For over 35 years, Forward Edge has mobilized more than 20,000 individuals on nearly 1,600 mission teams to many parts of the U.S. and 34 countries. Over this time, we’ve learned tried-and-true principles that allow short-term teams to help without causing harm.
While there are worthy programs overseas directed by missionaries, it is best to support programs directed by nationals. Nationals know their own culture, and how to effectively function and minister within it. Native-born church and government leaders, as well as program beneficiaries, also view programs directed by nationals more favorably.
This may be the most common mistake made by short-term mission teams. Short-term missionaries can help with needed projects, but they should always serve alongside local people. In many cases, local people should even be financially compensated for their efforts. Doing things for people that they can do for themselves robs them of their dignity, and fosters a never-ending cycle of dependence.
A key to mission teams bearing fruit that remains is a focus on empowering vs. enabling. And the best way to empower people is to equip them to be more effective in their God-given callings and professions. Teams that include pastors, health-care professionals, businesspeople, and schoolteachers can have an enduring impact on the mission field if they focus on equipping those they go to serve.
Sending churches that have the most positive impact in the lives of those they seek to serve — and those they send — are the ones that invest in the same location for an extended period of time. It’s all about relationships, and real relationships can only develop over time. Long-term partnerships also allow for a clearer understanding of what kind of assistance is truly needed and helpful.
Sending churches have a responsibility to ensure that their financial support of churches or ministries in the field is being properly stewarded. Partnering with a credible mission agency that already has accountability, policies and procedures in place can be a wise solution to this very important need.
Too often, mission teams are sent without being properly prepared. Sending effective mission teams requires more than lining up a project, recruiting team members, and making flight arrangements. To be effective, short-term missionaries need to enter a foreign country with the right motivations for service, an awareness of cultural differences, and an understanding of how to work together as a team.
Before and shortly after returning home, short-term missionaries need to be given opportunities to process their experience, and to prayerfully consider how it relates to the rest of their lives. A short-term mission trip should be more than a fond memory. It can and should be a catalyst for ongoing ministry in one’s home church and/or community.
When I introduce new people to Forward Edge, I’ll often describe what we do this way: we help children around the world overcome poverty, discover their true worth, and pursue God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives. I believe these three descriptors are distinct and important. Let me explain a little
2025 was filled with moments that reminded us why every story matters. From clean water in Uganda to a young woman’s graduation in Mexico, each glimpse reflects the hope God is building through our Forward Edge Family. Read on for just a few of the lives changed this year—thanks to your faithful support and partnership.
Nancy, our Director of Development and long-time short-term missionary, shares her experience with the “Women of the Word” program in Kampala, Uganda. These resilient women, who migrated to a new area after facing unimaginable hardships, have come together to build a supportive community and empower one another. Discover how their journey of faith and perseverance is creating lasting change in their lives and in their community.
In the heart of Kenya, where many children face the daily struggle of hunger, a simple meal can be life-changing. At Forward Edge, we’re not just filling plates—we’re filling lives with hope, strength, and opportunity. Our programs in Kenya provide nourishing meals that empower children to focus in school, grow in their faith, and dream of a brighter future. Discover how something as simple as a meal is transforming lives and bringing lasting change to communities across Kenya.
15 yrs. old
Entered the program: October 2018
Benson lives with his father at his grandmother’s house.
Benson’s mother abandoned the family due to his father’s
alcohol abuse. He lives with the children but does not support
them, as he hardly works. The condition of the home is very
poor and they lack basic amenities like mattresses and blankets,
and sufficient food. They survive via assistance from
Mama Beth’s and their neighbors.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
