go for a week are being servants of Christ as they follow the lead of their contact from whatever agency, who IS down there for a summer or a year and is planning and working, and are basically helping with a lot of the work that the one person down there for a year can't do alone. As for the money thing, again... Sending in money is great, but some brave souls have to go down there and actually give the food out, build the shelters, whatever. Those trips do make a difference, because though each group is down there for a week they collectively make up a well-oiled wheel that serves in the area for a much longer time.

I am planning to go on a mission trip to get a better perspective. I know it probably won't do much but if I can give a least one kid a smile or laugh I think it will be worth it.

@HonkytonkSue2

10 жыл бұрын

That's a very patronizing attitude-- give one kid a smile--come on, are you that dumb or that selfish? If you can't make a real, Practical contribution to make life better, by building homes, a clinic, or a well, stay home and go preach the bible door to door, you will get lots of doors slammed in your face--but that's the real world. Let's see if that makes you Smile!

@elanamarie2918

10 жыл бұрын

Also The point of going is to make yourself more aware and respectful of what's going on. I think the only efficient way to do that is to travel. Also I will be contributing to building homes, clinics ext. That is my point of going.

@bimalpudasaini9526

10 жыл бұрын

Elana Marie Do you even realize that spreading your religion in Africa and Asia, creates divisions among people? Have you ever realized that the languages, the religious views, the cultures and the traditions that these people have, are the relics of their ancestors' imaginations. And, converting them into your beliefs using your wealth is actually committing a cultural genocide? If you want to help, great !! I admire that. But, a new religion in a struggling society causes conflict (Exodus 32).

@caragrimshaw6258

10 жыл бұрын

Bimal Pudasaini The point of converting people is to give them the knowledge of the truth that they have salvation through Jesus Christ if they never hear they have no hope of this salvation.The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. That is in 1 John 2:17 eternal life and having a savior willing to die for sinners is more important in my opinion than the relics of the peoples ancestors. The point of the trips is to help them spiritually and physically. Im not saying that their culture should be destroyed but everyone deserves to hear about the love that their creator has for them. I get that you may not believe in God or agree with any of my opinions but I do believe, and part of my belief is to go and spread the word of God.

@elanamarie2918

10 жыл бұрын

Guys sorry my high school calls it mission trips so I got mixed up, my trip is more of a volunteer trip to help build schools, medical centers, ect. Not a whole lot of actual ministry work on this trip but really trying to help out. I am Catholic tho :)

I've said this every time our church sends a missionary to some third world country for a month to spread the gospel. Our money would be better spent helping them build a school or well.

Point taken. And your right to a point. These Christians are on a life long journey too and learning as they go. Hopfully not as judgemental as you sound. Remember we will always have unfortunate situations, conditions no matter how we help our neighbors. But we try, not to be self glorifying, but for a concern from our hearts to you and others. I know i made some blunders in my time, but i hope i never lose the desire to help others even for a few moments.

I just went to Honduras. I was on a Medical brigade. The hospital was in the middle of the jungle. The community was massive with all the surrounding villages. The hospital was busy if you could imagine and only 6 people ran it whom were long term missionaries. A Doctor, His Wife, their two kids, 2 nurses one was newly hired. They had a goal that started with a clinic and now there is a fully operational hospital for ppl that need it. They are affiliated with a Christian organization. In that area there were Christian missionaries that came for a one week over the past 25yrs. Many found their calling in that one week and decided to stay forever. Now they have another clinic, a church, an orphanage, and a Christian school addition to that hospital. Yes there are still needs and you cant just send anything in most countries like this one or all they will get is an empty box. Also having a medical skill and extra help is always welcomed because I believe especially in healthcare God puts you were you are needed. My opinion and my religion doesn’t even have to touch this guy with all the foolishness he is saying.

As a Christian, I (obviously) disagree. I've gone on mission trips to Ouanaminthe, Haiti and built schools, clinics, tech colleges, we've built water purification buckets so an entire village can have clean water, we've interacted with the helpless children who most of the time have no one aside from the friendly faces they see from other countries coming to help them. On one hand, yes, I feel as though most people who go on these mission trips do it for that individuals own personal healing. When I went, I was very depressed-and has been for a very long time-and thought that maybe if I went to see what a third world country was like that I would feel better. I did. Not only did it help me, but it helps them more than you think, and here's why. Where we were staying to do our work there were Haitian vendors right I front of us trying to sell their goods and while most of it in our eyes looked tacky and unuseful, we bought it anyways 1) as a souvenir 2) because they were so thrilled and overjoyed that someone cared enough to buy their products. Secondly, while we worked with the kids in the schools that we built, the light in their beautiful eyes brought us so much joy that it reflected the energy in their classroom. We made crafts with them, (tambourines) sang with them, and yes shared the gospel with them. This is a Christian school that we worked with so they expected us to do it but in a third world country mor often than not that's the glimmer of hope they need to know its going to be okay. Third, the water purification buckets we distributed went to an entire rural Haitian village and what's amazing about them is that they know the power of sharing probably more than we do. If one got a bucket, 5 people got a bucket to utilize together. We distributed 35 buckets so do the math and how many people are not receiving clean, pure water. Forth, if you've ever been to a foreign country so poor and helpless you'll know that if you try to build them a house or a shelter, unless they are so desperate and truly have no where to go, they'll refuse it. In Haiti, or at least the town we were in, they were so proud of their homes. If you had money you got concrete and sticks. If you didn't you had a twig hut house but you know what? They are so proud that they can construct them themselves with no foreign help. Their is so much more I could say to defend my faith on mission trips but I will leave you with this. There are flaws that go into mission trips undoubtedly but what is give to the residence of helpless countries are glimmers of hope and peace. I personally, want to teach in foreign countries as a missionary (a missionary is someone who devotes themselves to helping people who most of the time have nothing and sharing the wonderful love and light of Jesus Christ.) what I think you are failing to remember is that you can go to a country and share your beliefs with them but you cannot change them. That takes their own life and dedication to want to change not someone shoving the bible down their throat. I am so passionate about this topic and actually have developed a few new atheist friends so it's nice to see what/how they think but this hits too far to home and felt the need to say something. I apologize if it comes off as demanding or rude. Thank you.

