We can teach a lot of things but we can only impart what we have lived. After 85 short-term mission trips and almost nine years with boots on the ground as a full time missionary John Overholt has lived missions and his book "Short Term Missions: Long Term Impact" has much to impart. "It is a fantastic resource for everyone desirous of being a blessing to other nations and only wish I had it twenty years ago " Dr. Theodore (Ted) Vail Associate Director of Foursquare Missions International. John Overholt highlights twelve key ingredients that need to be incorporated into the philosophy and strategy of a church mission program. He provides answers to some of the tough but valid questions facing mission teams these days. Is there really a need for missionaries anymore? Are we not in danger of creating dependency with our giving or causing unintended harm by our kindness? Do Short Term Mission teams really make an impact? Rather than paying for the airfare, food and accommodations for ten church members to come to Costa Rica for two weeks, would it not be better to simply send you the money that we would have charged the team so that you can invest it into the needs down here? Along with solutions necessary to promote healthy mission programs, John also highlights the benefits that Short Term mission trips have upon the sending church, the team members themselves, the receiving church and community involved plus the Lord Himself. This book will challenge and encourage pastors and leaders to rethink some of the ways we do missions. It gets to the very heart of the mission movement. If Jesus was the leader of your next mission trip, what would you do? Where would He take you? It gets back to the simple and yet very powerful commission of Jesus to go and make disciples and answers the clear question in Romans 10:15; How shall they preach unless they are sent? It is His mission. If you have a call to missions, this book will provide you with valuable resources and tools to help your next mission team make a long term impact.