Forum 2006 

“Are we really making a difference?” was the big question asked at NNYM’s Youth Missions Forum held in Orlando January 9-11, 2006.  With the exploding numbers of youth participating in short term missions experiences, Youth Missions Forums are designed to stimulate robust dialogue about important issues related to the youth missions movement.  Over 80 leaders of youth missions organizations, educators, influencers, and youth leaders who emphasize missions participated.

 This year, several leaders from the academic world were invited to make presentations.  The presenters included Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter of Fuller Seminary, Dr. Robert Priest of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Dr. Kurt Ver Beek of Calvin College, and Roger Peterson of STEM Intl.

          Most interaction centered on the important issue of “follow through” in short term missions.  Dr. Kurt Ver Beek presented compelling evidence that providing effective follow through after a short term missions experience is a more important factor for long term impact in participants lives than the preparation before the missions experience.

          As a result of the Forum, additional research initiatives were proposed and started.  Notes from the presentations are listed below:

Kurt Alan Ver Beek presentations:

Lessons from a Sapling PowerPoint

Lessons from a Sapling Draft Word document

A Case Study of House Construction in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch

More on Short Term Msiions research at

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/sociology/staff/kurt.htm