So many christians build Hospitals and schools in poor countries. That definitely helps. Stop being so bitter.

@lordbloodraven9159

3 жыл бұрын

This hospital and schools has 50% reservation for christans .read something

*As a Christian and not a Churchtian, I was sick and tired of mission trips and never supported them. People worship their church now, instead of God.* *The church I was at spent $200,000 to send 75 kids to a third world country to 'help' build a small church for one week. They only laid the concrete floor and was able to put up a few walls. I was furious when I heard that this is all they did with $200,000 USD! They spent $200,000 USD on what should have roughly cost $2,500 with a local construction company. $200,000 USD is 49,500,000 of their currency. A loaf of bread in their country is only $1.25, a whole roasted chicken is $14. A book/Bible costs roughly $5.* *The point being, these trips are for the Facebook photos and to feel "holy". It's not for the local starving community... They could've bought almost 50,000,000 loaves of bread, almost 4,000,000 cooked chickens, almost 10,000,000 Bibles to pass out. They could've hired a huge team of pastors to spread the word or hired a whole construction company to build dozens of churches.* *I beg these kind of Christians to actually be Christ like and stop worshipping your church. You'd be shocked at how much $100 can help with the homeless of your own communities. Buy peanut butter and bread and make the homeless peanut butter sandwiches. Buy party sized chip bags and pour them in plastic bags and also give each one a bottled water. You could feed roughly 60-75 homeless people, and also spread the gospel and pray for them in the same language.* *God Bless*

This video is just and comments on here make my have so much sympathy for those who have no experienced the incredible force of love and compassion missions bring! It depresses me that not everyone gets to feel and see the amazing riches of things these poverty profound areas have that these self righteous people with never own themselves!

I went down to Ecuador (not on a mission, I'm atheist) to teach for two months, and you are right, it really does not help much.

@markchanggz1

10 жыл бұрын

why did it not help?

@alexislewis9504

10 жыл бұрын

meiyou It takes a lot of experience and time with to teach people who have never been taught before. Now try that while sick with a fever and diarrhea. Lots O' fun. They just don't know how to learn in a classroom, at least through western teaching, even on a basic level, like learning colors in english. After two weeks, only 10% of the class had mastered it.

first off I just want to tell you I am a christain and have an incredible relationship with Jesus and although I do think the opposite of what your saying when it comes to you saying that christain mission trips don't work just because our beliefs are totally opposite see I do think that water food clothing and shelter are important they are necessities of this world which is nothing compared to eternity with the most amazing father in the universe so see as christains our priority is not to judge people its to love people enough to see them smiling for eternity although our mission is different than yours just because our beliefs are different the only difference between me in you is that I have in his forgiveness and grace his compassion and love for even the most far away people and I want the nations to hear about the good news

My friend Andrew (who is part of the Mormon religion) is currently on a long term mission trip like you described, I am not sure how long term (I think he said 2 years) but I'm glad to see that there are religions who are worried about genuinely helping others and not just converting others

@speedstacker51

10 жыл бұрын

Converting implies that you are changing the people from one religion to another which doesn't often happen. Most people are unaware or inactive in any religion. But if it were Christians going to Muslims, that is converting. And Most mission trips do both- hand out food, do dental clinics, etc and spread the love of Jesus. They go hand in hand.

@tjfjt

10 жыл бұрын

angelswave88 most of these people do have tribal religion or some other pagan religion

@speedstacker51

10 жыл бұрын

thecatcovenantdude_Dks Depends on what region you are visiting. Anywhere in Africa who would be more likely to be converting someone. Whereas in central America, tribal religions are not common.

@tjfjt

10 жыл бұрын

Yeah, but central America is mostly Catholic anyway so it wouldn't matter. Either way I'm glad that some people aren't just going to gain jesus points and genuinely want to help others

A very smart & honest assessment of many mission trips we see today. Thanks for stating this.