Article
Books to help with debriefing short term mission teams
David Bosworth
There are a few books out there to help with following up on your teams. Here are a few to get started with.
The following devotionals have been written with the short term experience and the cultural re-integration grid in mind. These resources provide participants the opportunity to thoughtfully and scripturally interact with their experience.
Bringing It Home by Jim Mersereau
Coming Home by Howard & Bonnie Lisech
Coming Home Again by Howard & Bonnie Lisech
Returning Home by Howard & Bonnie Lisech
TalkPoint's Mission Trip Journals by Frank Nelson
The Next Mile by Brian J. Heerwagen
The following books are actually written on the topic of short term mission debriefing.
Reentry Guide for STM Leaders by Lisa Espinelli Chin
The Next Mile by Brian J. Heerwagen
Additionally, the following books have at least one chapter which addresses the topic of returning from the field.
Mack & Leeann's Guide to Short-Term Missions by J.Mack and Leeann Stiles
Short-term Mission Workbook by Tim Dearborn
Vacations With A Purpose: A Handbook for Your Short-Term Missions Experience by Chris Eaton, Kim Hurst
A Guide to Short Term Missions by H. Leon Greene
The following resources are aimed at mid or long term returnees. However, the principles are still applicable even in the short term context.
Re-Entry: Making the Transition from Missions to Life at Home by Peter Jordan
The Reentry Team: Caring for Your Returning Missionaries by Neal Pirolo
Admission: the Briefing and Debriefing of Team of Missionaries and Aid Workers by Graham Fawcett
Burn Up or Splash Down: Surviving the Culture Shock of Re-Entry by Marion Knell
Secular literature also has some insight into cross-cultural returns.
Survival Kit for Overseas Living by L. Robert Kohls
Art of Coming Home by Craig Storti
Whatever resource you access, make sure to be intentional in helping your team to evaluate, contextualize and apply their experience.
Have you used any of the resources above? What did you think? Any books you would add to this list?
